5 Weeks Pregnant

Key Takeaways

• Testing: Missed your period? If you’ve diligently been charting your cycle, you’ve probably taken a test and gotten the good news. Congrats!
• Symptoms: You may also feel pregnant. Symptoms like morning sickness, exhaustion, bloating and sore breasts tend to kick in around this time as hCG is now present in your system.
• Development: You might be able to hear baby's heartbeat at 5 weeks, but it could take more time. Many doctors and midwives won’t schedule your first prenatal visit for another couple of weeks.

Congrats! You’ve just been initiated to the pregnancy club! Week 5 is a common time for moms-to-be to find out they’re pregnant. By now you’ve probably realized you’ve missed your period and then thought, “whoa—maybe I should take a test!” Plus, at 5 weeks pregnant, heightened hormone levels may be giving you symptoms that are tough to ignore, like nausea and fatigue.

In my first pregnancy, it started with breast tenderness. I vividly recall sitting at my work desk, eating my Chipotle bowl (which became a regular craving, BTW) and thinking, “Why do my boobs hurt so much? Come to think of it: When was the last time I had my period?!” And just like that—an epiphany! I left work and beelined it to the pharmacy. I couldn’t wait until the next day to test with first-morning urine, but I didn’t need to. There it was—clear as day—a positive result.

It was exciting and nervewracking and this moment forever changed my life. I didn’t know where to start or what to do. If you’re in the same elated-but-confused boat, sign up for The Bump pregnancy week-by-week newsletter emails to keep informed on the latest happenings inside your now-pregnant belly.

Video Highlights at 5 Weeks

Baby at Week 5

A lot is happening in fetal development during week 5. The blastocyst, the layer of cells that will become the embryo, produces increasing levels of hCG. This hormone tells your ovaries that it’s time to stop releasing eggs and to focus on making more estrogen and progesterone to support your pregnancy. It’ll also support the growth of the placenta, which will help to nourish baby during your pregnancy.

The forming embryo is made up of three layers in the fifth week. The top layer—which is called the ectoderm—will form baby’s outer layer of skin, central and peripheral nervous systems, eyes and inner ears. The middle layer (the mesoderm) will form baby’s heart and a primitive circulatory system. It also makes up the foundation for baby’s bones, ligaments, kidneys and most of the reproductive system. Finally, the endoderm is where baby’s lungs and intestines will develop.

Suffice it to say, your week-5 budding embryo doesn't look like much more than a tadpole right now, but they’re already starting to form major organs (heart, stomach, liver and kidneys) and systems (digestive, circulatory and nervous).

How big is baby at 5 weeks?

At 5 weeks pregnant, baby is the size of a sesame seed. Yep, your embryo is now measurable—though at this point of pregnancy, it's a wee 0.1 inches from crown to rump (aka head to bum)—and baby's gearing up for much more growth. In fact, in the next week they’ll almost double in size. Grow, baby, grow!

5-week ultrasound

If you don’t have a medical history that puts you at higher risk for pregnancy complications, you likely won’t have an ultrasound now. Instead, you’ll just have to wait impatiently until your first prenatal visit, around week 8 or 9.

When you do have your first ultrasound, the doctor or technician will measure baby from crown to rump and could adjust your due date based on baby’s size (which, FYI, would change which week of pregnancy you’re in). You’ll have a slew of blood tests and urine tests to be sure you and baby are both doing fine. So while you’re totally amped up to see baby’s tiny fluttering heartbeat on the ultrasound screen, remind yourself you can wait a few weeks for the blood draws and peeing in a cup.

Is there a heartbeat at 5 weeks?

Fetal embryonic activity may be detectable via ultrasound between 5-and-a-half weeks and 6 weeks, but not always. That’s why, unless you have preexisting conditions or fertility concerns, most doctors wait until at least 8 weeks for the first ultrasound.

