pregnancy - Week 5
How your baby's growing: Deep in your uterus your embryo is growing
at a furious pace. At this point he's about the size of a sesame
seed, and he looks more like a tiny tadpole than a human. He's now
made up of three layers the ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm
that will later form his organs and tissues. The cells are forming
for his major organs, including his kidneys and liver, and his
neural tube is beginning to develop. This neural tube from which
your baby's brain, spinal cord, nerves, and backbone will sprout
develops in the top layer, called the ectoderm. This layer will
also give rise to his skin, hair, nails, mammary and sweat glands,
and tooth enamel. His heart and circulatory system begin to form in
the middle layer, or mesoderm. (This week, in fact, his tiny heart
begins to divide into chambers and beat and pump blood.) The
mesoderm will also form your baby's muscles, cartilage, bone, and
subcutaneous (under skin) tissue. The third layer, or endoderm,
will house his lungs, intestines, and rudimentary urinary system,
as well as his thyroid, liver, and pancreas. In the meantime, the
primitive placenta and umbilical cord, which deliver nourishment
and oxygen to your baby, are already on the job.
* Note: Experts say every baby develops differently even in the
womb. This developmental information is designed to give you a
general idea of how your baby is growing.
How your life's changing: Pregnancy symptoms may surface this week
if they haven't already. If you're like most women, you'll notice
nausea (and not just in the morning), sore breasts, fatigue, and
frequent urination. All are normal, all are annoying, but the
upside is that they're all a part of being pregnant and won't last
forever. The outside world won't see any sign of the dramatic
developments taking place inside you except maybe that you're
turning down that glass of wine with dinner. It's a good idea to
avoid alcohol throughout your pregnancy since no one knows exactly
how much or how little alcohol can harm a developing
baby.
You'll also want to continue or start an exercise routine. Exercise
helps you develop good muscle tone, strength, and endurance; plus,
it helps you manage the extra weight you'll be carrying and get
ready for the physical rigors of labor. You'll also find that
bouncing back after you give birth will be easier if you've already
established a workout routine. Choose a safe, moderately vigorous
activity you like (walking and swimming are fine choices for
pregnant women) and check in with other moms-to-be in our exercise
and nutrition chat.
Dads, there are plenty of ways to participate in your partner's
pregnancy even this early in the game.
