Week 5

At 5 weeks you are probably starting to feel those typical pregnancy symptoms. This is because the hormones that help support your developing pregnancy, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), progesterone and oestrogen, are rising and doubling at a rapid rate.^1,2

Between weeks 4–6 of pregnancy, symptoms should start to make an appearance. Unfortunately, they’re not all pleasant, so make sure to rest and speak with your healthcare provider if you are struggling to manage any of the symptoms.¹

• Nausea (with or without vomiting) known as “morning sickness” but can occur at any time of the day^1,3
• Breast tenderness^1,3
• Frequent urination^1,3
• Bloating^1,3
• Fatigue^1,3
• Food cravings or aversions¹
• Excessive saliva¹
• Mild cramping and light spotting^1,3       
  If you experience bleeding, speak with your healthcare provider for further support and guidance. Up to 25% of women experience light bleeding or spotting in pregnancy, but any bleeding should be investigated ⁴

At week 5, your baby has grown to the size of an orange seed. At this stage, your baby resembles more like a tiny tadpole as the epiblast cells have now formed into early-stage head and tail. However, there is a lot going on! Internally, cells are starting to differentiate into the digestive, circulatory, and nervous systems.^1,5

• Try to take folic acid consistently to support conception and reduce the risk of brain and neural tube defects in the early stages of foetal development⁶
• Staying active and keeping a healthy weight can help support fertility and overall health⁷
• Try to avoid alcohol consumption and smoking – both are known as risk factors for miscarriage^8,9
• Try to avoid foods and drinks that may make bloating worse, such as carbonated drinks and some vegetables like cabbage¹
• Start thinking about appropriate nutrition and pregnancy-safe foods   
  You should try to avoid foods high in mercury, such as mackerel and tuna, raw seafood, undercooked meat, poultry and eggs, unpasteurised foods and cheese with a mould rind such as brie, unwashed fruits and vegetables, and any type of herbal tea¹⁰
• Limit caffeine consumption to no more than 200 mg per day¹¹     
  As a guide:     
  1 mug of coffee contains 100 mg of caffeine     
  1 mug of tea contains 75 mg of caffeine     
  1 can of cola contains up to 40 mg of caffeine     
  1 bar of chocolate contains up to 50 mg of caffeine