How should i be feeling at 6 weeks pregnant

6 Weeks Pregnant | Pregnancy

When you're pregnant, you have lots of questions. Our week-by-week pregnancy guide is packed with lots of useful information. From what's happening inside your body, to how your baby is developing, and tips and advice on having a healthy pregnancy – this is your one-stop pregnancy guide!

• 1st trimester
• 2nd trimester
• 3rd trimester

Our week-by-week pregnancy guide is full of essential information. From early pregnancy symptoms to how your baby is growing and developing, you'll find it all here.

• Week 4
• Week 5
• Week 6
• Week 7
• Week 8
• Week 9
• Week 10
• Week 11
• Week 12

What's happening in my body?

Your baby is growing and changing at a fast pace as they start to grow arms, legs and ears. The liver, brain and musculoskeletal system are also developing. To achieve this transformation, the baby gets everything they need from you.

Feeling nausea

Morning sickness can occur at any time of day, although it's usually worse when you first wake up. It might help to keep a snack by your bed.

Try eating 6 small meals a day, get lots of rest, and follow a balanced, healthy diet with lots of water. Read these tips on healthy eating.

Some people find that ginger helps (such as ginger tea, ginger ale, crystallised ginger, and ginger biscuits). Others say sucking ice cubes and wearing travel acupressure wristbands helps.

If you can't keep food down, talk to your midwife or doctor.

Early pregnancy symptoms (at 6 weeks)

You may be dealing with morning sickness and tiredness, along with other early signs of pregnancy. Your symptoms could also include:

• a metallic taste in your mouth
• sore breasts
• mood swings (read about mood swings in week 8)
• headaches
• new food likes and dislikes
• a heightened sense of smell
• you may need to pee more frequently
• a white milky pregnancy discharge from your vagina
• light spotting (see your doctor if you get bleeding in pregnancy)
• cramping, a bit like period pains
• darkened skin on your face or brown patches - this is known as chloasma or the "mask of pregnancy"
• thicker and shinier hair
• feeling bloated

Read Tommy's guide to common pregnancy symptoms.

A lot of people start to feel better after the 1st trimester (after 12 weeks). Talk to your midwife or doctor about anything that's worrying you.

What does my baby look like?

Your baby, or embryo, is around 6mm long, which is about the size and shape of a baked bean. Some people think it resembles a tadpole with its little tail.

There's a bump where the heart is and another bulge where the head will be. Sometimes the heart beat can be picked up by a vaginal ultrasound scan, but you are unlikely to be offered one unless you've had IVF. The arms and legs are starting to form and are known as limb buds. There are tiny dents where the ears will be. The embryo is covered with a thin layer of transparent skin.

Action stations

The advice for week 6 is the same as for the earlier weeks. Try to rest as much as possible.

This week you could:

Share the news with your GP, or ask for an appointment with a midwife at your doctors' surgery. Alternatively you can refer yourself to your local hospital – look for contact details on their website.

You'll need to arrange a booking appointment. This usually takes place between weeks 8 and 12 and takes around an hour. You can talk about the options for your pregnancy and the birth. You will also be offered screening tests for infectious diseases, and conditions such as Down's syndrome. You could ask about the Maternity Transformation Programme and how it could benefit you.

You will be offered your first dating scan at 8 to 14 weeks.

If it's your first pregnancy, you will probably have around 10 appointments and 2 scans in total.

Ask your midwife or doctor about online antenatal classes – they may be able to recommend one. The charity Tommy's has lots of useful information on antenatal classes and preparing you for birth.

Antenatal classes will give you the chance to meet other people and prepare you for parenthood. The NCT offers online antenatal classes with small groups of people that live locally to you.

Take prenatal vitamins. You're advised to take 400 micrograms of folic acid, every day, until at least week 12. This helps your baby's nervous system to form and offers some protection from conditions such as spina bifida.

To keep bones and muscles healthy, we need vitamin D. From late March/early April to the end of September, most people make enough vitamin D from sunlight on their skin. However, between October and early March, consider taking a daily vitamin D supplement because we cannot make enough from sunlight.

