1st trimester: Week 5

Your Baby

It's only been a week since your embryo, about the size of an apple seed, attached to the wall of your uterus, but already it has made many developmental leaps. The placenta and the umbilical cord are functioning, passing oxygen and nutrients between you and your baby. The cluster of cells that will become your baby's heart -- a mere speck right now -- has already formed, and the brain and spinal cord are beginning to take shape.

Start learning about your tiny baby needs:

• Prenatal Tests to Expect
• Pregnancy Symptoms: First Trimester
• Tea: When to Avoid Green Tea
• Folic acid prevents birth defects

Your Body

A home pregnancy test will confirm what you may already suspect--you're pregnant! Other than that things are pretty much the same on the outside, and you don't look any different than you did a few weeks ago. Growing a baby is exhausting work, however, and you may feel a little more fatigued than usual. Most initial prenatal checkups take place between six and ten weeks, so make an appointment if you haven't already.

Preparing your body for its new role:

• Facing Pregnancy Jitters
• Parenting.com Mom-to-Be Blogs

Do's and Don'ts

Do take a pass on that glass of wine with dinner. While some experts say the occasional drink won't likely cause a problem, why take a chance? If you're concerned about having indulged recently, you're probably in the clear. Although fetal development is crucial in the first trimester, there's no need to worry if you had a few drinks in the first few days of pregnancy, especially before the embryo was implanted in the womb.

Be smart -- you're staying healthy for two now:

• A Mother Under the Influence
• Stay-Healthy Guide for Moms-to-Be

Health

If you aren't already taking them, now's the time to start on prenatal vitamins. Even if you regularly eat a diet rich in vitamins and minerals, you could be missing some of the biggies, including folic acid, calcium, and iron. Folic acid, a B vitamin, helps prevent neural tube defects and reduces the chances of a preterm delivery; iron plays a key role in the production of red blood cells that carry oxygen in the blood; and calcium builds your baby's bones and teeth. 

Mom to Mom

Good news from a home pregnancy test? Find a creative way to tell your partner that a baby's on the way. "I set an extra place at the table using a baby dish and spoon set."--Ruth Gross, Warren, MI

How other moms and dads embraced the big news:

• How Pregnancy Changes Love
• Girl Talk: Loving Your Second Child
• The Effects of Workplace Hazards on Male Reproductive Health
• Sex During Pregnancy