Week 5 of pregnancy: is the baby's heart beating yet?

Week 5 of pregnancy, you are in the 1st trimester and starting your 2nd month of pregnancy, 3 weeks have passed since fertilization.

Most of the organs of the embryo are formed during the 3rd to 8th week of pregnancy. This period is called the period of organogenesis and is a critical period for the development of birth defects in the fetus. Therefore, a woman should avoid dangerous environmental influences, infections, medications and focus on a healthy lifestyle.

How is your baby developing in the tummy?

Cell division, organ and organ system development continues.

Your baby is developing and growing rapidly.

The size of the embryo at 5 weeks gestation is approximately 1.5 mm.

Read more about fetal size in the article:
Ultrasound in pregnancy: fetal size, what is fetal biometry?

The embryo is developing. From its beginning, all the important systems (such as digestive, circulatory, nervous) and organs (such as heart, lungs, stomach) are developing. Small growths are becoming visible, from which the arms and legs develop.

The first functioning system is the circulatory system.

At the beginning of the 5th week, a bulge is visible in the centre of the embryo from which the heart develops.

The heart consists of only two small ducts, which are already fully functioning. When they are joined, the heart will be fully functional.

The heart begins to pump blood, which circulates the embryo.

By the end of the fifth week, the heart is clearly visible. It pumps blood through the tiny organism so that the embryo is sufficiently nourished to develop and grow. The heart is already beginning to take shape.

The baby is making its first contact with its mother. The umbilical cord, which is made up of blood vessels, is forming and connects your baby to you.

The embryo lies in a ball filled with fluid. Meanwhile, it draws nutrients from the yolk sac and through the star-shaped blood vessel that underlies the formation of the placenta that penetrates deep into the uterine lining.

Theplacenta is formed in advance to nourish the rapidly developing fetus. It becomes fully functional from the 12th week of pregnancy.

The basis of the nervous system begins to develop. A groove forms in the outer layer of the embryo that will form the spinal cord and brain.

By the next week, this groove, known as the neural tube, will close.

If the defect occurs and the tube remains open at the tail end, it leads to spina bifida. Folic acid prevents spina bifida, so every pregnant woman should take it from the beginning of pregnancy.

Your embryo is still too small to be picked up by a sonogram. The heart may not be visible for a week or two.

What pregnancy hormones are predominant during pregnancy?

Table of pregnancy hormones and their effect on a woman's body

How does a woman feel in the 5th week of pregnancy?

Missing your period. You may have just now noticed that your period hasn't come. If you're pregnant, a pregnancy test this week will definitely show two dots. Your levels of the hormone hCG are already high enough.

Your uterus is starting to grow, but it's not yet visible.

Many hormones are produced in your body as a result of pregnancy, causing various changes.

You may start to feel more tired and get exhausted faster because of the increasing amount of pregnancy hormones.

A stuffy nose is caused by the blood supply to the mucous membranes due to pregnancy hormones. It is not recommended to use nose drops, rather reach for sea salt.

Dizziness and lightheadedness can cause lower blood pressure during pregnancy.

Abdominal cramps. You may experience mild cramps in the lower abdomen or a feeling of bloating. This may be related to the egg nesting in the uterus or the uterus stretching itself.

Increased sense of smell. Have you noticed that your sense of smell has improved? You smell everything more intensely. It's not very pleasant, especially when smells or odours make you nauseous.

Mood swings are common. You're more sensitive and your mood can change from minute to minute. Pregnancy is an emotionally complicated time. It's a new period full of hormonal fluctuations, pregnancy awareness and the joys, fears and anxieties of having a new family member.

Nausea and lack of appetite may occur. Nausea accompanied by vomiting is one of the unpleasant symptoms of pregnancy. Morning sickness or even nausea during the day is common in the first trimester of pregnancy.

Unusual cravings or food aversions. Increased appetite and craving for different food combinations is a perfectly normal manifestation of pregnancy. It may happen that you get cravings for food that you didn't like. On the contrary, you may have a dislike or even aversion to food that you loved before. Yes, pregnancy hormones are to blame for all this.

But be a little careful and try not to overeat to bursting. Your digestion is slower and you may experience nausea or even vomiting. Overeating also increases your weight and you may start gaining weight uncomfortably.

Don't skimp on your food, but don't overeat. Rather, reach for fruits and vegetables, which are less calorie-dense and can also fill you up, being full of vitamins that are only beneficial for your baby's development.

Read also:
How much to gain during pregnancy? What does it depend on and what to look out for?

Your kidneys start working more, which forces you to urinate more often. The kidney function is affected by pregnancy hormones, which increase blood flow in the body.

