First Trimester : 9 Weeks Pregnant Symptoms

9 WEEKS PREGNANT SYMPTOMS

Right now, the pregnancy hormone hCG is circulating through your body at its peak level. That means at 9 weeks, some pregnancy symptoms may be at their most severe. Hang in there—you’re just weeks away from those hormones leveling out a bit, leaving you feeling a lot more like yourself. Here’s what 9 weeks pregnant symptoms you may be experiencing:

• Mood swings. Because those hormones just keep raging, and also because other symptoms—such as nausea and fatigue—are bothering you, you may find your emotions more difficult to control. Remember that it’s okay to slow your usual pace, to take breaks (to nap, to meditate, or just to veg out and binge-watch Netflix), and to avoid stressful situations for the sake of your sanity.
• Morning sickness. Up to 80 percent of pregnant women experience some form of morning sickness. It really should be called all-day sickness though! If you’re suffering from nausea, you might just be feeling a little ill, or you may be vomiting regularly. If you are 9 weeks pregnant with twins, you may find yourself with more severe morning sickness symptoms. The good and bad news is that at 9 weeks, morning sickness is likely at its worst. Do some trial and error to see what makes you feel better—many moms-to-be find that ginger, frequent meals and snacks, and vitamin B6 help ease nausea. You’re suffering now, but this too shall pass. You can get through this!
• Frequent urination. Because your uterus is expanding and because there’s major blood flow to your pelvic area, you may be heading to the bathroom more often than you did pre-pregnancy. Don’t let that stop you from drinking lots of water. It’s important that you stay hydrated. Just put more pit stops onto your mental to-do list.
• Fatigue. While your hormones are working overtime to grow and develop your 9-week fetus, you might be feeling totally zapped. Sleep more, if you can, and keep your blood sugar stable by snacking healthily throughout the day. In the second trimester, you’ll get some of your energy back.
• Nasal congestion. Surprise! Pregnancy can cause higher mucus production in the body—an unexpected symptom—so you might need to keep tissues handy.
• Headaches. Thanks again, hormones! Those surges can give you headaches—and so can dehydration, caffeine withdrawal, hunger, lack of sleep, and stress. Deal by treating your other symptoms, eating at least every few hours, getting plenty of sleep, and drinking lots of water. A warm or cold compress can ease a headache and so can rest. Before you take any medication, clear it with your doctor. Many say acetaminophen (Tylenol) is okay but aspirin and ibuprofen (Advil) aren’t. It will depend on your health history and any other medications you may be taking.

9 WEEKS PREGNANT BELLY

Many moms-to-be find themselves struggling to button their jeans at 9 weeks pregnant. Your uterus is expanding to accommodate your growing fetus. In fact, it has doubled in size! When you touch your 9 weeks pregnant belly, you’ll probably find that your lower abdomen feels a bit firmer—that’s the uterus. You may even be showing a bit at 9 weeks! Your uterus will begin to grow out of your pelvis in coming weeks.

Weight gain at 9 weeks isn’t just okay—it’s recommended. How much weight your doctor recommends you put on during pregnancy will depend on your pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI). For example, if you started out with an average BMI, you will likely be told to put on a total of 25 to 35 pounds total during pregnancy—about three to five pounds of that should happen in the first trimester. If you’re 9 weeks pregnant with twins, you should aim to put on about a pound per week right now.

That said, so many moms-to-be are riddled with morning sickness and food aversions when they’re 9 weeks pregnant that they might not be gaining weight—they may be losing it! Naturally, you’ll want to talk to your OB about any concerns you have with your weight gain or loss—and definitely let him or her know if it’s sudden or drastic. But most doctors will tell you that minor weight loss is okay at this stage of the game. Once you begin getting your appetite back, you’ll have an opportunity to get your weight gain back on track.

There are also pregnant women who get nausea so severe they need medical treatment. Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) is diagnosed when a pregnant woman is so sick she’s dangerously dehydrated. If you can’t seem to keep any liquids down, are losing a significant amount of weight, or if you’ve fainted, you should tell your doctor, who will do a physical exam to see if you have HG.

