PREGNANCY WEEK 6 ~ HEALTH and FITNESS

6 WEEKS PREGNANT

Has the news sunk in yet? 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 downright miserable. Did we mention nervous and uncertain? That’s probably part of why you have nine whole months to adjust to pregnancy. Of course, it’s also because baby needs all that time to get all his or her working parts in order.

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!

6 Weeks Pregnant Is How Many Months?

At 6 weeks, you’re one month and about one week pregnant—even though it’s probably been only a week or two (or even less) since you found out you were expecting. That’s because pregnancy is measured starting with the first day of your last menstrual period. You probably conceived in week 2 or 3 (depending on the length of your menstrual cycle) and didn’t discover your pregnancy until you missed your period around week 5.

6 WEEKS PREGNANT SYMPTOMS

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's 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 six 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 boobs 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 six weeks!
Frequent urination. If you find yourself having to pee more than usual, it’s 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 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 normal. 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, then you should call the doctor.

6 WEEKS PREGNANT BELLY

Though it’s common to be bloated at 6 weeks pregnant, you likely don’t look pregnant at all. Inside your six 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.

6 WEEKS PREGNANT ULTRASOUND

If you’ve let your doctor know you’re six weeks pregnant, she may have asked you to go in for your first prenatal appointment right away, but more likely, she may have told you to wait a few weeks. In fact, usually the first prenatal checkup is 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!

Still, you’re probably wondering 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 his or her paddle-like hands and feet. Your 6-week embryo is about to get cuter too, since he or she is starting to sprout a nose, eyes, ears, chin, and cheeks.

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 six weeks pregnant with twins, you’ll be able to see two distinct gestational sacs on the ultrasound at this point. In fact, twins develop about 4 to 10 days after conception.

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.)