When 6 weeks pregnant, you are probably starting to really feel the symptoms of your pregnancy – nausea, tiredness, a heightened sense of taste and smell which adds to the nausea; are all par for the course about now. From now until the end of the first trimester, your baby is susceptible to birth defects; so this part of the pregnancy is perhaps the most sensitive.
Though even by week 6, you are not showing at all, your uterus has already become bigger and will continue to grow bigger along with the baby as he or she grows.
Changes in the baby
Some very profound and exciting changes happen with the embryo at six week pregnancy:
- The heart starts to beat at about 5 to 6 weeks of the pregnancy, however it may not be possible to detect it with a Doppler or a fetal stethoscope just yet.
- The baby is still tiny, just about the size of a peppercorn.
- The baby’s brain is forming and the neural tube closes at around this time.
- The buds that will later become the arms and legs are beginning to grow.
- Other important changes in the baby include the formation of the amniotic sac which will protect the baby until the birth as well as the umbilical cord that will provide nourishment to the baby from the mother.
Changes in the mom to be
There could be a slight tightening of the waist band of some of the more constricting clothes during the 6th week of pregnancy, but for many women there appears to be perceivable change. Many women tend to actually lose weight during the first weeks of pregnancy due to the nausea and an aversion to several smells and tastes.
- Give some thought to birthing choices at this time.
- Also explore options about joining antenatal classes or pregnancy yoga classes.
Tips for the 6th week
To combat discomforts during the sixth week of pregnancy, here are some simple tips:
- Ginger is a great natural antidote to nausea. Have it in candied form, as ginger snaps, capsules and so on.
- Have complex carbs derived from whole fruit, whole grain and vegetables for sustained energy release and have 5 to 6 smaller meals rather than 3 big ones in a day.
- When you get up in the morning, avoid sudden movements and have a dry cracker or biscuit before getting out of the bed to prevent nausea.
- Get enough rest at night and try to squeeze in an afternoon nap if possible.