The good news is that there are treatments for HG. You may need an IV to replenish your fluids, and you and your doctor may choose to try a prescription anti-nausea medication to help stop the vomiting.

The first prenatal appointment typically happens between weeks 8 and 12. So by now, you may have visited the OB—if not, you will soon! At that first appointment you may even see baby’s tiny heartbeat on the ultrasound. Exciting stuff, huh?

A 9 weeks pregnant ultrasound is typically done transvaginally. That means the doctor or ultrasound technician will have to insert a probe into your vagina, since your uterus still sits behind your pelvic bone. (Don’t worry—it doesn’t hurt!) The probe will emit sound waves, which will allow you to see an image of your 9-week fetus on a screen.

Not only will you catch a glimpse of baby—who will resemble a lima bean—but the 9 weeks pregnant ultrasound will also confirm that the pregnancy is uterine (which means there are no signs of ectopic or tubular pregnancy at 9 weeks). The doctor may point out the gestational sac, the yolk sac, and the fetal pole.

That’s right, week 9 of pregnancy is a milestone: Baby’s no longer an embryo—now he or she is a fetus! These two terms simply define different phases of development. The embryonic phase is about forming major organs, including the brain, heart, and lungs, plus the arms and legs. Once you’ve got a fetus, those organs and parts are formed and are now growing and developing.

Inside your week 9 pregnant belly, baby’s working on that cuteness—developing more distinct facial features. And baby might now have a strong enough heartbeat to be picked up by a fetal doppler. At 9 weeks pregnant, miscarriage risk is on a lot of women’s minds. Rest assured that once you’ve seen or heard a heartbeat, the risk is only 3 percent. In coming weeks, it will lower even more.

Other prenatal tests you can expect around 9 weeks pregnant include blood work to test for hormone levels, blood type, white and red blood cell counts, and certain diseases. You’ll also have a pap smear to check for abnormalities (which can be signs of cervical cancer) and STDs, and a urine test to check that the protein levels and hormone levels seem healthy. All that poking and prodding will totally be worth it when you’re holding your newborn baby. All in good time!

First Trimester : 8 Weeks Pregnant Symptoms

At 8 weeks pregnant, you’re wrapping up your second month of pregnancy. And while you may not be showing yet, being pregnant is probably finally starting to feel real to you; like most women, you may have your first prenatal appointment right around now. At this visit an ultrasound may be performed to determine how far along you are. You may even hear—and see—baby’s heartbeat. How cool is that?

How Big is Baby at 8 Weeks?

During week 8 of your pregnancy, baby is as big as a raspberry and weighs about .04 ounces and measures about .63 inches. Baby’s growing about a millimeter each day.

8 Weeks Pregnant is How Many Months?

You are almost 2 months pregnant at 8 weeks.

8 WEEKS PREGNANT SYMPTOMS

Wondering what stinks? Probably ANYTHING and EVERYTHING. Your hormones are doing some wild things at week eight, giving you a superhuman-like sense of smell and making your stomach do flip-flops. At eight weeks pregnant, there are a host of pregnancy symptoms you could experience, (don’t get us started on those wacky pregnancy dreams!) including:

