What does a six week old fetus look like

6 weeks pregnant: Ultrasound, symptoms, belly, and more

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Highlights this week

Hearing your baby's heartbeat

Your baby's heart isn't fully developed, but cells in the heart tube have started beating fast, around 160 times a minute. You may hear the sound this week if you have an early ultrasound.

Morning sickness relief

It's counterintuitive, but eating small meals throughout the day can help you keep nausea at bay. Snacking on bland foods, drinking ginger tea, and taking certain medications can also relieve morning sickness.

Is bleeding normal?

One in four women have some bleeding during this trimester. If you do, call your healthcare provider and get it checked out. Spotting or light bleeding is probably from something minor, but it could also be a sign of a serious problem, such as an ectopic pregnancy, a miscarriage, or problems with the placenta.

Baby development at 6 weeks

Heartbeat

There's cardiac activity in your baby's developing heart. You'll see the cells flickering if you have a vaginal ultrasound in the next few weeks. Starting at 10 to 12 weeks, your provider will listen to your baby's heartbeat at every prenatal appointment using a handheld Doppler.

Eyes, nose, mouth, and ears

There are dark spots where your baby's eyes and nostrils are starting to form. Emerging ears are marked by small depressions on the sides of the head. Inside their tiny mouth, the tongue and vocal cords are beginning to develop.

Arms and legs

Your baby's arms and legs begin as tiny paddles that will lengthen and grow into limbs. The backbone extends into a small tail that will disappear within a few weeks.

Your baby at 6 weeks

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Your baby is about the size of a lentil

Pregnancy symptoms during week 6

Morning sickness

Morning sickness is nausea that can strike at any time of day. It usually starts around 5 or 6 weeks of pregnancy and is likely to ease up by the end of the first trimester.

Frequent urge to pee

Needing to pee more often is among the most common early signs of pregnancy. During pregnancy a lot more blood is flowing through your body, which means your kidneys have extra fluids to process. (Pregnancy hormones play a role in this, too.) Regardless, keep drinking enough water. You can tell you're well hydrated if your urine is pale yellow or colorless. 

Mood swings

Many pregnant women find that moodiness flares up around 6 to 10 weeks. Ricocheting emotions are likely caused by stress, fatigue, and hormonal changes. And, of course, there's also the range of feelings you may have about becoming a parent. If you're feeling particularly bad, check for depression using our prenatal depression quiz and talk to your healthcare provider.

Tender, swollen breasts

Breast tenderness can be one of the earliest symptoms of pregnancy. Increased hormone levels boost blood flow, which may make your breasts feel swollen, sore, tingly, and unusually sensitive to touch.

Fatigue

For many women, exhaustion is among the first signs of pregnancy. No one knows for sure what causes fatigue in early pregnancy, but it's possible that hormonal changes – like the dramatic rise in progesterone – are at least partly responsible.

Metallic taste

You may notice a metallic taste in your mouth during the first trimester thanks to a surge in estrogen. You can cope with the copper taste by blushing and flossing frequently, gargling with one teaspoon salt or 1/4 teaspoon baking soda in 8 ounces of water, eating tart or acidic foods, or chewing mint gum.

Strange dreams

With your life changing rapidly, your subconscious is trying to keep up, which means processing your pregnancy in dreamland. Some dream images consistently appear in certain stages of pregnancy. First-trimester pregnancy dreams typically work through anxiety about your changing body, birth, and motherhood.

Headaches

It's common to get headaches during pregnancy, especially in the first trimester. Once you reach the second trimester, headaches may diminish or disappear. Until then, try to identify your headache triggers (like nitrates, MSG, artificial sweeteners, or tobacco smoke) and avoid them. Getting enough sleep, food and water, and exercise can prevent headaches, and relaxation techniques like massage and meditation may help. You can take acetaminophen to relieve headaches during pregnancy, but aspirin, ibuprofen, and some prescription migraine drugs aren't recommended unless approved by your healthcare provider.

Don't see your symptom?

Wondering about a symptom you have? Find it on our pregnancy symptoms page.

Your body at 6 weeks

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Pregnancy checklist at 6 weeks pregnant

Prepare for your first prenatal visit

Is your first prenatal visit coming up soon? It can be a momentous occasion: You'll talk to your doctor or midwife about your pregnancy, and you may have an ultrasound and see your baby's tiny heart beating! Be prepared to discuss your health history, your family's medical history, and your habits. If you haven't yet chosen a doctor or midwife to care for you during your pregnancy, go ahead and find someone so you can get started on your prenatal care. You can always switch to another caregiver later if you want.

Research foods to avoid during pregnancy

During pregnancy, it's wise to skip some foods completely (we're looking at you, deli egg salad). But many other foods that are otherwise unsafe for pregnancy are actually fine if you take a few precautions, like cooking them thoroughly. Find out what's safe to eat and drink during pregnancy and what to avoid.

Learn about prenatal testing options

Screening tests use blood samples and ultrasound to help assess your baby's chances of having Down syndrome or other chromosomal differences. The screenings are non-invasive and don't pose any risk to you or your baby. The results can help you decide whether to have chorionic villus sampling (CVS) or amniocentesis to find out for sure about a potential condition.

