What to expect at 5 weeks pregnant

Dr Christine Catling

Dr Christine Catling, a midwife for over 25 years, is the Director of Midwifery Studies at UTS. She believes research, innovation and good quality midwifery are pivotal to the well-being of mothers and young families. Christine has extensive experience in antenatal education, policy development and research, and has published on workforce issues, homebirth, vaginal birth...

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Created on Oct 11, 2023 · 3 mins read

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In this article

Your baby

You might only just be finding out that you are pregnant but your baby is already 3mm long and beginning to form its nervous system.

This is also when the major organs start taking shape. The neural tube has started to form, which will become your baby’s spinal cord and brain. The tiny heart will even start to beat. A string of blood vessels are starting to form and will become the umbilical cord, which will connect you and your baby.

Whilst the embryo is still tiny, it no longer looks like a ball and has started to look more like the early stages of a human being.

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How you’re feeling

This is the week where you’ll likely notice a missed period and many women find out they are expecting (if they haven’t already.)

You might also start to experience some pregnancy-related symptoms including nausea or vomiting, breast tenderness, frequent urination and probably the most common one which is tiredness (although not all women will experience these, some might experience none at all).

Often the early symptoms can be confused with regular period symptoms which can be confusing, so if you haven’t taken a pregnancy test up until now, now is the time.

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Weekly tip

A common pregnancy misconception is that nausea and vomiting only happen in the morning – hence the term ‘morning sickness’.

However, these nasty side effects can strike any time of the day or night – and can range in severity from feeling queasy or faint to vomiting and then can also be severe vomiting and dehydration known as Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG).

While HG is rare it does require treatment to ensure your baby can continue to grow and thrive. Take it easy and listen to your body and drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration. If you are worried speak with your doctor or midwife.

Now can also be a good time to think about whether you want to go through the public or private system for your pregnancy and birth. There are a number of options including midwife programs or obstetricians and it really comes down to personal preference as well as budget.

Take a look at your private health insurance to see what you’re covered for. If you are fit and well and would prefer to have minimal medical intervention, find your local midwifery group practice and give them a call.