• Sore breasts. Your breasts may feel bigger, heavier, and let’s face it, sore. That’s because milk-producing lobules in your breasts are starting to expand. It’s all for a good reason: they’re prepping for breastfeeding.
• Fatigue.  As your hormones fluctuate, your body produces more blood for baby, and your blood pressure and blood sugar levels are lower than they were pre-pregnancy. The best fix? Get more sleep. We know it sounds easier than it really is, but make it your number one priority to get to bed early or to sneak in a nap or four on the weekends.
• Morning sickness. Nausea could be really strong at 8 weeks, again related to those pregnancy hormones. Stay hydrated and graze on healthy snacks throughout the day. If you’re experiencing severe pregnancy nausea at 8 weeks, it might be tough to keep food down , let alone eat right, so finding options you can actually stomach is key. Some moms-to-be swear by ginger, Vitamin B-6, and acupressure wristbands to help with morning sickness—all worth a shot.
• Heightened sense of smell. Along with morning sickness comes another fun symptom: an uncanny sense of smell. Catching a whiff of an offensive odor—perhaps something that’s totally innocuous or never bothered you before—could trigger nausea, so it’s best to try to avoid the smells you’ve become sensitive to.
• Pregnancy cramps. At 8 weeks pregnant, cramping is normal. That’s because the ligaments in your abdomen are stretching as your uterus expands. If your cramping is severe or you’re worried in any way, let your doctor know.
• Constipation. If you’re having trouble going number two, you’re not alone. Constipation during pregnancy happens to about 50 percent of us. To deal, drink lots of water, eat fiber-rich fruits and veggies, and take lots of walks. If you’re still stopped up, talk to your doctor about other remedies.
• Weird dreams. If you’re having vivid and strange dreams, guess what, they’re totally normal throughout pregnancy. It’s not clear what causes these dreams—it could partly be due to new thoughts and anxieties. You’ve certainly got a lot on your mind these days!
• Spotting. It can be alarming to find that you’re spotting at 8 weeks pregnant because, yes, blood can be a sign of miscarriage. But there are some other causes of spotting in the first trimester, including sex (since your cervix may be more sensitive these days). Let your doctor know, so s/he can rule out any problems.

If you’re 8 weeks pregnant with twins, you may feel extra tired and nauseous, since you’ve likely got a higher level of those pregnancy hormones—needed to create two babies.

Remember: if you’re feeling nauseated, extra hungry, or extra tired, it’s all because baby’s growth is in overdrive—and because your body’s still adjusting to all those hormonal changes. Try to remind yourself it will be worth it. (Especially once you reach the second trimester, when most moms-to-be bounce back and feel more energized.)

Also, know that no pregnancy symptoms at 8 weeks is totally normal too. So don’t worry if you’re not feeling too different yet. We promise—soon you will!

8 WEEKS PREGNANT BELLY

Wondering if your belly is the right size at this stage? At 8 weeks pregnant, showing a bit is normal, but not showing is too! That’s because every mom and baby are different. Know that inside your 8 weeks pregnant belly, your uterus is expanding, but it just takes longer for some to show it on the outside. If, say, you’re 8 weeks pregnant with twins, it may be easier to tell you’re pregnant than it is to tell a singleton mom is expecting at this point.

Starting in the second trimester, your OB will likely begin measuring your pregnant belly, but for now, size really doesn’t matter. Healthy weight gain in the first trimester is about one to two pounds each week, so at 8 weeks pregnant, you may have gained as much as 4 to 6 pounds. If you’ve been dealing with morning sickness though, you may have gained next to nothing—and that’s okay too. Let your doctor know if you have any concerns about your weight gain or belly size.

You might have your first prenatal checkup around this time (aka, an 8-week pregnancy appointment), and if you do, you may get to catch a glimpse of your 8-week fetus on the ultrasound. Cue the awwws: you might be surprised to see baby’s arms and legs moving around like crazy in there. You can’t feel it yet, but it’s really happening!

At week 8 of pregnancy, baby’s fingers and toes are now only slightly webbed, and his or her tail (yes, there was one) is gone. Fun fact: baby’s taste buds are now forming, gearing up for his or her first meals.

At your first prenatal appointment, you’ll likely have your blood drawn so your doctor can run tests. Your doctor will want to know your blood type and whether it’s Rh positive or negative (because if you’re negative and baby’s positive, you’ll need medication to prevent complications). Your hormone levels and red and white blood cell levels will also be checked to be sure they’re normal. Your blood will also be screened for Hepatitis B, STDs, HIV, and certain immunities.

You’ll also get a pap smear to check for infections and abnormalities. And get ready to pee in a cup, because at this appointment—and likely every appointment—you’ll have to give a urine sample, so your glucose and protein levels can be monitored to rule out gestational diabetes and preeclampsia, respectively. Welcome to your new normal!

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First Trimester : 7 Week Pregnant Symptoms

            

BABY IS AS BIG AS A

BLUEBERRY!

