It’s Week 5 of Your Pregnancy Journey

This is the week of exuberates. You might have been having a hunch that there is a little life growing within you, but now that you have missed your period the doubt is turning into a fact.

By now you could even put those pregnancy test kits to use too. Shall we discuss this important phase in your journey? ‘DISCOVERING THE MIRACLE’

MOM–TO-BE

While we spoke about how the little champ had successfully burrowed in and implanted into the womb, the tiny invader was surely busy. Certain special cells in the developing embryo that will eventually play a pivotal role in forming the placenta start producing a new hormone called the beta Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin (B-HCG)1. The B-HCG is now found in the blood and urine of the mom-to-be. The pregnancy test kit you used is meant to identify if this hormone is found in the urine or not1. Even before you waited with bated breath for the longest few moments of your life to watch that magical line appear on the urine pregnancy test kit, your little munchkin-in-the-making had brewed up the B-HCG needed to paint that line there! This would be a nice time to meet your doctor and run a few more tests to confirm the pregnancy and monitor the general health of the mom-to-be. It would be a good idea to do this before you go all out on the celebrations.

Positive pregnancy test

Congratulations to both of you, welcome aboard life’s biggest roller-coaster ride ever! Up until this moment all you wanted was to see this line. But now suddenly there is a cacophony of emotions surging within you. Jarring questions have appeared out of nowhere to bombard you: ‘Will I be a good mom?’… ‘Can I bring this baby up well?’ … ‘Will my husband be my support system?’… ‘Will our income be enough to give this baby a happy life?’… ‘What changes are needed in my career?’… ‘My body is going to change so much now?’ …. etc. All the questions can’t be wrapped into words… but calm down and take a deep breath… if this is what you yearned for all along then you will find a way to ace it too. This amalgamation of too much joy and trickling fear hits nearly all the moms-to-be. Shall we blame these mood swings on the concoction of hormones playing havoc?!

Symptoms you may experience:

Some symptoms you may experience this week are:

Morning sickness: Well, I have always wondered why this was called ‘morning sickness’ and not ‘all day long sickness’!
Although it is worse in the morning just when one wakes up, it can afflict you any time of the day. If it is of any reassurance, the worst is often over by around the first few months of pregnancy.
If the frequency of vomiting is too much or you are feeling exhausted, contact your doctor, you may need help.
Increased sense of smell: Well folklore says that this is nature’s way of making sure that the mom-to-be stays clear of any spoilt or rotting food.
Although the truth behind this belief is not ascertained, the increased sense of smell may hit with vengeance.
The odors that previously were not bothersome may now be intolerable. Even cooking up a meal could be arduous!
Breast changes: These are more prominent if you are a first-time mommy. Even this early in your pregnancy you may notice an increase in size and tenderness in the breasts.
Increased frequency of urination.
You tend to feel extremely fatigued. Supporting a growing baby, even though only a few millimetres in size can be a demanding and exhausting job after all!

A few tips to help you:

Do not eat raw fish and meat.
Avoid strong smells and odours that trigger your nausea.
Avoid smoking and alcohol.
Smoking, even passive smoking is dangerous for you and your little one.
You could try rusk or toast in the morning to reduce nausea.
There are a few types of foods that are best avoided during this delicate phase of life.
Discuss this with your doctor and keep this list of avoiding foods printed and stuck on your dining table as a reminder at hand.
Take folic acid supplementation as advised by your doctor. Remember your little munchkin is a busy bee right now. Growing continuously needs a lot of support from you!
When to tell your friends about this growing good news? This is a question only the two of you can answer.
Give it sufficient thought and then decide, but before you announce this news at least make sure the doctor has confirmed it first.

What is your tiny tot up to this week

The more we try to understand the intricate details of how a new human being takes form from just a cell, the more amazing it is!

Now that the pregnancy test came positive, let us look at a few developments that your baby-in-the-making may be up to.

By now the core cells of your tiny tot have differentiated into three separate layers.
Each layer and a combination of these layers will specifically play a role in developing certain organs and systems.
It has been determined which part of this bundle of cells will become the left and right side of the baby.
The heart is one of the early organs to start taking shape. At this stage, the heart is just two tubes yet.

Role of ultrasound scan at this stage

Your doctor may have advised a scan during this visit. The idea is to:

Help confirm the possibility of pregnancy by identifying certain early markers (gestational sac with ‘yolk sac’)
Help identify if there is a possibility of twins or multiple tiny tots.
Confirm that the tiny tot has implanted in the womb. This is important since if it is bound to the fallopian tubes, etc. early identification and treatment are extremely important.

Few tips for papa bear

Let’s take a look at things father-to-be can do to help:

Once the pregnancy test results are confirm positive, the entire family will be focussed on congratulating and pampering your partner. We understand that you too are undergoing an emotional upheaval. The news that you are going to be a father is the most exhilarating and at the same time unnerving situation. But dear friend savour the happiness. With time you will gradually understand the transformation in your life and naturally evolve into a wonderful father.
The mood swings of your partner may be difficult to tackle but if only you could be a little softer and indulge her with some loving care, she will feel the soothing reassurance she longs for from you.
Help her remember specific food items she needs to avoid or include in her diet as per the doctors’ advice. You are her partner in this journey.
The cravings and aversions are not exactly explainable. So, the midnight ice cream demands, or sour food cravings are another way for you to bond with her and make her feel heard and loved.
Hope you met the doctor already and confirmed the pregnancy. If not, please do that at the earliest. You can use the app to help you keep track of the next scheduled scan and visit.
Make sure that the medications advised have been stocked up. Don’t give her an excuse to skip medicines!

Do keep us posted about your visit to the doctor and the lab tests done at that visit. You can log in all your test results into your WE CARE app. Hope you are staying healthy and safe along this journey. Follow all your doctors’ instructions carefully. We care for you.

Pregnancy Test: Week 5

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