Pregnancy Symptoms at Week 5

The pregnancy symptoms you feel at 5 weeks are just the beginning of the slew of changes your body is about to go through. No need to dread the entire pregnancy based on what’s happening right now: Many moms-to-be say the first trimester is the toughest, so think of it as getting the rough stuff out of the way early. In the meantime, take care of yourself and get plenty of rest, eat right and figure out ways to help yourself feel better. If you’re wondering what to expect in terms of 5 weeks pregnant symptoms, here’s what’s most common:

Sore breasts

Morning sickness gets all the attention, but aching breasts may actually be the most common symptom at 5 weeks pregnant.

Morning sickness

This bad boy is so inaccurately named. Nausea in early pregnancy can happen at any time of the day, not just morning. And unfortunately, some pregnant moms feel queasy pretty much all day (eh-hem, this was me!).

Moreover, if you’re 5 weeks pregnant with twins, you may be more likely to have severe morning sickness. Experiment with different remedies to find what helps you deal with the queasiness. Eating small, frequent meals can do the trick. You might also try Vitamin B6, ginger capsules, special nausea-reducing lozenges or lollipops and acupressure wristbands.

Fatigue

At 5 weeks pregnant, it’s normal to want to nap in the middle of a board meeting, a dinner date—pretty much any time. You’re zapped from growing a baby and there’s not much you can do about it except get some extra rest, try some light exercise and eat every few hours.

Frequent urination

You might notice yourself having the urge to pee more often early in pregnancy. This symptom at 5 weeks pregnant is in part because your kidneys are actually expanding. (Whoa!)

Cramps

Around 4 or 5 weeks, cramping could be a sign the embryo has implanted nicely into the lining of your uterus. Or it could be a sign your uterus is expanding and stretching your ligaments. If you’re feeling cramping at 5 weeks pregnant that’s severe or painful, call your doctor and get checked out to make sure it’s not a sign of a problem.

Spotting

When you’re 5 weeks pregnant, spotting can seem scary, but a little blood on your underwear could also be a sign of implantation. You might also spot a bit after sex, since your cervix is more sensitive now that you’re pregnant. This is totally normal, but if you’re having something that’s less like spotting and more like bleeding at 5 weeks pregnant—or really, if you’re concerned at all—call your doctor.

Keep in mind that at 5 weeks pregnant, symptoms could come and go, and some moms-to-be will feel no symptoms at all. And all of that is totally okay! Just because you’re not feeling sick or sore doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with the pregnancy. It just means you’re lucky!

What you might feel like at 5 weeks pregnant

This experience can vary a lot from person to person, so it might be best not to expect anything specific, but to prepare for everything. If nothing else, you’re likely to feel more tired than usual, and your body is probably just starting to feel a little wonky, but hopefully you’re not in the thick of it quite yet. If your symptoms are severe, there’s never any harm in calling your doctor to check in (and possibly check for multiples!).

Your Pregnant Belly at 5 Weeks

At 5 weeks pregnant, your belly may look unchanged—or you may be a bit bloated or feel like you’ve already gained a pound or two. Heck, you might feel so sick that you can’t eat and worry you could have lost a pound or two. All those scenarios are considered perfectly normal and totally okay! All pregnant women are different and how their bodies change throughout pregnancy varies widely.

Pregnancy weight gain

You’re probably starting to wonder a bit about overall pregnancy weight gain. The gist is this: You don’t need to worry too much about it yet. Doctors only recommend gaining a few pounds (1 to 5 to be exact) during the first trimester (which ends after week 13), and that’ll probably happen without you thinking too much about it.

Your doctor will also discuss personalized weight gain recommendations with you, since they vary based on body type. Here’s what the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends:

If you’re underweight (BMI under 18.5):

• Your recommended total pregnancy weight gain is 28 to 40 pounds.
• In the second and third trimesters, aim to gain about a pound (1 to 1.3 pounds to be exact) per week.