How Big Is a Baby at 7 Weeks?

At 7 weeks pregnant, baby is the size of a blueberry. Your embryo measures about .51 inches, having doubled in size since last week. He or she doesn’t exactly tip the scales just yet, but is developing like crazy inside your 7-week pregnant belly.

7 Weeks Pregnant Is How Many Months?

Seven weeks pregnant means you’re one month and about two weeks pregnant.

7 WEEKS PREGNANT SYMPTOMS

Being 7 weeks pregnant can cause a whole range of symptoms. Some are no biggie and some can make it difficult to get through your day. These are a few of the most widespread:

• Nausea. Morning sickness may be going strong at week 7 of pregnancy. Hang in there, and try to find ways to cope. Some moms-to-be have success with ginger, Vitamin B-6, and acupressure wristbands easing their tummy troubles. When your hormones become more normal in the second trimester, the nausea should decrease or even disappear. Moms-to-be who are 7 weeks pregnant with twins may be more likely to have nausea and vomiting, since they likely have heightened levels of the hormones that cause morning sickness.
• Food cravings and/or aversions. You may find yourself with the urge to eat specific or even weird foods—or not wanting to go anywhere near certain foods you used to think were fine (or even delicious!). Food aversions are nature’s way of keeping you away from potentially dangerous foods, and typically go hand-in-hand with morning sickness. It’s okay to give in to your cravings and indulge here and there. But try not to go too crazy, and make healthy food choices when you can. *__ Frequent urination.__ If it seems like you have the urge to pee constantly, it’s not your imagination. Even though you probably don’t look pregnant yet, your uterus has already doubled in size, and you also have increased blood flow to your pelvis.
• Acne. Breakouts are due to hormonal changes in your body. Before you use any acne fighting products, check with your doctor to make sure they’re safe during pregnancy.
• Extra saliva. Here’s a symptom you never expected! The excess saliva is probably also hormonally triggered and could be related to nausea too.
• Mood swings. Not only are your hormones out of whack, but you’re probably still getting used to the idea of being pregnant, and that can make you become extra emotional.
• Cramping and/or spotting. Cramping in early pregnancy is normal. After all, there’s a lot happening inside your uterus, and even though it will be several weeks before you feel baby move, you can certainly feel plenty of cramping and pulling at this point in your pregnancy. Also, your cervix may be more sensitive now that you’re pregnant, so spotting at 7 weeks could happen after sex. These two pregnancy symptoms can be alarming, but know that in most cases, they’re not a sign of ectopic pregnancy or other types of miscarriage. If you were to have abdominal pain worse than typical menstrual cramps or bleeding during pregnancy at 7 weeks that’s heavier than a period, that would be a cause of worry, and you should call your doctor right away.

That said, at 7 weeks pregnant, you may very well have no symptoms at all. If that’s the case, consider yourself lucky! Some moms-to-be worry that having no symptoms at 7 weeks could be a sign of a problem, but it’s absolutely not. We’ll keep reminding you that every woman experiences pregnancy slightly differently. If you have any concerns, definitely bring them up to your OB, but unless your symptoms at 7 weeks pregnant are severe or painful, it’s all likely normal.

7 WEEKS PREGNANT BELLY

Caught yourself staring at your 7 weeks pregnant belly in the mirror—and even pushing it out to fake a baby bump, just to get a preview? Yeah, we did that too during week 7. Every mom-to-be is different, but many report starting to “show” in the middle of the second trimester when the uterus outgrows the pelvis. Moms-to-be who are 7 weeks pregnant with twins should expect to show earlier than that, but at this point, it’s nothing but bloating for everyone.

How amazing is this? Your 7-week embryo is generating about one hundred new brain cells each minute! And not only is baby’s brain becoming more complex, but the heart is too. Also important: Baby’s developing a permanent set of kidneys, and arm and leg joints are now forming as well.

At seven weeks pregnant, you’re gearing up for your first prenatal visit with your OB, and you’re probably dying to know what to expect. Brace yourself to give a variety of samples (blood, urine, and cervical cells for a pap smear), get an ultrasound that will confirm baby’s doing okay in there, and get an estimated due date (yep, you might already have one, but the doc may adjust it a bit based on what she sees).

