5 Weeks Pregnant

If your doctor ordered you a blood test to confirm your pregnancy, you may have learned what your hCG levels are — and may be wondering whether those levels are normal. 

Just know that every pregnant woman’s hormone levels are different, and can fluctuate even from day to day. Some expecting moms have almost no measurable levels of hCG early on, while others have readings of more than 400 milli-international units per milliliter (mIU/mL). 

As long as your doctor confirms that your pregnancy is progressing on track, you don’t have to worry about the numbers.

If you conceived via in vitro fertilization (IVF), your pregnancy due date will depend whether you had a three-day embryo transfer or a five-day embryo transfer.

If you had a three-day transfer, add 263 days from your transfer date to calculate your due date; if you had a five-day transfer, count 261 days from your transfer date. Or, let our IVF due date calculator do the work for you.

There’s no amount or type of smoking — whether that’s conventional cigarettes or e-cigarettes — that’s been shown to be safe during pregnancy. 

Traditional cigarettes can not only lower fertility levels, but they also contain thousands of toxic chemicals that may not be safe for you or baby.

And both traditional and e-cigarettes deliver nicotine, which can be harmful to baby’s brain and lungs, and increase the risk of problems such as miscarriage and preterm birth. Even secondhand smoke could be potentially dangerous to you and your baby.

If you’re having trouble quitting on your own, talk to your doctor about whether you’re a candidate for nicotine replacement therapy; it may be safe to use certain nicotine-containing patches or medications if you’re under the care of a doctor.

Exercise may do a pregnant body good, but if the thought of going to spin class sends your stomach spinning, save the workout for another day. 

Even if you aren’t experiencing morning sickness and fatigue, now isn’t the time to go overboard. Maintain your fitness levels rather than increasing them.

While vigorous exercise is usually okay for pregnant women, try to keep the intensity to a 13 to 14 on a max scale of 20. You should feel energized — not drained — after a workout.

Feeling gassy? Gas and bloating can be very early signs of pregnancy, but they can also be a sign that you’re ovulating (or just PMSing). 

Whatever the reason, you probably aren’t in the mood to eat your veggies, as healthy as they may be. Opt instead for produce that won't bring on the bloat — for example, mangoes instead of broccoli or strawberries instead of cabbage.

Another simple way to deflate pregnancy tummy bubbles: Instead of sparkling water, sip plain water instead.

Healthy fats — like omega-3 fatty acids — aren’t just essential for your baby’s developing brain. They can also boost your partner’s fertility by increasing his sperm count and sperm motility. Saturated fats, on the other hand — like the kind found in fast food — can sabotage sperm by making them less hardy.

You can get omega-3s in pregnancy-safe fish such as trout and wild salmon and from certain fortified foods, including eggs, yogurt and milk. If you can't stomach fish, you can also find omega 3s in prenatal vitamins and supplements.

If you have a sneaking suspicion that there are two babies on board, you may be right. While you won’t know for sure until the first trimester ultrasound, which is usually done between 6 and 9 weeks, there are some signs that you’re carrying multiples.

For starters, you may have morning sickness that starts earlier (and lasts longer), thanks to the elevated levels of the hormone hCG in your body. You may also be more fatigued than ever, since your body is busy growing two babies instead of one.   

If you are pregnant with multiples, you can expect more weight gain, earlier — to the tune of about a pound a week in the first trimester — and an increased appetite. Eating for three, anyone?