I'm going to post a sort of week-by-week play of what is (supposedly) happening with the baby. I really have had few symptoms as of yet, and I cannot peek inside myself to see what's going on, so I will rely on ultrasound images and other info taken from the internet and some books I have.

Day of last menstrual period: Sept. 4, 2006 (I'm assuming they mean when it began?)

Presumed date of conception based on 23-day cycle: Sept. 11-13, 2006

Estimated due date: June 6, 2006

Therefore I just finished my 5th week and will be starting my 6th tomorrow (Monday). Here's some catching up:

Week 4

photo by: Robin Elise Weiss

expected symptoms:

- feeling more tired (yes! I think this is mostly due to lack of sleep/relaxation on my part, though!)

- needing to urinate more frequently (no)

- mood swings (somewhat: more emotional as in I have strong feelings of attachment to people I love)

- tender or swollen breasts (yes)

- nausea, vomitting, dizziness, headaches (no, no more than usual)

- poor appetite (no!)

- I am also very infrequently experiencing tiny uterine cramps (do not hurt; on par with gas)

baby's development:

"Your baby is 2 weeks old and measures between 1/70 and 1/25 inch (0.36 and 1 mm) from crown to rump.

This is a time of astounding development for your baby. At the end of the third week, the fertilized ovum (egg) is embedded in the lining of your uterus where it continues to multiply and grow. What was originally a simple sperm and egg cell has become a blastocyst (fluid-filled ball) of several hundred cells. This blastocyst now divides into two, one half inside the other. The half attached to the wall of the uterus becomes the placenta. Its outer layer forms the umbilical cord, the amniotic and yolk sacs, and the chorion (protective membrane in the uterus).

The inner half of the blastocyst will become your baby. This divides inot three layers, known as germ layers, which grow to gorm different parts of your baby's body. The inner layer will form the liver, pancreas, bladder, thyroid gland, and the lining of the gastrointestinal tract. The middle layer develops into muscle, bone, cartilage, blood vessels, and kidneys, while the outer layer will become the brain and nervous system, skin and hair."

- The Pregnancy Bible, by J. Stone and K. Eddleman

Week 5

photo by: Robin Elise Weiss

expected symptoms:
- same as last week

- irritability (not really, I hope)

- increased metabolism (could be; sometimes I feel very hot--of course, other times I feel very cold)

"There are also a lot of women who will have none of these symptoms. They will sail through early pregnancy without vomiting or being light headed. For a lot of women this can be normal as well. Do not panic if you do not have pregnancy symptoms, although you should contact your care provider if you suddenly lose your pregnancy symptoms."

- http://pregnancy.about.com/cs/pregnancycalendar/

baby's development:
"Your baby is 3 weeks old and measures about 1/20 inch (1.25 mm) from crown to rump.

What was a round mass of cells has begun to elongate and a head and tail are now distinguishable. The central nervous system begins to develop, and your baby's brain and spinal cord start to form. Traces of the eyes and ears are discernible on the sides of her head, the liver and kidneys are beginning to develop, and muscle and bone are also in the early stages of development, although her bones will not ossify (harden) for a while yet. The walls of your baby's heart are now forming--her heart will begin to beat by the end of the week.
At this stage your baby derives most of her nourishment from nutrients stored in the uterine walls, but from as early as week 4 the placenta [yolk sac?] begins to provide nourishment."

- The Pregnancy Bible, by J. Stone and K. Eddleman

Week 6 (this coming week)

photo by: Robin Elise Weiss

expected symptoms:

- same as last week
- the articles really talk a lot about morning sickness; hopefully I won't have to experience that hallmark of pregnancy

baby's development:

"Your baby is 4 weeks old, and measures about 1/12 to 1/6 inch (2 to 4 mm) from crown to rump.

Growth is very rapid this week. Your baby might look like a tadpole, with his curved back and tail, but he now has a brain. His tiny heart is no bigger than a poppy seed, but it is beating on its own. Other major organs, including the kidneys and liver, continue to develop, and the neural tube, which connects the brain and spinal cord, closes. Your baby's head now begins to take shape.
A rudimentary digestive tract begins to form, together with the abdominal and chest cavities and the backbone. What will eventually become the testes or ovaries appear as a cluster of cells. Rudimentary arms and legs appear as tiny buds on the body. Your baby now has his own bloodstream, which has started to circulate blood."

- The Pregnancy Bible, by J. Stone and K. Eddleman