Pregnancy at 6th week
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
Baby and You at 6 Weeks Pregnant
Key Takeaways at 6 Weeks Pregnant
- Things are getting real! If you’re not experiencing morning sickness, extreme fatigue or other unpleasant early pregnancy symptoms, consider yourself lucky.
- Baby’s heartbeat is most likely detectable by ultrasound at this point. If your doctor gives you an ultrasound at that all-important first visit, you’ll hopefully be able to see (and hear) that pitter-patter activity.
- It’s only been a few short weeks, but that embryo is looking more and more like a baby every day. They’re growing by leaps and bounds, developing complex organs and regulatory systems.
At week six, pregnancy is still new to you, so it’s normal to feel a little emotional. Add to that some pretty uncomfortable early pregnancy symptoms (which include hormone fluctuations that can feel like PMS—on steroids!), and it’s understandable to feel uncertain. That’s probably part of why you have 40 weeks to adjust to pregnancy. Of course, it’s also because baby needs all that time to get all their working parts in order.
Watch Week 6 Highlights
Baby at Week 6
So what’s going on inside your 6-week pregnant belly? Well, many of the crucial areas of baby development have already started.
Baby's circulating blood with an increasingly sophisticated circulatory system. Baby might even be wiggling their paddle-like hands and feet. Your 6-week embryo is about to get cuter too, since they’re starting to sprout a nose, eyes, ears, chin and cheeks.
How big is baby at 6 weeks?
At 6 weeks pregnant, baby is the size of a sweet pea. The average embryo at week six is about .25 inches and will double in size again next week. Wow!
What does baby look like at 6 weeks?
Your 6-week-old-embryo is starting to look more baby-like. While that curled up little pea-size body still has a wee tail, it’s growing and developing fast. Baby now has an optic ventricle, which will eventually become the eyes, and a heart that has divided into four chambers and will start to beat this week. There are little limb buds that will become the chubby arms and legs you won’t want to stop kissing. Facial features are beginning to form too.
6 weeks pregnant is how many months
Remember, doctors generally refer to pregnancy by week, not month.
If you’re wondering, “how long is 6 weeks pregnant?,” you’re one month and about two weeks pregnant—even though it’s probably been only a week or so since you learned you're expecting. Pregnancy is measured starting with the first day of your last menstrual period. You probably conceived in week 2 or 3, and didn’t discover your pregnancy until you missed your period around week 5.
6 week ultrasound
If you’ve let your doctor know you’re 6 weeks pregnant, they may have asked you to go in for your first prenatal appointment right away, but more likely, they may have told you to wait a few weeks. In fact, the first prenatal checkup is usually at about 8 or 9 weeks. So unless yours is a high-risk pregnancy, you probably won’t have a 6-week ultrasound. We know the anticipation is killing you!
If you did have a 6-week ultrasound, the doctor might be able to see a fetal pole or fetal heartbeat—a clear sign that you’ve got an embryo developing in there. However, if the doctor doesn’t see a fetal pole or heartbeat, don’t panic—you might not be as far along as you thought.
The doctor will probably ask you to come back in a few days or a week for another ultrasound.
And yes, if you are 6 weeks pregnant with twins, you’ll likely be able to see two distinct gestational sacs or yolk sacs on the ultrasound at this point.
While you wait for your doctor’s appointment, you probably have a million questions on your mind. Write them down so you have them ready to ask your OB at your first prenatal visit. (Until then, we hope we’ve answered—and can continue to answer—a bunch for you.)
3D Views: My Baby, My Body
See their progress for yourself with our 3D interactive tool.
See My Baby in 3D
See My Body in 3D
Pregnancy Symptoms at Week 6
Because it’s still early in your pregnancy, you may not yet be experiencing symptoms—at this point, some women are terribly nauseous, while others feel almost nothing. At 6 weeks pregnant, either is normal, but the most common 6 weeks pregnant symptoms include:
Fatigue
You’re so drained because your body is still getting used to your changing hormones.
Get extra rest if you’re feeling wiped out.
Nausea
Hate to break it, but morning sickness doesn't just happen in the morning. It can be an all-day affair. And moms-to-be who are 6 weeks pregnant with twins might have even more severe nausea. It’s a good idea to find foods that help settle your stomach and to keep them on hand for regular snacking, since having an empty stomach can trigger bouts of nausea.