Some people should take a vitamin D supplement all year round, find out if this applies to you on the NHS website. You just need 10 micrograms (it's the same for grown-ups and kids). Check if you're entitled to free vitamins.

Do you think you or your partner could have a sexually transmitted infection (STI)? If so, get it checked out, as this could affect your baby's development. Talk to your midwife or GP, or visit a sexual health clinic.

It's recommended that you do 150 minutes of exercise a week while pregnant. You could start off with just 10 minutes of daily exercise - perhaps take a brisk walk outside. Check out Sport England's #StayInWorkOut online exercises (scroll to the pregnancy section). Listen to your body and do what feels right for you.

There's no need to eat for 2. If you pile on the pounds, you could put you and your baby at risk of health problems such as high blood pressure. Eat healthily, with plenty of fresh fruit and veg, and avoid processed, fatty and salty foods. You may be able to get free milk, fruit and veg through the Healthy Start scheme.

If you have a long-term health condition, then let your specialist or GP know that you're pregnant as soon as possible. Don't stop taking any regular medication without discussing it first with your doctor.

How are you today? If you're feeling anxious or low, then talk to your midwife or doctor who can point you in the right direction to get all the support that you need. You could also discuss your worries with your partner, friends and family. You may be worried about your relationship, or money, or having somewhere permanent to live. Don't keep it to yourself. It's important that you ask for help if you need it.

You and your family should follow the government and NHS guidance on coronavirus (COVID-19):

To find out about about COVID-19 and pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding, have a look at advice on the:

Want to know when the baby's due?

Use the NHS's pregnancy due date calculator. You'll get a more accurate date from your doctor or midwife when you have a dating scan (usually at 8 to 14 weeks).

Go back to week 5

Go to week 7

6 Weeks Pregnant: Symptoms and Baby Development

At 6 weeks pregnant, you’re already in your second month of pregnancy and some important developments are under way. Among other milestones, your little one’s brain and nervous system are quickly developing, as are small bumps and buds that will become their eyes, ears, arms, and legs. Read on to learn more about what happens at 6 weeks pregnant and what symptoms you might feel.

These are some of the key things to anticipate during your sixth week of pregnancy:

• Your little one is making big strides in terms of development! During this week, the foundations for major organs and systems are being established.

• You might start to feel more pregnancy symptoms at 6 weeks, including morning sickness, fatigue, and breast tenderness.

• Don’t forget about the emotional symptoms of pregnancy. There’s lots you can do to keep yourself centered as mood swings come and go, such as documenting your pregnancy journey with a journal or book.

At 6 weeks pregnant, your baby is making rapid progress in terms of growth and development. This week’s most important milestones include the following:

• The neural tube begins to close over what will become your baby’s spinal cord.

• The areas that will become the eyes and ears have started to project as bumps, and other tiny buds are forming that will eventually grow into arms and legs.

• At 6 weeks pregnant, a tiny heartbeat of about 105 beats per minute may be detectable via ultrasound this week, and the brain and nervous system are also developing quickly.

• Your little one’s nose, mouth, and inner and outer ears are just starting to take shape, along with the lungs. In just a few weeks, breathing tubes will form between the throat and the lungs, getting ready for your little one’s first breath of air (and maybe a loud wail) at birth.

Wondering when you might be able to meet your baby? Try our Due Date Calculator.

Pregnancy is most often measured in weeks, and sometimes in months, too. Given that the 40 weeks of pregnancy don't fit evenly into months, it gets a little tricky, but at 6 weeks, you’re thought to be in your second month of pregnancy, which typically includes weeks 5 through 8.

At six weeks, your baby’s size is about 3/16 of an inch—about the size of a pomegranate seed!

Look at the visual below to get an idea of how things are progressing inside your belly. At 6 weeks pregnant, things are starting to take shape!

At 6 weeks pregnant, you might experience various symptoms of pregnancy, though not everyone does. Here are some symptoms you might notice during your sixth week:

From morning sickness to spotting to mood swings, there are quite a few symptoms of pregnancy that might occur at 6 weeks.

