You are 5 weeks pregnant

Your baby
Did you know that a majority of your baby’s growth and development actually happens during the first trimester? This week is no exception. Right now, the embryo (as your baby is now called) is deve...Read more

Your body
Need the loo? All….the…time? It’s annoying to have to run to the loo every two seconds, but at least know it’s perfectly normal at this stage in your pregnancy. All the extra work your body i...Read more

Your life right now
Along with the physical changes you’re coping with at the moment, you may also be feeling moodier than usual. No, the pregnancy isn’t totally unhinging you. But hormonal fluctuations - combined w...Read more

Mums like me
"I think the biggest lesson learned for us from #1 to #2 was how much you don’t need for the baby. Car-seat, something for baby to sleep in, boobs or bottles, nappies, and a small assortment of clot...Read more

Did you know that a majority of your baby’s growth and development actually happens during the first trimester? This week is no exception. Right now, the embryo (as your baby is now called) is developing new, specialized cells at a rapid pace. A long groove is forming on the outer layer of cells that will close to form the neural tube - and eventually become the baby’s brain and spinal cord. From the middle mesoderm layer (that’s the middle part of the dividing ball of cells), the earliest blood vessels have formed and some time this week your baby’s heart will start beating! It’ll be a while before those beats are coordinated and rhythmic, but how incredible is that? All your baby’s bones, muscles and organs are under development, as well. Soon, buds will appear that will become the arms and legs. No wonder you’re so tired! There’s major construction going on in there!

Need the loo? All….the…time? It’s annoying to have to run to the loo every two seconds, but at least know it’s perfectly normal at this stage in your pregnancy. All the extra work your body is doing has given you a big metabolic boost (hey, didn’t you always wish you had a faster metabolism?), and the pregnancy hormone hCG is causing extra blood to flow to your pelvic area, where all the work is going on. As a result your kidneys are busier than ever and becoming more efficient, producing more pee! What’s more, your growing uterus is also putting more pressure on your bladder (thus, more-frequent loo breaks). You may also find yourself craving a nap throughout the day as a sense of overwhelming exhaustion kicks in. It hits everyone at different times, but about half way through your first trimester you may come home, hit the sofa after dinner, and wake up in that very spot 12 hours later. On the upside (at least for many women): Don’t be surprised if you wake up one morning, look in the mirror and think whoa, whose boobs are these? Not that you’re necessarily going to jump up a cup size overnight, but a little noticeable growth is very common right around now. You may also develop a heightened or altered sense of smell - and taste, too, for that matter. Your co-worker’s normally harmless perfume? You can now smell it from across the office. The cup of coffee you usually relish in the morning? Suddenly it tastes incredibly bitter and strong. This probably isn’t helping the whole nausea situation. But like most early pregnancy symptoms, your super sniffer is apt to go away by the end of your first trimester - and you’re almost halfway through it. So hang in there!

Along with the physical changes you’re coping with at the moment, you may also be feeling moodier than usual. No, the pregnancy isn’t totally unhinging you. But hormonal fluctuations - combined with tiredness, nausea and generally not feeling like yourself - can make a lot of women weepier or crankier. If you get into a depressive funk that you can’t shake, give your doctor a call. Usually, though, the type of mood rollercoaster most expectant mums ride is normal. One moment you may be crying over a nappy commercial, and the next you’re laughing hysterically at something you see every day. It’s OK; we’re not judging! Just be sure to get plenty of sleep and relaxing downtime - reading a good novel, soaking in the bath (warm, not hot), putting your feet up on the coffee table and calling a friend. It really helps.

"I think the biggest lesson learned for us from #1 to #2 was how much you don’t need for the baby. Car-seat, something for baby to sleep in, boobs or bottles, nappies, and a small assortment of clothes. Three-quarters of the stuff we got for #1 ended up going to the charity shop." –almaha468