The nine months of pregnancy may at times feel like they take an eternity to pass, but there is a lot of activity and growth during each of the 40 weeks. There are so many changes throughout that long time period that keeping track of your pregnancy by week is how doctors prefer to monitor you.
Weeks five and six may be early in the gestational period, but there are many changes that occur for both mother and baby.
Week Five: Changes Regarding You
Although by the calendar you are barely pregnant, your pregnancy by week five is making itself known to you. Your breasts are becoming tender and sore and it may even be difficult to sleep on your stomach at night due to their increased sensitivity.
Fatigue is often a strong symptom at this stage. You cannot see any real outside physical changes, but your body is working hard and it takes a toll on you.
This symptom may end up following you all the way through to the birth of your child. Although your baby is tiny, your hormones may be sending you to the bathroom quite often. Frequent urination is an early symptom that can also be waking you up at night.
Week Five: Your Baby’s Development
Your baby is now about the size of a sesame seed and although still tiny, growth is happening at a tremendous pace. The beginnings of all of the major organs and systems are forming: intestines, liver, heart, pancreas and everything else a person will need. Your baby does not yet resemble a child after only five weeks, yet it is in this early stage that the heart forms and begins to beat and pump blood.
Week Six: Changes Regarding You
During this week you may find that your hormones are starting to affect you even more. Moodiness is a common symptom in pregnancy by week six. It is the hormone fluctuation that affects you at this time, not the amount of hormones. Nausea and morning sickness will also normally begin around this time.
Week Six: Your Baby’s Development
Every major internal system of the human body is growing rapidly by week six. This is when your baby is starting to form his or her head and face. Arm and leg buds develop and will continue to grow in to full size appendages. Your baby has progressed to the size of a lentil, about a quarter of an inch in length.
Bear in mind that not every woman experiences the same symptoms at the same time. Depending on you and how many babies you are carrying, you may or may not be experiencing all of these symptoms in your pregnancy by week five and six.
Although it is early in the gestational period, and you are not showing signs to the outside world, it is still the right time to start taking care of yourself. You should be limiting or eliminating alcoholic drinks and consider cutting back on caffeine.
Consider a modified exercise plan as well. Being pregnant does not mean that you cannot work out. In fact, mothers who remain fit have an easier time with childbirth. Taking proper care of yourself during your pregnancy means you are taking proper care of your growing baby.
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