5 weeks pregnant

Your body

You may just have noticed your period is overdue and that you could be pregnant. There may be other signs, too:

Tell-tale signs

Feeling sick? Morning sickness is often one of the first signs that you are pregnant. Although the exact cause is not known, it's thought the corpus luteum (which will later form the placenta and which produces female sex hormones, oestrogen and progesterone) may contribute. The sickness tends to end at around 10 weeks when the corpus luteum stops working and the placenta takes over. Eat little and often and nibble on a biscuit before getting up in the morning. Avoid spicy or fatty foods and anything else such as cigarette smoke that might send you rushing off to the bathroom.

Feeling bloated? You may feel 'premenstrual' thanks to the hormone progesterone, which causes water retention. The same hormone also affects your breasts, making them tender and swollen and making your nipples tingle, especially in cold weather. You'll also start to notice that glands called 'Montgomery's follicles' become more apparent on the areola (the dark, raised area) around your nipple. Don't cut down on drinking water and go to the loo as often as you feel necessary. Holding back can lead to a urine infection.

Feeling faint? Pregnancy hormones mean your blood pressure lowers, causing you to feel faint. Get up slowly after sitting or lying down and try not to stand for too long a period. If you feel faint, sit or lie down with your head lower than your heart.

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