Pregnancy Week By Week - 6 Weeks Pregnant

Editorial Team

Its week six and at this stage, you are probably going through a lot of emotion all at once. At six weeks your belly is probably still the same size and people don’t even know that you are pregnant except a select few.

This is the time whereby you are happy and tired all at the same time. At this stage, you have probably already know that you have been pregnant for a week or less and so at this stage, it is a well-kept secret.

At this stage, your baby is now the size of an orange seed. Your baby’s neck and trunk begin to grow and the tail starts to straighten out. The baby’s heart is starting to separate into four chambers and is beating about 90 to 110 times a minute.

There is a bump where the brain and head are going to be and it’s possible to see where the ears, eyes, and nose will eventually form. Your baby’s kidney, liver, and lungs are also taking shape.

Your baby’s hollow neural tube, from which her brain, spinal cord, nerves, and backbone will sprout, closes to form a cavity. Your baby is now covered by a very thin layer of transparent skin and your baby has teeth.

These are some of the symptoms to expect in your 6th week of pregnancy.

  • Morning sickness
  • Frequent urination
  • Fatigue
  • Swollen or sore breasts
  • Larger and dark areolas around the nipples
  • Emotional or irritable

You will start to urinate more often because your kidneys get more efficient at getting rid of waste from your body coupled with the pressure of the expanding uterus on your bladder.

You will also become more sensitive to smells because of the high levels of the pregnancy hormone (oestrogen) in your body. Progesterone also causes bloating as it slows down digestion so that the food you eat can reach your baby.

These symptoms are normal, however, every woman is different and some might not feel any of these symptoms.

Things to take note of for a healthy pregnancy are:

Things to do

  • See a doctor as soon as you know you are pregnant.
  • Take folic acid
  • Go for regular monthly checkups
  • Take prenatal vitamins prescribed by a doctor.
  • Eat healthy
  • Reduce your consumption of caffeine (tea, coffee, cola)
  • Drink plenty of water
  • Exercise if your doctor says it is okay.
  • If you are going to a hospital or clinic make sure whoever is attending to you knows you are pregnant.

Things not to do

Don't smoke, don't drink alcohol, don't take illegal drugs or drugs that were not prescribed by your doctor. Don’t douche. Avoid going to places where people are sick if you can. Consult your doctor before taking any drug.

Source: Baby Basics, Healthline

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