At 5 weeks
At 5 weeks pregnant your baby is about the size of a sesame seed (til), around 2 mm long. The brain and spinal cord are forming quickly, and the tiny heart begins to beat for the first time around now. Many women realise they are pregnant this week, often after noticing a late period and feeling a little under the weather.
Your Baby at 5 Weeks
The embryo has burrowed into the wall of your uterus, and the foundations for all its major organs are in place. The neural tube, which becomes the spinal cord, is developing as an open groove, and the head is much larger than the body because the brain and face are growing so fast (Pregnancy, Birth and Baby).
The face is starting to take shape, with a tiny nose and little eyes that will stay closed until around 28 weeks. Your baby already has some of its own blood vessels, and a string of them will make up the umbilical cord (NHS).
The placenta is being created now; it will give your baby nutrients and oxygen while removing waste products. Meanwhile the tiny heart is forming and will beat for the first time around this week (NHS).
Your Body This Week
Your period is late, yet you may feel as if it is about to start. Breasts can feel larger and sore, tiredness can be strong, and some women feel nauseous or need the toilet more often (Pregnancy, Birth and Baby).
Light bleeding around now can be mistaken for a period when it may be implantation bleeding, as the embryo attaches to the lining of the womb. Worries are common too: around 1 in 5 mums feel anxious or stressed in pregnancy, so share yours with your midwife or doctor (NHS).
When to call your midwife or doctor: See your doctor soon after a positive test so they can confirm the pregnancy and talk you through your care. Contact them sooner if you have any bleeding, or if you crave unusual things such as dirt, which can be a sign of pica, a condition caused by a lack of iron.
Garbh Sanskar This Week
A small daily practice for this stage, from Mamta’s 1:1 sessions. It is tradition and gentle self-care, not medical advice, so keep every check-up and follow your doctor or midwife first.
- Mantra: Asato ma sadgamaya asks to be led from the unreal to the real, from darkness to light, from death to immortality. Say its three short lines in a soft voice for a few minutes as you take in the news; our Garbh Sanskar mantras guide gives the full text.
- Music: In the busy days after a positive test, set aside a few minutes for a bhajan or calm song you love. Let it be your quiet pause; nothing more is needed.
- Gentle movement: The NHS suggests relaxing breathing exercises for early worries, and Mamta teaches a simple version: sit comfortably, breathe in through the nose and let the out-breath be a little longer, never holding the breath. Practise for a few minutes, only with your doctor's or midwife's clearance.
- Food: Traditionally, Charaka's second month centres on milk, and a cup of milk with simple vegetarian meals fits that spirit, alongside the iron, calcium and folic acid your doctor recommends. If any craving feels unusual, mention it to your midwife or doctor.
- Garbh samvad (a line to say to your baby): Hello, little one. I'm only just getting to know you.
Questions About Week 5
When does the baby's heart start beating?
The NHS says the tiny heart is forming and will beat for the first time around week 5. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby agrees that it usually starts beating around this time, as blood vessels form and blood begins to circulate.
Is it normal to feel anxious at 5 weeks pregnant?
Yes. Around 1 in 5 mums feel anxious or stressed during pregnancy, according to the NHS. Try not to keep worries to yourself: talk to your midwife or doctor, and relaxing breathing exercises may help.
Are strange food cravings normal at 5 weeks?
Some people get cravings and some do not; they come from hormonal changes affecting taste and smell. If you crave something unusual, such as dirt, talk to your midwife or doctor, as it may be pica, which is caused by a lack of iron.
Practise With Mamta, Wherever You Are
Mamta guides expecting mothers through private 1:1 Garbh Sanskar sessions online, scheduled in your own time zone, from the first trimester to the last week. Start with a free conversation on WhatsApp or read how sessions work.
Sources
Mamta is not a doctor. Medical points on this page come from the sources below, checked in October 2026. Sizes are approximate and babies vary; your scan report is what matters.