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5 Weeks Pregnant: Your Baby, Your Body and What to Do
The foundations of the brain, spinal cord and heart are being laid.
Before you use this guide: Pregnancy weeks are counted from the first day of your last period. Sizes are rough averages, and healthy babies vary. This is general information, not an individual medical assessment, so please confirm personal health decisions with your doctor or midwife.
How your baby is growing
Your baby is now an embryo, about the size of a sesame seed. The neural tube, which becomes the brain and spinal cord, is forming and closing. This is why folic acid matters so much at this stage.
A tiny tube that will become the heart starts to pulse. Early structures that will grow into the eyes, ears and digestive system are beginning to form.
How you may be feeling
Tiredness, tender or heavy-feeling breasts, needing the toilet more often, a sharper sense of smell and mild cramping are all common. Nausea often starts around week 6 but can begin earlier. Rapid hormone changes can also cause mood swings.
Your to-do list for week 5
- Book your first antenatal appointment if you have not already.
- Eat small, frequent meals if you feel queasy, and sip water through the day.
- Rest when you can. Early pregnancy tiredness is real.
- Ask a pharmacist before taking any medicine, herbal remedy or supplement.
When to ask for help
Call your doctor or midwife about vaginal bleeding, severe or one-sided tummy pain, or vomiting so often that you cannot keep any fluids down.
For heavy bleeding, severe pain, fluid leaking, a severe headache with vision changes, or a baby who is moving less than usual, do not wait for your next appointment. Contact your midwife, doctor or maternity unit straight away. Our guide to pregnancy warning signs has more detail.
Not sure which week you are in? Use the due-date calculator to estimate your due date and current week.
Useful at this stage: conception date calculator and pregnancy test calculator.
Trusted resources to read next
These public health resources provide additional information. Guidance can vary by country, so prioritise advice from your own care team and local health service.
- NHS: Pregnancy — Pregnancy care, common symptoms, screening and complications.
- NHS: Week-by-week pregnancy guide — Pregnancy development and care by week.
This content is for general information only and is not medical advice. Every pregnancy and every baby is different. Always talk to your doctor, midwife or paediatrician about your own situation, and seek urgent care if you are worried.