A 7-week ultrasound isn’t common, since many OBs don’t see their low-risk pregnancy patients until sometime between weeks 8 and 10—it depends on your health history and your doctor’s preference.

With all the waiting, your mind may be full of curiosity—maybe even wondering whether you could be expecting more than one baby. There are symptoms of twin pregnancy at 7 weeks besides seeing two gestational sacs on an ultrasound. For example, if you had a blood test to determine your pregnancy, your doctor would have found a higher level of the pregnancy hormone hCG in your blood. Some twin moms have earlier and/or more severe morning sickness (due to the hCG), and of course, moms of multiples may start to show earlier.

PREGNANCY CHECKLIST AT 7 WEEKS PREGNANT

Reminders for the week:

• Read up on prenatal tests you can expect
• Make some pregnancy-safe beauty swaps
• Check which OTC medicines are safe

First Trimester : 6 Week Pregnant Symptoms

How Big Is Baby at 6 Weeks?

At 6 weeks pregnant, baby is the size of a sweet pea. The average embryo at week six is about .25 inches and will double in size again next week. Wow!

6 Weeks Pregnant Is How Many Months?

At 6 weeks, you’re one month and about one week pregnant—even though it’s probably been only a week or two (or even less) since you found out you were expecting. That’s because pregnancy is measured starting with the first day of your last menstrual period. You probably conceived in week 2 or 3 (depending on the length of your menstrual cycle) and didn’t discover your pregnancy until you missed your period around week 5.

Because it’s still early in your pregnancy, you may not yet be experiencing symptoms—at this point, some women are terribly nauseous, while others feel almost nothing. At 6 weeks pregnant, either is normal, but the most common 6 weeks pregnant symptoms include:

• Fatigue. You’re so drained because your body’s still getting used to your changing hormones. Get extra rest if you’re feeling wiped out.
• Nausea. Hate to break it, but morning sickness doesn’t just happen in the morning. It can be an all-day affair. And moms-to-be who are six weeks pregnant with twins might have even more severe nausea. It’s a good idea to find foods that help settle your stomach and to keep them on hand for regular snacking, since having an empty stomach can trigger bouts of nausea.
• Sore breasts. Your boobs are likely sore thanks to increased blood flow. Can you believe your body is already starting to prep to breastfeed your baby? Yep, even at just six weeks!
• Frequent urination. If you find yourself having to pee more than usual, it’s because the pregnancy hormone hCG is directing extra blood flow to the pelvic area. Heading to the bathroom more often is normal, but if you have painful urination or have the urge to go but are unable to, tell your doctor right away. Those are signs of a UTI, which you’re at higher risk for starting at week 6 of pregnancy.
• Gas and bloating. The pregnancy hormone progesterone can cause these tummy troubles. Drink lots of water and eat fiber-rich foods to avoid constipation (yuck), which contributes to bloating (double yuck).
• Mood swings. Yup, crankiness and emotional extremes are because of the hormones. Fatigue and fluctuations in blood sugar can contribute too, so get extra rest and regularly eat healthy meals and snacks to keep your mood (at least sort of) in check.
• Cramping and spotting. At 6 weeks pregnant—and any time in early pregnancy—cramping and spotting are both normal. We know these symptoms can make you worry about problems like ectopic pregnancy at 6 weeks and other types of miscarriage. Know that if any abdominal pain is severe (stronger than period cramps) or if bleeding becomes heavy like a period, then you should call the doctor.

6 WEEKS PREGNANT BELLY

Though it’s common to be bloated at 6 weeks pregnant, you likely don’t look pregnant at all. Inside your six weeks pregnant belly, your rapidly growing pea-sized embryo will soon take up a greater amount of real estate in your belly. So, if you’re not ready to share your news with the world, you can enjoy your little secret for a little longer. Of course, if you’re 6 weeks pregnant with twins, belly expansion will happen a little sooner than it will for other moms-to-be.