Make sure your workplace is safe

Some jobs or hobbies can be hazardous to you and your developing baby. If you're routinely exposed to chemicals, heavy metals (like lead or mercury), certain biological agents, or radiation, you'll need to tell your boss you're pregnant and make some changes as soon as possible.

Try to reduce stress

High levels of chronic stress aren't good for you or your baby. Try to stress less during pregnancy by surrounding yourself with positive people, taking breaks and deep breaths, and blowing off steam by exercising, listening to music, or journaling.

Start your pregnancy to-do list

If you're not sure where to start, check out our ultimate first-trimester pregnancy to-do list. It covers everything you may need or want to tackle now, from investigating health insurance to thinking about baby names.

6 weeks pregnant bellies

A number of factors — like your baby's position in your uterus, how tall you are, whether you're having twins or multiples, and whether you've been pregnant before — may affect when and how much your pregnancy announces itself.

Shorter women, and those who have short torsos, tend to show pregnancy more because there's less vertical room for their baby to fill.

Women who've been pregnant before often start showing earlier than first-time moms because their abdominal muscles have been stretched by their first pregnancy.

This week's video

Marcella Gates

Marcella Gates is executive editor at BabyCenter, the world's number one digital parenting resource, and is an expert on pregnancy and parenting. As a mom of three, she loves that her professional life is focused on supporting and empowering parents and expecting parents. Gates lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her family.

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Baby and You at 6 Weeks Pregnant: Symptoms and Development

In this article:
Key takeaways at week 6
Baby's development at week 6
3D anatomy views
Pregnancy symptoms this week
Your body at 6 weeks
Tips for week 6
Checklist for week 6

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. For updates on what’s happening with you and baby throughout your pregnancy, sign up for The Bump pregnancy week-by-week newsletter emails.

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

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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.

Anxiety in the earliest weeks of 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, 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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Child development by week | Regional Perinatal Center

Expectant mothers are always curious about how the fetus develops at a time when it is awaited with such impatience. Let's talk and look at the photos and pictures of how the fetus grows and develops week by week.

What does the puffer do for 9 whole months in mom's tummy? What does he feel, see and hear?

Let's start the story about the development of the fetus by weeks from the very beginning - from the moment of fertilization. A fetus up to 8 weeks old is called embryo , this occurs before the formation of all organ systems.

Embryo development: 1st week

The egg is fertilized and begins to actively split. The ovum travels to the uterus, getting rid of the membrane along the way.

On the 6th-8th days, implantation of eggs is carried out - implantation into the uterus. The egg settles on the surface of the uterine mucosa and, using the chorionic villi, attaches to the uterine mucosa.

Embryo development: 2-3 weeks

Picture of embryo development at 3 weeks.

The embryo is actively developing, starting to separate from the membranes. At this stage, the beginnings of the muscular, skeletal and nervous systems are formed. Therefore, this period of pregnancy is considered important.

Embryo development: 4–7 weeks

Fetal development by week in pictures: week 4

Fetal development by week photo: week 4

Photo of an embryo before the 6th week of pregnancy.

The heart, head, arms, legs and tail are formed in the embryo :) . Gill slit is defined. The length of the embryo at the fifth week reaches 6 mm.

Fetal development by week photo: week 5

At the 7th week, the rudiments of the eyes, stomach and chest are determined, and fingers appear on the handles. The baby already has a sense organ - the vestibular apparatus. The length of the embryo is up to 12 mm.

Fetal development: 8th week

Fetal development by week photo: week 7-8

The face of the fetus can be identified, the mouth, nose, and auricles can be distinguished. The head of the embryo is large and its length corresponds to the length of the body; the fetal body is formed. All significant, but not yet fully formed, elements of the baby's body already exist. The nervous system, muscles, skeleton continue to improve.

Fetal development in the photo already sensitive arms and legs: week 8

The fetus developed skin sensitivity in the mouth (preparation for the sucking reflex), and later in the face and palms.

At this stage of pregnancy, the genitals are already visible. Gill slits die. The fruit reaches 20 mm in length.

Fetal development: 9–10 weeks

Fetal development by week photo: week 9

Fingers and toes already with nails. The fetus begins to move in the pregnant woman's stomach, but the mother does not feel it yet. With a special stethoscope, you can hear the baby's heartbeat. Muscles continue to develop.

Weekly development of the fetus photo: week 10

The entire surface of the fetal body is sensitive and the baby develops tactile sensations with pleasure, touching his own body, the walls of the fetal bladder and the umbilical cord. It is very curious to observe this on ultrasound. By the way, the baby first moves away from the ultrasound sensor (of course, because it is cold and unusual!), And then puts his hands and heels trying to touch the sensor.

It's amazing when a mother puts her hand to her stomach, the baby tries to master the world and tries to touch with his pen "from the back".

The development of the fetus: 11–14 weeks

Development of the fetus in the photo of the legs: weeks 11