Pregnancy Week By Week (Week 5)

Week 5 Fetus

Must-ask Questions this Week (Week 5)

How do I go about calculating my due date?

To calculate your due date, you need to add 266 days or 38 weeks to the date when you conceived or assuming that your menstrual cycles are 28 days in length, add 280 days or 40 weeks to the first day of your last menstrual period. If your cycles are longer or shorter your doctor will decide to adjust your due date slightly. Likewise if your cycles are erratic, your due date may be adjusted as your pregnancy progresses and your doctor is better able to judge your stage of pregnancy by tracking baby's development. (Fetal development occurs in a predictable and timely fashion so an ultrasound can be very helpful in dating a pregnancy.) Bear in mind your due date is only an estimate. A healthy pregnancy can last anywhere from 38 to 42 weeks. Even though your chances of delivering on the due date are considerably slim - 5% - your chances of giving birth during the week prior to or following your due date are considerably higher: about 85%.


How long do we wait before sharing the news with others?

While doctors used to advise parents to keep their pregnancy news to themselves until they have passed the crucial period for miscarriage, most couples today choose to share the news once they get the positive word back. One thing is for certain, once you tell one family member the news, be sure to inform all the other key persons in your family before they hear it from somewhere else. Such news spread like wildfire in most families and it is important to hear such news from none other than you.


When should I visit the doctor?

Good prenatal care is essential for the health of the baby and mother-to-be. Make an appointment as soon as you are reasonably sure you are pregnant. This could be as early as a few days after a missed period.


What if I got pregnant while using birth control?

Inform your doctor if you were using any form of contraceptives. No method is 100% effective; occasionally a method fails. If you are sure about your pregnancy, discontinue the pill and set up and appointment immediately. Take the news calmly and discuss the issue with your doctor. Pregnancy can also happen with an intrauterine device (IUD) in place. See your doctor immediately to discuss if the IUD should be remove or left in place. Mostly, attempts will be made to remove the device. If left in place, there is a slight risk for miscarriage. Read Full Article

Some Basic Pointers (Week 5)

Weight Gain

Weight gain during pregnancy differs greatly. It may actually range from weight loss to a total gain of 50 pounds or more. Complications increases at the extreme end of the poles. It is therefore difficult to set on one figure as an ideal weight gain during this state of pregancy. One thing is set; the amount you gain is influenced by pre-pregnancy weight. If you have any weight issues discuss them with your doctor. You will be advised on how much you should gain. Dieting should be totally ruled out at this point of pregnancy, but that does not mean you go on an eating binge. You should still watch your calorie intake. It is important for your baby to get the right nutrition from the foods you eat. Choose your foods wisely. Read Full Article

Average Pregnancy weight gain

Body Type Acceptable Gain (pounds)

Underweight 28 - 40

Normal weight 25 - 35

Overweight 15 - 25


Ectopic Pregnancy

This is a situation where fertilization occurs outside the uterus, usually in the fallopian tube (95% of the cases) The balance 5% of ectopic pregnancies the egg implants in the abdominal cavity, the ovaries or the cervix. Approximately 1% of pregnancies end up being ectopic. An embryo that implants in the fallopian tube cannot develop normally. It can only grow to the size of a walnut before it causes the tube to burst, causing a medical emergency that can result in major bleeding or even death. They are basically categorized as being ruptured or unruptured ectopic pregnancies.

An unruptured is one in which the fallopian tube has not yet burst. It is characterized by pain on one side of the abdomen and in the shoulder region, vaginal bleeding, and fainting (if blood loss has been substantial). If detected soon enough, medication or surgery can save the tube.

A ruptured is one in which the fallopian tube bursts causing pain and shock, a weak but rapid pulse, paleness, and falling blood pressure. Treatment usually involves removal of the tube and possibly a blood transfusion.

Symptoms of ectopic pregnancy which occur in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy include:

• Cramps

• Tenderness in the lower abdomen

• Bleeding or brown spotting

• Shoulder pain caused by blood from the ruptured tube irritating the peritoneum (area between the chest and stomach)

• Weakness, dizziness or fainting caused by blood loss

• Nausea

• Read Full Article



You are at an increased risk if

• you smoke (women who smoke more than 30 cigarettes are five daily are at higher risk)

• you have previously experienced pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), STDs such as gonorrhea and Chlamydia, endometriosis, or salpingitis (inflammation of fallopian tube)

• you have already had an ectopic pregnancy (you have a 12% chance of experiencing it again)

• you have been treated for infertility using ovulation stimulating drugs

• you have a structural abnormality of the fallopian tube that leaves you more susceptible to ectopic pregnancy

• you have had a pelvic or abdominal surgery, and especially if you have had a tubal surgery such as sterilization reversal

• you were using an intrauterine device (IUD) at the time you conceived

• you are in the habit of douching

Diagnosis may be difficult because many of the symptoms resemble pregnancy-related discomforts. Special tests are conducted including quantitative hCG, pelvic exam, ultrasound and or laparoscopy to confirm any suspicions. Most cases are detected around 6-8 weeks of pregnancy. The key in early diagnosis involves communication between you and your doctor about any abnormalities you feel. Once you have been confirmed to have an ectopic pregnancy, either surgery or drug treatment will be recommended. Drug treatment is an option if your pregnancy is in the early stages, the tube has not ruptured yet and there is no internal bleeding. Although occasionally the pregnancy will terminate and reabsorb on its own, in all other cases, surgery is your only option.

Your Nutrition (Week 5)

You may have to deal with nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. Not everyone goes through it but some do. The hormone hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) that makes a home pregnancy test change color causes morning sickness. If you suffer from this discomfort, then it is comforting to know that your nausea and vomiting tapers off near the end of the first trimester. In the meantime try some of these suggestions:

• Eat small meals frequently to keep your stomach from being overfull

• Drink lots of fluids

• Find out what foods, smells or situations make you feel nauseas and avoid them wherever possible

• Avoid coffee because it stimulates stomach acid

• A high protein snack before bed may stabilize blood sugar

• Sometimes a high carbohydrate snack before bed helps

• Keep dry crackers, toast or cereal near the bed to nibble on before you get up in the morning. They help absorb stomach acid

• Keep your room well ventilated. Cool fresh air helps make a difference

• Get out of bed slowly

• If you are on iron supplement, take it an hour before meals or 2 hours after a meal

• Nibble on raw ginger, or pour boiling water over it and sip the 'tea'

• Salty foods help some women deal with nausea

• Lemonade and watermelon may help alleviate symptoms

• Suck on lemon candies