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First trimester

Week 5 of Pregnancy

🌱Your baby this week

• hCG roughly doubles every 48-72 hours, which is why symptoms often intensify now.
• The neural tube — future brain and spinal cord — begins forming and closing.
• The first blood cells and tiny heart tube appear.

🫧What you may be feeling

• Deep fatigue
• Nausea may begin
• Frequent urination

🤍Gentle tips for this week

• Book your prenatal appointment if you have not yet; the first visit is often around 8 weeks.
• Small, frequent meals help steady early nausea.

Common question for week 5

What does it mean that hCG doubles every 48-72 hours?

In early pregnancy the hormone hCG typically rises fast, doubling every two to three days. Providers sometimes check this rise with blood tests in early pregnancy.

Every pregnancy is different. Sizes are averages, symptoms vary widely, and none of this replaces the guidance of your own provider.