If you’re of normal weight (BMI of 18.5 to 24.9):

• Your recommended total pregnancy weight gain is 25 to 35 pounds.
• In the second and third trimesters, aim to gain about a pound or a little less (0.8 to 1 pound to be exact) per week.

If you’re overweight (BMI of 25 to 29.9):

• Your recommended total pregnancy weight gain is 15 to 25 pounds.
• In the second and third trimesters, aim to gain a little over a half pound (0.5 to 0.7 pound to be exact) per week.

If you’re obese (BMI of 30 and above):

• Your recommended total pregnancy weight gain is 11 to 20 pounds.
• In the second and third trimesters, aim to gain about a half pound (0.4 to 0.6 pound to be exact) per week.

If you’re 5 weeks pregnant with twins (and starting at a normal BMI):

• Your recommended total pregnancy weight gain is 37 to 54 pounds.
• In the first trimester, you should aim to gain about 4 to 6 pounds. During the second and third trimester, you can expect to gain about 1.5 pounds per week, according to the American Pregnancy Association (APA).

5 weeks pregnant is how many months?

At 5 weeks pregnant, you're entering your second month of pregnancy. Remember, most doctors start counting pregnancy from the first day of your last period. While many people think of pregnancy as lasting 9 months, it’s really 40 weeks long. If you’re counting four weeks to a month, that adds up to 10 months! Of course, some months have five weeks. That’s why many doctors avoid tracking pregnancy by month and refer to your progress simply by week.

Tips for 5 Weeks Pregnant

You’re at the very start of this long and exciting journey. Here’s what to keep in mind as you get your footing.

Skip certain foods

Now that you know you’re pregnant, there are certain foods you’ll have to put aside. As annoying as it is, some foods pose a safety concern for you and baby. Until your child is born, hold off on alcohol; raw dough and batter; raw or undercooked meat; hot dogs and cold cuts; paté and other refrigerated meat spreads; raw and undercooked seafood and eggs (including eggs with runny yolks and cured fish like lox); fish known for having high mercury levels; unwashed fruits and veggies; raw bean sprouts and any cheese, milk or juice that’s unpasteurized.

Break your coffee habit

The effects of too much caffeine on baby are unknown, so it’s smart to cut back on your habit. As exhausted as you probably are right now, limit yourself to less than 200 milligrams of caffeine per day—or about two small cups of coffee or less. If you’re a tea drinker, the same general rules apply.

Avoid smoke

If you’re a smoker, stop smoking right away as it’s harmful to baby, and this is the point in the first trimester when baby’s most at risk for adverse effects and birth defects. If you are around people who smoke frequently, ask them to stay a significant distance away when they smoke so you’re not inhaling secondhand smoke (and so the smell of the smoke doesn’t make you nauseous!).

Pass on the litter box

You are officially off the hook for cleaning the litter box, as there’s the potential for contracting an infection called toxoplasmosis, which could harm baby. It’s a good idea to avoid uncovered sandboxes and gardening without gloves too, since outdoor cats often use garden beds and sandboxes as their own personal toilets.

Wins, Challenges and Wisdom

At 5 weeks pregnant, you’re feeling all the emotions. We hear you! Finding out you’re pregnant can be thrilling and terrifying at the same time (and, FYI, this is true whether it’s your first rodeo—or a subsequent pregnancy!) To help you feel supported, we’ve tapped our community of moms to share their experiences.

• Win: “I'm so excited to finally be able to say I'm pregnant! I've wanted nothing more than to be a mama my whole life… I sent my sister a text (picture of my positive test) and she responded with a picture of a positive test… hers! We’re both due the same week!” - BabyLevine107
• Challenge: “I had no idea that baby bloat was this insane. My clothes don't fit… But I know baby is just the size of a seed. Drinking tons of water to try to help!” - VineyardMel
• Wisdom: “Symptoms come and go—that’s just normal. Some people never have any symptoms… Try to stop analyzing everything and just enjoy feeling good for now! Worry is like a rocking chair: It gives you something to do, but it won't get you anywhere.” - b.heather