• Spotting. It’s not unusual to see some spotting at 6 weeks. But any bleeding should be light, not even enough to cover a small pantyliner. If you see a lot of blood, if the spotting lasts longer than two days, or you have any concerns, be sure to contact your healthcare provider right away.

• Cramping. Slight cramping and typical discharge that’s white or clear (or slightly tinted due to spotting) is normal at 6 weeks pregnant. It’s a sign your uterus and the surrounding tissues are expanding to make room for your baby. But at 6 weeks pregnant (or anytime during your pregnancy), if you feel stomach or lower abdomen pain more severe than typical period cramping, especially if accompanied by a fever or diarrhea, contact your healthcare provider immediately.

• Constipation. You may also experience constipation because of an increase in progesterone, which slows down the digestive tract. To deal with this, exercise regularly, eat a balanced diet with high-fiber foods, and drink plenty of water.

• Breast tenderness. This week, your breasts may feel tender or achy because of increased blood flow; this is a normal part of your body preparing for breastfeeding. Wearing a supportive bra can help with discomfort.

• Morning sickness. If you’re at 6 weeks pregnant and have had no morning sickness, this week may be when it shows up. Morning sickness can happen any time of day or night. It may be triggered by certain movements, smells, an empty stomach, or nothing at all. Munching on crackers and other simple, starchy foods can help, so keep a little something on hand for those random bouts of nausea in 6 weeks of pregnancy and beyond.

• Frequent urination. You can expect to run to the bathroom more often than usual. Your kidneys are working overtime to process the extra fluid in your body now.

• Exhaustion. You may feel completely exhausted due to pregnancy fatigue, and that’s OK. As your levels of the hormone progesterone are increasing, making you more and more tired, you may find taking naps can help; some women also say that little snacks and light exercise are effective in fighting off fatigue. Be sure that you’re getting plenty of iron, because too little can cause anemia and lead to tiredness.

• Mood swings. You may be in for some emotional highs and lows between now and the end of your pregnancy. Mood swings are common in the first trimester, often subside in the second, and sometimes return toward the end of the third trimester. Eating well, chatting with friends, taking naps, and engaging in light exercise are some easy ways to help yourself feel better.

• No symptoms. If at 6 weeks pregnant I have no symptoms, should I be worried? You’re not the only one asking this question! The good news is that it’s possible to be 6 weeks pregnant with no symptoms whatsoever. Every pregnancy is different, so you might just be someone who can enjoy these symptom-free days without worry.

Will you be showing at 6 weeks pregnant? This is a common question, as you might be anticipating a belly bump now or sometime soon. But a baby bump probably won't appear this early in your pregnancy. Everyone is different, but a pregnant belly could be visible at around 12 to 16 weeks.

To help you get a better sense of what your belly might look like at 6 weeks pregnant, check out the visual below:

Early on in your pregnancy, there’s a lot to think about, and you may have plenty of questions or concerns. To help you through this exciting week, here are a few things you may want to take into consideration.

• Many wonder if 6 weeks is too early to tell family that you’re pregnant. Another common question is this one: Should I tell my boss I'm pregnant at 6 weeks? The choice is yours, but it’s common to wait until the end of the first trimester or the beginning of the second trimester to share the news more widely, as this is when the risk of miscarriage decreases significantly. Still, you might want to have someone in the loop for support at the start, so check out these cute and creative ways to tell your partner you’re pregnant!

• One of the first things you may notice early in your pregnancy is an increase in the size of your breasts, and the surge of pregnancy hormones you're experiencing now may also lead to some skin changes. Your nipples may turn a shade or two darker thanks to hyperpigmentation.

• Look in your closet to make sure you'll have some stretchy or roomy clothing to wear during the coming weeks. Your body will soon start to expand, and you’ll want to stay comfy even if you’re not yet ready to transition into maternity clothes. You might also want to avoid tight-fitting pants from this point on and choose cotton underwear—and don't forget to switch your bra size when needed for your comfort.

