5 weeks pregnant: your symptoms and what to expect

Think you could be pregnant? At 5 weeks pregnant, symptoms and signs like missing your period are a real giveaway, and this is when a lot of mums-to-be realise that they’re expecting¹.

Whether you’ve been trying to get pregnant for a little while or the news of your new addition has come as a complete surprise, that positive pregnancy test can bring a whole mix of emotions.  

In our experience, it helps to know what’s going on and what to expect at each stage of your pregnancy. Even this early on, there’s plenty to talk about, so let’s get into what to expect at 5 weeks pregnant!

Reviewed by Sammy, a registered midwife with a background in neonatal nursing, dedicated to providing compassionate, evidence based care to women and families throughout pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period.

Your baby isn’t yet a foetus at 5 weeks pregnant – they’re still classed as an embryo – but that doesn’t mean they’re not doing some serious developing. Even this early, their face is starting to take shape, and they’re developing early signs of their brain, blood vessels, and spinal cord¹.

Your baby is still really tiny right now – just the size of a sesame seed¹.

Most people have two ultrasound scans when they’re pregnant; one at around 12 weeks and another at around 20 weeks².

In rare cases, you might be offered a transvaginal ultrasound scan in very early pregnancy (from about 6 weeks)². But your baby’s so small at 5 weeks pregnant, ultrasound scans usually can’t pick them up.

Your baby isn’t the only one changing and developing at 5 weeks pregnant! Here’s what you can expect at this early stage. 

Your baby (or embryo) is releasing a hormone called hCG, which stops you from ovulating and plays a central part in maintaining your pregnancy. That’s why a missed period is one of the first and most noticeable signs of pregnancy³. hCG is also the hormone that at-home pregnancy tests pick up on to let you know you’re expecting⁴, and usually the culprit behind early pregnancy symptoms like morning sickness.

Speaking of hormones, your body’s also starting to produce more oestrogen and progesterone to support your pregnancy, which can also cause some of the early pregnancy symptoms you might experience in your first trimester³.

Now’s a good time to talk to your GP or midwife so they can help you arrange your first midwife appointment (also called your booking appointment). 

Your booking appointment should ideally happen before you’re 10 weeks pregnant. It’s a chance for your midwife to talk to you about what to expect during your pregnancy, offer you some tests to make sure you and your baby are nice and healthy, and for you to ask any questions you might have⁵.

There’s a whole range of things you might be feeling at experiencing at 5 weeks pregnant. No symptoms, a few subtle hints, or seriously obvious signs – they’re all normal.

Let’s look at some of the 5 weeks pregnant symptoms that crop up most often.

Sore, tender or tingly breasts are very common in early pregnancy, along with larger breasts, visible veins and darker nipples⁶.

You might not realise this is a sign of pregnancy at first, especially if you’re prone to tender breasts right before your period⁶. If your period doesn’t arrive, it’s time to take a pregnancy test to be sure.

During your first trimester, your pregnancy hormones can make you feel more tired or even completely exhausted⁶.

It can be tough as early as 5 weeks pregnant because you’ve probably not told many people you’re pregnant yet, but try to take things easy and get as much rest as you can.

Feeling and being sick while pregnant is often called ‘morning sickness’, but it can happen any time during the day or night. Morning sickness can start from very early in pregnancy (and be one of your most noticeable 5 weeks pregnant symptoms) and last until around weeks 16 to 20⁷.

Not everyone gets morning sickness – every pregnancy is different. But if you are suffering with feeling or being sick, try to eat little and often and stick to plain foods that are less likely to trigger your symptoms⁷.

Your pregnancy hormone progesterone is working on relaxing the muscles in your uterus, which can also have side effects on your digestive system. At 5 weeks pregnant, you might notice bloating, constipation and heartburn all thanks to progesterone⁸.

Spotting or very light bleeding at 5 weeks pregnant is very common. It’s often called ‘implantation bleeding’ because it happens when the fertilised egg embeds itself in the lining of your womb⁹. At 5 weeks pregnant, cramping that feels a little like period pains is also normal¹⁰.

If you have heavy bleeding or severe stomach cramps that don’t go away, contact your GP or midwife^{9, 10}.

Hormonal changes in early pregnancy can also make you need to pee more often than usual, including at night¹¹.

Waking up often during the night can be frustrating, especially if your pregnancy’s already making you very tired. You can try cutting down on drinks in the evening, but remember to stay hydrated during the day.

It’s normal to experience a lot of different emotions when you find out you’re pregnant, from excitement to anxiety and everything in between. It’s a huge life event after all!

Your pregnancy hormones might also feel like you’re swinging from one end of the spectrum to the other – overjoyed one minute and weepy the next¹². Remember it’s okay to feel like this, and your loved ones, midwife and GP are all there to support you.