Week 5 of Pregnancy

What is happening with the baby’s development in the 5th week? 

The baby which is called an embryo at this point is about the size of a sesame seed measuring approximately 0.05 to 0.1 inches (1.3 to 2.5 millimeters) in length.

This is another important week for rapid cell development. This is a time when the foundations of many of the organs and systems of the body are being setup. 

A milestone that happens during the 5th week of pregnancy is the closure of the neural tube. This structure will go on to form the brain, the spinal cord and the entire central nervous system. 

The embryo’s circulatory system and digestive system are developing rapidly this week as the heart and the major blood vessels are forming and something called the gut tube forms which will turn into the major digestive organs. 

The umbilical cord continues to grow and will serve as an important organ bringing nutrients to the embryo from the placenta and removing waste from the embryo.