• If you’re just now wondering if you’re pregnant and taking a test at six weeks, it’s still possible to have a false negative, as your levels of the pregnancy hormone hCG might not be detectable yet. To confirm your pregnancy, it’s best to do so with your healthcare provider.

• Around this time, you may also want to start a week-by-week photo journal or a pregnancy scrapbook for your notes, photos, and mementos. This is a nice way to celebrate your pregnancy and is also a lovely keepsake you can share with your baby in a few years’ time.

• You can also download our Pregnancy Guide, which has all the information you need to navigate the first trimester and beyond.

• Read up on the foods to avoid during pregnancy. You might like to make a list that you can take with you when you go shopping or think about substitutions you can make.

Now or sometime soon you'll want to book an appointment with your healthcare provider. Your prenatal visits are usually scheduled about once a month until the last two months of your pregnancy, when they will become more frequent. These regular checkups give you the perfect opportunity to ask questions and express any concerns. Here are some questions you might want to ask your healthcare provider at 6 weeks of pregnancy:

• What are some safe options for exercising while pregnant?

• Where will you give birth, and what should you know in advance about the facility and its procedures?

• If you have a chronic condition (like diabetes or high blood pressure) for which you take medication, how can you manage your condition safely during pregnancy?

• Should you be taking folic acid?

• What prenatal care will you be getting?

• Is the morning sickness you’re experiencing considered normal or severe? Some experience a more severe form of morning sickness called hyperemesis gravidarum, and your healthcare provider can determine what you’re experiencing.

At this busy and exciting time in your life, use this list to stay focused and organized:

□ If you don’t already have someone, choose a prenatal care provider.

□ To help with tender breasts, wear a supportive bra, even at night. For more on this topic, read our article on breast tenderness during pregnancy.

□ Drink plenty of water, eat high-fiber foods, and exercise regularly to help avoid constipation.

□ Find out who to call if your healthcare provider is unavailable or if it’s after hours and you have a medical concern.

□ Save your provider’s number to your phone and have emergency contact numbers stuck on your fridge and saved to your contact list, too.

□ Learn how due dates are calculated and how far along you are in your pregnancy.

□ Check out the warning signs you should not ignore so that you know what to look out for and what to do if you happen to notice one.

□ Although this type of pregnancy is rare, it’s a good idea to read up on the signs and symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy, even at 6 weeks pregnant.

6th week of pregnancy what happens to the fetus

Contents

At this time, the size of the fetal egg has increased to 25 mm, and the baby has already grown to 6 mm. Its main organs and systems continue to develop, these are the lungs, and the bone marrow, and the spleen. Significant changes occur with the digestive tract - the esophagus and stomach appear. External manifestations of the genital organs also become noticeable, a little more - and you can find out the sex of the baby. But the most important process of this period is the active formation of the central nervous system, which allows a 6-7-week-old baby to already respond to external influences. nine0003

Right now, a significant event is taking place in the development of a small organism - its tiny heart begins to beat, beating the beat of life at a speed of 140-150 beats per minute, and launching important processes of blood circulation in a tiny little man.

At the sixth week of pregnancy, the ears, nose, eyes begin to form in the crumbs, the rudiments of arms and legs appear.

And what happens to mother?

At the sixth week of pregnancy, most women are already aware of their pregnancy. The absence of menstruation, as well as hormonal changes in the female body, give this confidence more and more confirmations, which will be clearly demonstrated by a positive pregnancy test result and witnessed when visiting a gynecologist and an ultrasound room or donating blood for chorionic gonadotropin. nine0003

Need to know!

If you don't get your period and the pregnancy test shows only one line, you need to see a specialist immediately. This state of affairs can indicate both problems in the body and, unfortunately, a problem pregnancy.

