We have reached the 5th week of pregnancy... In this part of our week-by-week pregnancy series, we explained what happened in the 5th week of pregnancy. What should expectant mothers do if the pregnancy test is positive? What changes are happening in the embryo? What happens in the 5th week of pregnancy?

Head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Yeditepe University Hospitals and IVF Specialist Prof. Dr. Erkut Attar explained what happened in the 5th week of pregnancy and answered the curious questions:

Embryo at 5 Weeks of Pregnancy

By this week, the embryo, which is only 2 mm in size, is undergoing major changes. The circulatory system, nervous system, bone, and muscle structure will begin to develop. The outer cell layer forms the neural tube, which will develop into the brain and nervous system. Anomalies of the nervous system, called neural tube defects, occur at this stage and are highly preventable with folic acid.

What are the Symptoms of Early Pregnancy?

During this week, you will notice that your period is delayed. You may experience PMS-like mood changes, but you may also experience early pregnancy symptoms such as fatigue, a tendency to sleep, and breast tenderness. Nausea does not occur in all pregnancies, but if nausea occurs, it usually starts this week. Odors that normally do not bother you may start to bother you.

If the pregnancy test is positive...

Blood and urine pregnancy tests taken after the expected menstrual period are highly accurate. If you have just found out that you are pregnant, it would be appropriate to see your obstetrician as soon as possible. Routine blood tests required for you to have a healthy pregnancy will be checked, necessary mineral vitamin supplements will be given, and you will be given information about lifestyle and diet.

Image  of 5-Weeks-Old Baby

1 Question | 1 Answer about Pregnancy

• Is it dangerous to have one or two cigarettes and be a passive smoker?

How should the expectant mother's social life, activities, or diet be during pregnancy? First of all, she should mention the issue of smoking. A pregnant woman should never smoke. Both for herself and her baby. Studies have shown that mothers who smoke are more likely to give birth prematurely. In other words, a mother who smokes will give birth much earlier than her due date and give birth to a baby who has not yet adapted to the world. This premature baby will have respiratory problems, feeding problems, and many other problems. Therefore, the expectant mother is expected to quit if she smokes, or if she cannot quit, at least reduce the number of cigarettes she smokes and prevent even passive exposure to cigarette smoke.