6 WEEKS PREGNANT ULTRASOUND

If you’ve let your doctor know you’re six weeks pregnant, she may have asked you to go in for your first prenatal appointment right away, but more likely, she may have told you to wait a few weeks. In fact, usually the first prenatal checkup is at about 8 or 9 weeks. So, unless yours is a high-risk pregnancy, you probably won’t have a 6-week ultrasound. We know the anticipation is killing you!

Still, you’re probably wondering what’s going on inside your 6-week pregnant belly. Well, many of the crucial areas of baby development have already started. Baby’s circulating blood with an increasingly sophisticated circulatory system. Baby might even be wiggling his or her paddle-like hands and feet. Your 6-week embryo is about to get cuter too, since he or she is starting to sprout a nose, eyes, ears, chin, and cheeks.

If you did have a 6-week ultrasound, the doctor might be able to see a fetal pole or fetal heartbeat—a clear sign that you’ve got an embryo developing in there. However, if the doctor doesn’t see a fetal pole or heartbeat, don’t panic—you might not be as far along as you thought. The doctor will probably ask you to come back in a few days or a week for another ultrasound.

And yes, if you are six weeks pregnant with twins, you’ll be able to see two distinct gestational sacs on the ultrasound at this point. In fact, twins develop about 4 to 10 days after conception.

While you wait for your doctor’s appointment, you probably have a million questions on your mind. Write them down so you have them ready to ask your OB at your first prenatal visit. (Until then, we hope we’ve answered—and can continue to answer—a bunch for you.)

PREGNANCY CHECKLIST AT 6 WEEKS PREGNANT

Reminders for the week:

• Prep for your first prenatal appointment
• Review your life insurance policy
• Take a relationship pulse

First Trimester : 5 Weeks Pregnant Symptoms

BABY IS AS BIG AS AN

APPLESEED!

5 Weeks Pregnant Is How Many Months?

5 weeks pregnant is about one month pregnant. Yep, you just discovered you’re pregnant and you’ve already got one month in the books. That’s because most doctors start counting pregnancy from the first day of your last period. Only eight months to go!

The pregnancy symptoms you feel at five weeks are just the beginning of the slew of changes your body is about to go through. No need to dread the entire pregnancy based on what’s happening right now: many moms-to-be say the first trimester is the toughest, so think of it as getting the rough stuff out of the way early. In the meantime, take care of yourself and get plenty of rest, eat right, and figure out ways to help yourself feel better. If you’re wondering what to expect at 5 weeks pregnant, here’s what’s most common:

• Sore breasts. Morning sickness gets all the attention, but aching boobs may actually be the most common symptom at 5 weeks pregnant.
• Morning sickness. This bad boy is so inaccurately named. Nausea in early pregnancy can happen at any time of the day, not just morning. And unfortunately, some pregnant moms feel queasy pretty much all day. In fact, if you’re 5 weeks pregnant with twins, you may be more likely to have severe morning sickness. Experiment with different strategies to find what helps you deal with the queasies best. Eating small, frequent meals is one good one. You might also try Vitamin B6, ginger capsules, special nausea-reducing lozenges or lollipops, and acupressure wristbands.
• Fatigue. At 5 weeks pregnant, it’s normal to want to nap in the middle of a board meeting, a dinner date, a… well, pretty much any time. You’re zapped from making a baby and there’s not much you can do about it except get some extra rest, do some light exercise, and eat every few hours so your blood sugar doesn’t drop so much that you lose even more of your (already scarce) energy.
• Frequent urination. You might notice yourself having the urge to pee more often early in pregnancy. This symptom at 5 weeks pregnant is because your kidneys are actually expanding. (Whoa!)
• Cramps. Around 4 or 5 weeks, cramping could be a sign the embryo has implanted nicely into the lining of your uterus. Or it could be a sign your uterus is expanding and stretching your ligaments. If you’re feeling cramping at 5 weeks pregnant that’s severe or painful, call your doctor and get checked out to make sure it’s not a sign of a problem.
• Spotting. When you’re 5 weeks pregnant spotting can seem scary, but a little blood on your underwear could also be a sign of implantation. You might also spot a bit after sex, since your cervix is more sensitive now that you’re pregnant. This is totally normal, but if you’re having something that’s less like spotting and more like bleeding at 5 weeks pregnant—or really, if you’re concerned at all—call the doctor.