The 6th week of pregnancy is characterized by inconstancy of the emotional state, when periods of high spirits are replaced by periods of apathy and fatigue. Some women become passive and tired, while others, on the contrary, become more active and active. nine0003

Gastronomic preferences will also change. Someone begins toxicosis, accompanied by headaches, nausea, increased salivation. But in the interests of the future baby, you should carefully monitor your diet and look for opportunities to fully eat. If you do not experience these problems, you need to calculate your diet taking into account the good nutrition that the baby needs, but remember that being overweight will bring discomfort not only to you, but also to the baby, interfering with its full development. In addition, a newly-made expectant mother may be faced with a constant desire to try something “such” and she may become hypersensitive to all kinds of smells and aromas. nine0003

The woman's body is also transformed. The breast swells and obviously changes in size, while painful sensations may appear in it, darkening of the nipples is possible. Pulling and aching pains can be felt in the lower abdomen, if this is situational - do not worry, if not, then you should consult a doctor.

Together with the baby, the uterus itself grows in size, which is especially noticeable for your bladder. That is why you need to urinate more often than before. nine0003

But with the intestines, on the contrary, constipation may appear, which is caused by changes in the hormonal background of pregnancy. Also, increased gas formation can occur in the intestines, increasing its volume and waist size, which can be mistaken for changes in the size of the abdomen due to an increase in the uterus.

At the same time, a third of women may not experience any discomfort or any new sensations at all. Is it normal? Of course!

Pro ultrasound

If you conduct an ultrasound examination of the fetus at the sixth week of pregnancy, you can find out its size, how it develops, where it is located in the uterus and what its tone is. In addition, ultrasound will provide an opportunity to track the work of the baby's heart. If you experienced some pain or discomfort, then this study will determine if there are any threats to the normal course of pregnancy. Do not abuse ultrasound. The use of ultrasound is considered safe for the fetus, but it is not necessary to resort to this study too often out of curiosity alone, let everything go without undue intervention, but under the supervision of experienced professionals. nine0003

6th week of pregnancy - what happens, sensations and signs at the sixth week of pregnancy, abdomen and fetal development, ultrasound

WHAT IS HAPPENING

At the 6th week of pregnancy, the neural tube of the embryo closes, the brain begins to form from its thickened part, and nerve cells divide. The head is formed (so far it is too big, but in time everything will fall into place), the rudiments of the eyes, nose, mouth, auricles and inner ear.

At this stage, the embryo looks like a tadpole. It has slits on its body that resemble gills, and the rudiments of arms and legs can be compared to fins. Also, the crumbs have a small tail, which is then converted into a coccyx.

The baby's heart is actively beating, and on the ultrasound machine it is already possible to determine the frequency of its contractions. For all children, it is different (from 100 to 160 beats per minute), but on average it is almost twice as high as that of the mother. With the launch of the heart, a very important process for the body begins - blood circulation. nine0003

At the 6th week of pregnancy, the placenta develops rapidly: very soon it will take over the function of the yolk sac and begin to independently supply the embryo with oxygen and nutrients. The amount of amniotic fluid increases.

The umbilical stalk has transformed into a cord, and your baby can already move. So far, his movements are chaotic, but over time they will become coordinated.

For a period of 6 weeks, muscle and cartilage tissue develops, the rudiments of the bone marrow, spleen and thymus (an endocrine gland that is essential for the formation of immunity) are formed, the liver, lungs, stomach and pancreas are formed and developed. The intestine lengthens and forms three loops. Not fitting in a tiny tummy, it extends beyond the abdominal cavity and is partially located in the umbilical cord. By the end of the first trimester, the intestine will take its place in the peritoneum. nine0003

While your baby does not hear anything, but already reacts to external stimuli. The fetus is still quite tiny - from 4 to 9 mm in length, and its weight is approximately 0.9 - 1.3 g. The genitals are in their infancy, so the sex of your unborn child at this time is not yet clear.

