Welcome to the fifth week of your pregnancy. It is still early in your pregnancy and you may have only recently tested positive. You may not feel any different, but a tremendous amount of activity is going on inside your uterus.
After weeks of rapid cell development, your baby takes on a more distinct form. During the 5th week of pregnancy, here's what is happening inside:
Development
Your baby's heart and circulatory system take shape — a bulge indicates where her heart is developing. By the end of the 5th week of pregnancy, your baby's earliest blood vessels form.
The neural tube, which forms into the brain and spinal cord eventually, begins to form.
The embryo is taking oxygen via the developing placenta, and the bag of membranes ( the amniotic sac) is also developing. This will contain the water (amniotic fluid) in which your baby will be protected and continue to grow.
Appearance
By the end of the 5th week, it looks like a tadpole, tail included, and is about the size of an orange seed or 1-5mm in length. At this stage, the head can already be distinguished clearly from the body.
Is Cramping during Pregnancy is normal?
Cramping during pregnancy can be very concerning to a pregnant mother. It can be mild to severe. Cramps can be a signal of a problem or just another sign of a stretching and growing uterus. The question arises, should I be concerned about cramping? We hope to clarify some of the common causes of cramping during pregnancy.
Causes of Cramping During Early Pregnancy
Implantation cramping:
Some women will experience cramping upon implantation. Implantation usually occurs 8-10 days after ovulation. You should not experience implantation cramping after a positive pregnancy test; however, many a woman has experienced cramping only to find that she is indeed pregnant shortly thereafter.
Stretching uterus:
As your body prepares for it's new baby your uterus will stretch and expand. The ligaments that support the uterus will stretch and with this stretching may cause mild cramps.
Miscarriage:
Cramping during early pregnancy, especially accompanied by spotting or bleeding, is a warning sign of a possible miscarriage.
Ectopic pregnancy:
Ectopic pregnancy is a serious condition and requires immediate medical attention. Signs of an ectopic pregnancy include cramping and abdominal pain (particularly on one side), spotting, or bleeding.
Other causes of cramping during early pregnancy - constipation or gas pains. Pregnant women often have problems with constipation. This can lead to uncomfortable cramping as well.
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