Week by week pregnancy guide: 5 weeks pregnant

Think you're five weeks pregnant? This guide outlines the most common symptoms of being five weeks pregnant while detailing how your baby is developing.

If you want to track your pregnancy week by week (opens in new tab) then we've got everything you need.

This guide sums up what to expect, the symptoms you might have and how your baby is developing when you're 5 weeks pregnant.

You'll want to start thinking about what you're eating (if you haven't already!) and there are a few things you should be doing to make sure you'll have the easiest possible pregnancy - like paying particular attention to food hygiene.

5 weeks pregnant: Symptoms

During your fifth week of pregnancy your breasts are likely to feel tender and you might also get PMT-like symptoms, but without any signs of your period.

Chances are you'll also begin to feel queasy. Stock up on crystallised ginger. Ginger has excellent anti-emetic or anti-sickness properties. While it's not guaranteed to stop the symptoms of morning sickness (opens in new tab), many pregnant women find it really helps. Keep a supply next to your bed and chomp a few chunks before you get up.

If you can't stand to wait any longer to get clarification as to whether or not you're pregnant then the good news is that most home pregnancy test kits claim 99% accuracy when used one day after a late period.

5 weeks pregnant: Fetal development

The fifth week of pregnancy is the start of the embryonic period. By the end of this week your baby's only the size of the point of a peppercorn and yet their tiny heart has started to beat. Major organs, including the kidneys and liver, begin to grow and limb buds begin to sprout - these will develop into arms and legs. Facial features are also beginning to form.Your baby's digestive tract and nervous system is also starting to form.

5 weeks pregnant: The changes you should make

Once you're pregnant there are a few changes you should make to your diet in order to safeguard your growing baby.

Steer clear of liver products, such as paté, as it contains a lot of vitamin A, which may cause problems for the development of your baby. You are also advised to stop eating shellfish and soft cheeses.

Food hygiene becomes particularly important. This is because some bacterial infections that can be caught from food such as listeriosis and salmonella can harm your unborn baby.