YOUR WELL FEELING

The abdomen has not yet begun to grow, despite the fact that the uterus has become larger. Sometimes bloating, which is associated with digestive problems, is mistaken for an increase in the abdomen. This nuisance is due to an increase in progesterone levels. In addition, during pregnancy, the stomach muscles relax, making it harder for food to leave the stomach. To reduce discomfort, eat small meals, eat more fiber (fresh vegetables, fruits and dried fruits), drink at least two liters of water per day and do not wear clothes that squeeze the epigastric region. nine0003

In the 6th week of pregnancy, you may feel nauseous (especially in the morning) and sometimes suffer from vomiting. You will develop strange eating habits and become more sensitive to smells. These are all signs that your body is being rebuilt to meet the needs of the little man that is growing inside of you. Early toxicosis will recede when the formation of the placenta ends (approximately at the 14th - 16th week of pregnancy).

During this period, as in the past week, you will quickly get tired and feel sleepy. Due to changes in hormonal levels, headaches, dizziness and even fainting are possible. Another unpleasant moment is an increase in sebum production, which can lead to acne. nine0003

You will also notice that the nipples have become very sensitive, and the halos around them have darkened. In the future, their more saturated color will serve as a guide for the baby, which will help to get to mother's milk, because in the first months of life, the eyesight of newborns is still weak.

RISK FACTORS

In the early stages of pregnancy, a woman's immunity decreases, so the expectant mother becomes more susceptible to various diseases. Monitor your condition. If your stomach is pulling, this may mean a threatened miscarriage. Sometimes pain in the lower back and abdomen is associated with a sprain of the ligaments of the uterus, but to be safe, it is better to consult a doctor. nine0003

If at the 6th week of pregnancy you have pain in your stomach, back, and they are joined by smearing brown discharge or blood spots, go to the hospital immediately. Colds, fever, uncontrolled intake of medications are just some of the reasons that cause spontaneous abortion.

By the way, now you need to especially carefully monitor the nature of the discharge. If they are yellow, green or gray-green in color, have a sharp unpleasant odor, are accompanied by itching, burning and swelling of the external genitalia, we are talking about genital infections that require urgent treatment. nine0003

MEDICAL SUPERVISION

At the 6th week of pregnancy, women are registered in the antenatal clinic. During this period, you will need to pass urine and blood tests, according to the results of which the gynecologist will determine how the pregnancy is proceeding. Perhaps the doctor will send you for an ultrasound for the first time, and this session will become your acquaintance with the baby. Now on the monitor you can see a small speck that looks like a bean. This is your future child.

During an ultrasound examination, the specialist will confirm the presence of pregnancy, determine whether it is “normal” or multiple, and monitor the fetal heartbeat. If it turns out that you are expecting twins, in the future you will have to undergo ultrasound more often, because when carrying several babies, the risks increase proportionally. nine0003

RECOMMENDATIONS

Every second, remember that your baby is sensitive to any external influence. Do not take any medication without your doctor's permission, try to avoid stress, get plenty of rest and eat well.

It is best if you eat fractionally (eat often, but in small portions). At 6 weeks pregnant, you need to include complex carbohydrates in your diet, which are good for the digestive system. To do this, eat legumes, cereals, pasta, garden greens, zucchini, cabbage, bell peppers, apples, peaches, grapefruits, cherries. Give up all edible "harmful things", but do not forget to consume foods that contain calcium (milk, cheese, cottage cheese, kefir, etc.). nine0003

Continue to take your vitamin-mineral complex (if you vomit, take your vitamins when you feel least sick). Weigh yourself regularly and monitor the pressure: if it is slightly lower, you should not worry, but if it is increased, this is a reason to be wary. By the way, not only various diseases, but also nervous experiences can increase pressure, so you need to learn how to calm down and relax.

What tests to take during pregnancy, what examinations to undergo, examinations and screenings, visits to doctors.

Learn more

• 
  What is infant water
• 
  Weight gain with twins
• 
  How does child get along with parents
• 
  Baby trauma birth
• 
  What are the signs of listeria
• 
  Symptoms that you are pregnant
• 
  Chloasma during pregnancy
• 
  What does it feel like when your cervix dilates
• 
  Stuffy nose during pregnancy first trimester
• 
  7 month premature baby weight
• 
  How to sterilize bottles on the stove