Some moms-to-be who are 5 weeks pregnant feel no symptoms at all. Or it might feel like, at 5 weeks pregnant, symptoms come and go. And all of that is totally okay! Just because you’re not feeling sick or sore doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with the pregnancy. It just means you’re lucky!

5 WEEKS PREGNANT BELLY

At 5 weeks pregnant, your belly may look unchanged—or you may be a bit bloated or feel like you’ve already gained a pound. Heck, you might feel so sick that you can’t eat and worry you could have lost a pound. All those scenarios are considered perfectly normal and totally okay! All pregnant women are different and how their bodies change throughout pregnancy varies widely.

You’re probably starting to wonder a bit about overall pregnancy weight gain. The short answer is: You don’t need to worry too much about it yet. Doctors only recommend gaining a few pounds (1 to 5 to be exact) during the first trimester (which ends after week 13), and that will probably happen without you thinking too much about it.

The long answer is that you will need to gain weight.

Your doctor will discuss personalized weight gain recommendations with you—know that they vary based on body type. Here’s what the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends:

If you’re underweight (BMI under 18.5):

• Your recommended total pregnancy weight gain is 28 to 40 pounds.
• In the second and third trimesters, aim to gain about a pound (1 to 1.3 pounds to be exact) per week.

If you’re of average weight (BMI of 18.5 to 24.9):

• Your recommended total pregnancy weight gain is 25 to 35 pounds.
• In the second and third trimesters, aim to gain about a pound or a little less (0.8 to 1 pound to be exact) per week.

If you’re overweight (BMI of 25 to 29.9):

• Your recommended total pregnancy weight gain is 15 to 25 pounds.
• In the second and third trimesters, aim to gain a little over a half pound (0.5 to 0.7 pound to be exact) per week.

If you’re obese (BMI of 30 and above):

• Your recommended total pregnancy weight gain is 11 to 20 pounds.
• In the second and third trimesters, aim to gain about a half pound (0.4 to 0.6 pound to be exact) per week.

If you’re 5 weeks pregnant with twins:

• Your recommended total pregnancy weight gain is 37 to 54 pounds.
• In the first half of pregnancy, aim to gain about a pound per week. In the second half, gain a little over a pound per week.

Wondering if you could be 5 weeks pregnant with twins? If you were, you probably wouldn’t know it yet, though as we mentioned above, some twin moms swear they had worse morning sickness. They also may gain weight more rapidly and “start to show” earlier than women having one baby would.

5 weeks pregnant is a good time ask your partner for a massage. You might not have a big bump, but at five weeks pregnant, your body is working fast and furiously to grow baby, so you deserve a little TLC, right?

Your week-5 embryo doesn’t look like much more than a tadpole right now, but he or she’s already starting to form major organs—heart, stomach, liver, and kidneys—and systems—digestive, circulatory, and nervous).

If you don’t have a medical history that puts you at higher risk for pregnancy complications, you won’t likely have a 5 weeks pregnant ultrasound. Instead, your OB will probably have you make an appointment for your first prenatal visit around week 8 or 9. And you’ll just have to wait impatiently. We feel your pain—sorry!

When you do have your first ultrasound, the doctor or technician will measure baby from crown to rump and could adjust your due date based on baby’s size (which would change which week of pregnancy you’re in). You’ll have a slew of blood tests and urine tests to be sure you and baby are both doing fine.

So while you’re totally amped up to see baby’s tiny fluttering heartbeat on the ultrasound screen, remind yourself that you can wait a few weeks for the blood draws and peeing in a cup. Welcome to the club!

 PREGNANCY CHECKLIST AT 5 WEEKS PREGNANT

Reminders for the week:

• Establish a healthy diet
• Start a pregnancy journal
• Come up with a plan to save for baby