Week 5
Your Baby's Development
Until now, the embryo has been a mass of cells, but by this point in your
pregnancy a distinct shape begins to form. The neural tube, which will
eventually form into the spinal cord and brain and is also called the primitive
streak, runs from the top to the bottom of the embryo. The top part of the
neural tube has begun to flatten out and will eventually form the front part of
the brain. A bulge in the center of the embryo will develop into your baby's
heart.
Home pregnancy tests could be positive this week. If you use a home pregnancy
test, test in the morning for the most accurate results - your first urine of
the day contains the highest levels of the pregnancy hormone, hCG.
Your Body
Even if nausea hasn't hit you yet, you'll want to steer clear of certain foods
when you're pregnant. Foodborne illnesses, such as
listeriosis and toxoplasmosis, can be life-threatening to an embryo and
may cause
birth defects or miscarriage. Here's a list of foods you'll want to
avoid:
- soft cheeses such as feta, goat, brie, Camembert, and blue cheese
- unpasteurized milk and juices
- raw or undercooked meats, including hot dogs and deli meats
- raw eggs or foods containing raw eggs, including mousse and tiramisu
- raw shellfish
- pate
Toxoplasmosis can also be spread from soiled cat litter boxes, so if possible
have someone else clean the litter box during your pregnancy.