"Here I am two millimeters big. I am on the right and on the left my placenta will be formed."
5 Weeks Pregnant
The Baby
If the little embryo grows well, it will measure some 2 millimeters by now. It's as big as a grain of rice and resembles a small bean. Lots of things are going on in that bean-like structure.
The first foundations are being laid for the heart and the central nervous system. At the moment, that's not much more than a tube that runs from head to tail. The thickenings at the top end of the tube (the little heart tube) will form the heart. Although it doesn't have the shape of a heart yet, amazingly, it's already contracting.
In the little bean, work is also in progress on the spinal cord and subsequently the brain and gastrointestinal organs. You've got quite a little factory going on inside you; no wonder you feel exhausted!
Mother It's time for the test! The tension is rising: are you or aren't you? You can hardly wait... yes, you are pregnant! The two of you are pregnant! Your instincts weren't playing tricks with you. All the pieces of the puzzle fall into place and if your partner wasn't there to watch the test results with you, you'll quickly buy a tiny baby outfit to surprise him tonight by candlelight with this important, happy news.
If you have children already, you can decide whether to think of an appropriate way to tell them that a baby is on the way now, or you may choose to wait for a few more weeks until the risk of spontaneous miscarriage is lower. How you break the news will depend on your own children, of course.There are lots of suitable read-aloud books for slightly older toddlers and children, who may appreciate having a baby doll or cuddly toy to use as their own "baby."A younger toddler may need very simple information or none at all at this point.
Father
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These are exciting weeks, because your partner still hasn't had her period yet. Every day you give her a questioning look, is she or isn't she? And then suddenly it's time to do the test. Sitting close together you wait, and then: a stripe (or ring) slowly appears. It's true! You're going to have a baby! What a touching moment.
You might not yet be able to grasp it emotionally, but the test provides the undeniable proof. It's really going to happen and luckily there are still nearly 9 months left to get used to the idea and prepare yourself for fatherhood. During that time, you'll obviously look forward to the new and unexpected. At the same time, however, it's a period of saying goodbye to your ‘old life'. You're definitely going to have less time to spend on all kinds of things. Now you'll have to think about what is really important to you, so that you can set your priorities. Maybe you have to put that idea of hiking through the Himalayas on the shelf for now...
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You've got quite a little factory going on inside you; no wonder you feel exhausted!
