5-weeks pregnant: baby development and diet tips
Though only around the size of a pea, your baby is growing by leaps and bounds. Relatively speaking!
Read more about this week.
Baby development
You can’t tell by looking, but your baby’s brain is developing rapidly with the emergence of the two cerebral hemispheres, the two sides of what will make up their brain. The “sense organs” are coming along too, with the outline of their eyes and ears, and the beginnings of their nose, mouth, and face. Excitingly, their pulmonary and digestive systems are also taking shape little by little. The heart of your baby has now developed enough that it is becoming more prominent - if you have an ultrasound at this stage, you will clearly see their heart beating! There in your womb, this little being is slowly, but surely, starting to form.
Your body
Now in the 5th week of your pregnancy, you might feel like something has changed. Many women can sense it, even at this early stage. Perhaps you’re feeling more tense or irritable than usual. This is caused by hormonal changes that can affect not just your mental state but also produce certain physical signs. Breasts can feel fuller, and some women feel a pulling, or even a little pain, in the pelvic region, which is caused by the intensified blood flow. All of this is normal and part of the process.
Nutrition
You may be feeling nauseous. Yes, sadly morning sickness isn’t limited to the morning. There are some things you can do. First, try not to skip breakfast. Even if you can only manage small amounts of food, it may help with the nausea. You can also try splitting up your meals. Plan small snacks mid-morning and afternoon in addition to your 3 meals. One last thing to remember - drink enough water to stay hydrated.
Tips
Did you know that flavours from your food can cross the placenta, to your growing baby? As such, in a few weeks when your baby’s taste buds develop, their taste preferences may already be influenced by what you eat during pregnancy. If you eat strong flavours such as garlic or anise, you may be teaching your little one to find these familiar and like them as well.
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