Pregnancy Week 5

Learn From the Specialists

What Your Baby is Doing This Week

This week your baby will begin to take on a distinct shape. The neural tube which will become the brain and spinal cord, runs from the top to the bottom of the embryo. There is a small bulge in the center of the embryo that will develop into your baby's heart. During the week the placenta will begin to develop. The finger-like projections from the placenta, called the chorionic villi, will deliver nutrients from the foods you eat to your baby for the next several months until birth.

What Your Body is Doing This Week

Feeling nauseous yet? This is the week many women start feeling ill in the mornings and even familiar smells such as coffee brewing or a favorite perfume can cause whatever you had for breakfast to make a reappearance. Be aware that in this early stage of pregnancy that food borne illnesses, such as listeriosis and toxoplasmosis, can cause birth defects or even a miscarriage. Here are some foods you may cause birth defects or even miscarriage. Here are some foods you'll want to avoid:

  • soft cheeses such as feta, goat, brie, Camembert, and blue cheese
  • unpasteurized milk and juices
  • raw or under-cooked meats, including hot dogs and deli meats
  • raw eggs or foods containing raw eggs, including mousse and tiramisu
  • raw shellfish or sushi
  • paté

Toxoplasmosis is an illness that will cause no symptoms to only mild symptoms to a pregnant woman but can be devastating for your growing baby. It is primarily spread in cat feces so have someone else clean the litter box during your pregnancy.

© 2012 Pregnant.com