Sore breasts
Your breasts are likely sore thanks to increased blood flow. Can you believe your body is already starting to prep to breastfeed your baby? Yep, even at just 6 weeks!
Frequent urination
If you find yourself having to pee more than usual, it’s in part because the pregnancy hormone hCG is directing extra blood flow to the pelvic area. Heading to the bathroom more often is normal, but if you have painful urination or have the urge to go but are unable to, tell your doctor right away. Those are signs of a UTI, which you’re at higher risk for starting at week 6 of pregnancy.
Gas and bloating
The pregnancy hormone progesterone can cause these tummy troubles. Drink lots of water and eat fiber-rich foods to avoid constipation (yuck), which contributes to bloating (double yuck).
Mood swings
Yup, crankiness and emotional extremes are because of the hormones. Fatigue and fluctuations in blood sugar can contribute, too, so get extra rest and regularly eat healthy meals and snacks to help keep your mood (at least sort of) in check.
Cramping and spotting
At 6 weeks pregnant—and any time in early pregnancy—cramping and spotting are both common. We know these symptoms can make you worry about problems like ectopic pregnancy at 6 weeks and other types of miscarriage. Know that if any abdominal pain is severe (stronger than period cramps) or if bleeding becomes heavy like a period, you should call the doctor.
How you might feel at 6 weeks pregnant
At 6 weeks pregnant, reality is sinking in.
You might feel excited or nervous, or you might feel completely overwhelmed by the prospect of carrying baby for the next 34 weeks. These feelings are normal, and you might find you swing from one feeling to the next—also normal. Expect things to feel like they’re changing, because they are, and whether or not you feel physically different, it’s okay to feel however you feel.
Your Pregnant Belly at 6 Weeks
Though it’s common to be bloated at 6 weeks pregnant, you likely don’t look pregnant at all. Inside your 6 weeks pregnant belly, your rapidly growing pea-sized embryo will soon take up a greater amount of real estate in your belly. So if you’re not ready to share your news with the world, you can enjoy your little secret for a little longer. Of course, if you’re 6 weeks pregnant with twins, belly expansion will happen a little sooner than it will for other moms-to-be.
What does a pregnant belly feel like?
So how does your stomach feel in early pregnancy? Your 6-weeks-pregnant bump isn’t much of a bump yet, so you’re the only one who will notice any differences.
That said, since you’re probably starting to feel some cramping and bloating, your belly might feel a little bigger than normal. If pants feel tight or uncomfortable, now’s the time to integrate some stretchier waistbands to give that tummy room. Whether that tummy expansion currently comes from your growing baby or just gas doesn’t really matter as long as you’re as comfy as possible.
“Whether it's due to concern for the well-being of your baby, struggles around your changing identity or kicked up by hormonal acrobatics, anxiety in the earliest weeks of the pregnancy is really common and often manifests physically for mamas. This is one of those times where really trying to connect with your body through mindfulness and meditation can be very powerful in managing your anxiety and getting you through those first few weeks!” - Aparna Iyer, MD, is a board-certified psychiatrist in Frisco, Texas.
Tips for 6 Weeks Pregnant
Ready to feel like yourself again? Here, some tips to live your best life at 6 weeks pregnant.
Prepare for your first prenatal appointment
You’ll have a lot of questions at the first appointment, so make sure you write down anything that comes to mind before you see your doctor. Take note of symptoms, family history and any concerns that might arise as you get closer to your very first prenatal checkup.
Be conservative
Baby is still in the early stages of developing all their critical systems, so now is the time to play it safe. Go light on caffeine, get extra sleep and steer clear of any activity that could expose you to chemicals or extreme temperatures (hot tubs and saunas are a no-no). Just focus on taking good care of yourself instead.
Go when you gotta go
Pregnant women have a higher risk of developing UTIs, so make sure you drink lots of water and don’t hold it when you have to pee. Needing to pee often is normal when you’re pregnant, but feeling like you constantly have to go or feeling burning or pain when you pee are signs of a UTI.
Find balance
It’s hard to eat all the right things and get daily exercise when you’re exhausted and want to puke all the time. You don’t have to be perfect—just find balance. Sneak in a walk or a light yoga session when you have the energy. Eat well when you can stomach it, but when all you can handle are bland carbs, try rice cakes or popcorn to get a little nutritional value.
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Pregnancy Checklist at 6 Weeks Pregnant
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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.
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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.
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