5 Weeks Pregnant

A positive pregnancy test... Learn what's going on with you and your baby-to-be when 5 weeks pregnant.

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Read about...

• Your Baby
• You
• 2nd Month of Pregnancy Video
• Diary of a Daughter

Your Baby

Being 5 weeks pregnant (already!), your little one is as large as a sesame seed! With all the growing and developing taking place inside of you, it's no wonder that your embryo now has 3 layers - the ectoderm, the mesoderm and the endoderm. These 3 parts will develop into the organs and tissues for your bundle of joy.

The ectoderm layer, or top layer, is where the neural tube develops into your baby's nervous system, for things such as the brain, spinal cord, skin and hair and even mammary glands and tooth enamel. This neural tube runs from the top to the very bottom of the embryo.

The mesoderm layer, the middle layer, is used to develop the heart and circulatory system, bones, cartilage, muscles and organs eventually. This week your little one�s heart divides into chambers in order to beat and pump blood.

The endoderm, or the inner layer, is used to develop a simple tube that will later become the lungs, intestines, liver, pancreas, thyroid and bladder for your baby.

At this time in embryo growth, the heart and very primitive circulatory system functions will form quite rapidly as needed by the growing baby. The placenta is growing so that it can nourish the growing baby with everything it needs from its mother.

You

Received a positive pregnancy test yet? If so; congratulations! If not, this can be a very stressful time, looking for signs of pregnancy, running to the toilet to see if the period has started, squeezing the breasts to see if they are tender - and if they are, wonder if it is because you've squeezed them too much...

Thought you were the only one behaving like a lunatic around the time when your period is due? Not at all!

But if you are trying to conceive and your menstruation is late, chances are high that you soon get to know that you are pregnant!

The reasons why this is a time when many women question if they are indeed carrying a child is that even the period is late, is that for some women it takes a while before their bodies produce enough hCG to produce a positive result on a home test.

Many women who are monitoring themselves closely have already found out they are pregnant and are making all the necessary arrangements for prenatal care and dietary changes.

Do not worry if you have not been taking prenatal vitamins or preventative care measures up until now, just be sure that once you realize that you do have a new one arriving soon, stock up on your calcium supplements and start eating healthy.

Many hormonal changes in your body are happening without you even knowing it.

Nausea can be the first indication of a pregnancy, while others may find sudden food cravings or frequent trips to the bathroom more of a tip-off that a baby is growing within.

You know your own body best and if you have that "feeling", do not ignore it, but be sure to make better choices for your diet and turn down that glass of wine with dinner.

If you are already considerably active then you will want to continue to remain active, unless a medical practitioner has instructed you otherwise. Having a healthy body during pregnancy and afterwards will help with not only your delivery but also the recovery once your little one has entered the world.

If physical activity has not been in your regular routine, check with your doctor or midwife as to what type of moderate exercise you will be able to participate in during your pregnancy.

Even a nice walk each evening after dinner can help your circulation and elevate your heart rate enough to get a good work out.

2nd Month of Pregnancy Video

If seeing is believing for you; watch this video explaining the second month of pregnancy in pictures and words.

Diary of a Daughter

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