Reaching the sixth week of pregnancy is a milestone. It marks the halfway point through the first trimester. The baby is definitely growing, changing, and developing, and at six weeks, the shape is really starting to come into focus. An expectant mother can be 100 percent sure she is pregnant by the sixth week, as pregnancy symptoms are in full swing, and all tests are returning positive results.
Symptoms and Body Changes at 6 Weeks
As the baby develops, you will begin to show, and you will feel symptoms of being pregnant, including mood swings, intense food cravings, morning sickness, fatigue, weight gain, tender breasts, and nausea.
These pregnancy symptoms are due to the fast rate at which your baby is growing, but there are a few things you can do to ease the pains. Many women gain about five pounds during the first trimester, but many others lose weight during the first six weeks of pregnancy due to the nausea and morning sickness.
There’s no need for worry, either way. All women are different and have different experiences with their weight during pregnancy.
Most women schedule their first doctor check-up in the sixth week. Expectant moms will get their first ultrasounds done to make sure that everything is all right with both mom and baby, and to get their first glimpse of the developing embryo.
Baby’s Development
At six weeks, your baby is going through visible changes. Major developments include the ears, mouth, and nose, and ultrasounds are able to pick these out quite easily. The eyes and nostrils are also forming, and they show up in an ultrasound as black dots.
Your baby’s arms and legs look like stubs that are beginning to protrude from the body. The baby’s heartbeat is an astounding 100 – 160 beats per minute (twice as fast as yours or mine).
The blood is circulating, and the lungs, intestines, liver, and pancreas are all forming. Your baby is approximately ¼ inch long, and resembles a lentil bean.
At six weeks pregnant, the baby is able to make its first movements, although these movements are too gentle to be felt by the expectant mother.
Pregnancy Week 6 Tips
During the sixth week it’s extremely important to be careful about consuming food. Just because you’re pregnant doesn’t mean you should be eating for two.
Try to consume only 300 extra calories per day — the equivalent of a bagel — and keep your weight gain to a minimum. Also, split larger meals into smaller meals and munch throughout the day. This will help you control the morning sickness, which is much worse on an empty stomach.
During the first trimester it’s also a good idea to think about the future — that is, maternity clothes. Though you won’t need them yet, you should expect to gain one to five pounds by the end of the first 12 weeks, so a few extra outfits will come in handy down the road.
Find out more about your pregnancy at 7 weeks.
Photo credit: Sasha Roberts 6 weeks pregnant ultrasound