Pregnancy at Weeks 5 to 8

Your body can feel louder than the calendar looks. A missed period, sore breasts, tiredness, nausea, food aversions, needing to wee more often, bloating, constipation, mood changes, and stronger emotions can all show up in these weeks. Some people have very few symptoms; others feel flattened by them. Neither pattern should be used as a diagnosis.

Morning sickness is not limited to mornings, and week 8 is often one of the hardest points. Small frequent meals, fluids, bland snacks, rest, and avoiding triggers may help some people, but severe vomiting is not something to push through. Contact your doctor or midwife if you cannot keep fluids down, vomiting does not stop, you feel faint, your urine is very dark, or you are losing weight.

This is a sensible time to start antenatal care. Pregnancy Birth and Baby says the first antenatal visit is best before 10 weeks and ideally around 6 to 8 weeks. A GP, midwife, obstetrician, hospital clinic, or midwifery service can help confirm the pregnancy, discuss care options, estimate your due date, review medicines, and arrange the next checks.

Early safety choices are simple but important. Do not stop prescribed medicines without advice, but tell your doctor what you take. Avoid alcohol, smoking, vaping, and illicit drugs. Keep taking the folate, iodine, iron, or other supplements your care team recommends, and ask if you have thyroid disease, diabetes, epilepsy, a vegan diet, severe nausea, or any regular medicine.

Small health admin can prevent bigger stress later. If you have not had dental care recently, book a check because pregnancy hormones and vomiting can affect gums and teeth. Ask about influenza vaccination, which Australian public guidance makes available free during pregnancy under the National Immunisation Program. Use the same visit to ask who to call after hours.