Excessive salivation may surprise you in early pregnancy. It's normal. Pregnancy hormones may also be responsible for this symptom. To relieve salivation, try chewing gum.

Warning signs that something is wrong and medical help should be sought

• Vaginal bleeding, which can take the form of blood clots or fresh blood
• Severe abdominal, lower abdominal cramps
• Back pain

Read:
Abortion: what are the types and stages of abortion? What does abortion entail?

Symptoms of ectopic pregnancy:

• Vaginal bleeding
• Abdominal pain shooting to one side
• Pelvic pain, abdominal cramps
• Pain shooting under the shoulder blade, into the shoulder joint or neck
• Positive pregnancy test result
• Pressure in the rectal area
• Urge to urinate

Read:
Ectopic pregnancy: what causes it and how does it manifest itself?

What do we recommend?

• Plan your first visit to the gynaecologist
• Start taking prenatal vitamins
• Eat a healthy diet and increase the intake of vitamins in your diet
• Supplement folic acid either in tablet form or by increasing the amount in your diet. Foods with folic acid include asparagus, kale, spinach, lettuce, peppers, peas, tomatoes, potatoes, carrots, broccoli, and others
• Avoid harmful substances that impair fetal development, such as alcohol, cigarettes, drugs, excessive drinking of caffeine. In the 1st trimester, the fetus is particularly sensitive to adverse influences
• Avoid foods that increase the risk of disease or infection that may adversely affect your baby's development

Do not eat:

• Unpasteurised cheeses such as feta
• Raw, unpasteurised milk and milk products
• Uncooked meat products, seafood and eggs
• Fish with high mercury content such as mackerel, shark, tuna, swordfish

Pets and pregnancy

Do you have a furry pet at home and found out you are pregnant?

It is not dangerous to have pets such as a cat or dog in the home during pregnancy. Make sure your pet is healthy, regularly vaccinated and dewormed. It is best to consult your vet about the condition of the animal and take it for a blood test if necessary.

The transmission of zoonotic diseases from animals to humans can cause a variety of illnesses, ranging from mild and easily treatable to dangerous, especially for children, pregnant women or people with weakened immunity.

If you have taken good care of your pet, then the chances of transmitting any disease are low.

What diseases can be passed from an animal to a human and what can they cause in a woman during pregnancy?

Salmonellosis causes fever, diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach pain. In pregnancy, it can cause dehydration of the body, and it can also cause meningitis.

Toxoplasmosis is caused by a parasite. It is only dangerous if acquired during pregnancy or just before pregnancy. If transmitted to the baby, it can cause stillbirth, miscarriage or congenital disabilities in the baby.

Lymphocytic choriomeningitis. This virus is usually spread by mice and rodents. It manifests similarly to influenza and passes without problems in most people. More severe cases can cause neurological problems. In pregnancy, transmission to the fetus can cause birth defects, miscarriage or stillbirth.

Rabies is spread by saliva from a rabid animal. It manifests itself in fever, chills, muscle weakness. Later, it affects the brain, and is fatal if left untreated. After being infected by a rabid animal, if you are bitten by a bat, wild animal or unknown dog, it is imperative to start treatment immediately. Treatment is also safe for pregnant or nursing mothers.

Lyme disease is spread by the bite of an infected tick. It manifests itself as a flu with a distinctive rash at the site of the tick bite. It is treated with antibiotics even during pregnancy. Gentle antibiotics are given for you and the fetus. Without treatment, you and your baby are at risk of serious illness. When walking your furry pet in the countryside, be extra careful not to bring home a tick on its fur. It could infect you.

Dog

If you have a dog, take it for regular vet checks, vaccinate and deworm it. Protect it from ticks and tick bites with products designed for this purpose.

Cats

For cats, watch out for bites, scratches and ticks. Clean cat faeces with gloves or ask your partner to take over cleaning the cat's litter box for you. The toxoplasmosis parasite can be found in faeces.

Wash your hands regularly.

Do not feed your cat raw meat as this may contain the parasite. Cats shed such parasites in their faeces for up to 6 weeks.

Take your cat to the vet regularly for check-ups, vaccinations and deworming. You can also have your cat tested for toxoplasmosis by your vet.

Rodents and rabbits

Many people have pets in the home such as mice, rats, hamsters, guinea pigs, chinchillas or rabbits.

Always wash your hands thoroughly after contact with them.

If you have to clean the cage yourself, use protective gloves.

Do not clean the cage in the kitchen or near food. Instead, clean it outside on the balcony. If you do not have the option, clean it in the bathroom, which you will then wash thoroughly.

Do not unleash your pet.

You can read more about fetal development in our article:
Pregnancyby weeks: How does pregnancy and fetal development work?