Week 5: Your unborn baby is already growing by leaps and bounds.

By the end of last week, the embryo looked like a tadpole. His heart is beating and tiny limb buds, which will develop into arms and legs, have started to appear. The neural tube, which will become your baby’s brain and spinal cord, is forming, along with his digestive and circulatory systems. The beginnings of eyes and ears are developing, too.

Remember, this information is a general guide to the changes in your unborn baby. Every pregnancy develops differently.

Pregnancy, what happens when?

Pregnancy is when a woman has a developing fetus inside her. It is divided into three phases, called trimesters.

Each trimester in pregnancy has its own significant milestones. The trimesters are divided as follows:

    *      First trimester: 0 to 12 weeks
    *      Second trimester: 12 to 24 weeks
    *      Third trimester: 24 to 40 weeks

During the first trimester, both the mother's body and the fetus are changing rapidly. All the fetus' major organs and body systems are forming. The eyes, ears, and nose develop, and the limbs fully form. This is also the most vulnerable time for the fetus. Major organs and body systems can be damaged if exposed to drugs, radiation, tobacco, and chemical and toxic substances.

Learn more about the changes occurring in your body during the first trimester.

For the Sake of Your Baby, Skip the Alcohol

When you’re pregnant, everything you drink goes to the baby growing inside you. Fetal alcohol syndrome is a birth defect caused by expectant mothers’ drinking. It can cause your child to be mentally retarded. The best advice? Don’t drink at all during this important time.

Learn more about Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.

Healthy Habits During Pregnancy

Learn about the impact your lifestyle and health habits have on your growing baby during pregnancy.

Be sure your pregnancy is healthy.

Need a provider to care for you and your developing baby? Find an expert at ParentSavvy.com.