6 Weeks of Pregnancy
Highlights this week
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.
Hearing your baby's heartbeat
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.
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.
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 is about the size of a lentil
Pregnancy symptoms during week 6
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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.
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Breast tenderness can be one of the first signs of pregnancy. It usually starts around 4 to 6 weeks and lasts through the first trimester. You may notice your breasts growing or your nipples darkening. Some women also see prominent blue or purple veins develop on their breasts in early pregnancy.
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For many women, exhaustion is one of the early signs of pregnancy. Pregnancy fatigue affects almost all expecting moms in the first trimester, likely due to a dramatic rise in progesterone.
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About 1 in 4 women experience spotting or light bleeding during the first trimester. It's often nothing, but sometimes it's a sign of miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy. Call your doctor or midwife just in case. And if you're actively bleeding or you have severe pain and can't reach your provider, head to the emergency department right away.
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Morning sickness – also called nausea and vomiting of pregnancy – affects different expecting moms at different times (and some not at all). It usually starts around week 5 or 6 of pregnancy. For some women, that telltale queasy feeling is one of the first giveaways that they're pregnant. There are safe ways to get relief from morning sickness, including changes to your diet and lifestyle, natural remedies, and medication. Be sure to talk to your provider if you're suffering.
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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 brushing 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.
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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.
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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.
Pregnancy checklist at 6 weeks pregnant
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
