Six Weeks Pregnant

The big questions that many people as at six weeks pregnant are when they will start to show and how much weight they will put on. You will not be showing at the moment as the embryo is just the size of a sesame seed. However, the heart will already be beating and should beat from 100 to 140 beats per minute. Do not worry if you cannot hear the heartbeat through a Doppler device. Most heartbeats at this stage will only show on an ultrasound scan.

Baby Growth at Pregnancy Week Six

There is a lot happening at this time in your baby’s life. While the embryo will still look like a small dot on the screen, the organs and features are already starting to develop. You will not be able to see much on the scan but it really is happening. The one thing that you will likely notice if you have a scan this early is that your baby looks like a tadpole. There is a small tail at the bottom, which will form the spinal column as your baby develops over the next 34 weeks or so.

The yolk sac will still be present at six weeks pregnant. This is because the placenta will still be developing. The placenta does not completely develop until about 9 weeks gestation so the yolk sac continues to provide all the required nutrients until then.

Symptoms at Six Weeks Pregnant

Your pregnancy will not be showing yet but you will notice some changes at this time. You may find that your breasts are becoming much more tender during this stage of pregnancy. They are already getting ready to produce the milk so you can breastfeed; however, the milk will not start to be produced until later.

You may have some spotting at pregnancy week six. This is not something initially to worry about – light bleeding occurs in about 50 percent of pregnancies; around 50 percent of those pregnancies will result in a miscarriage. However, it is important to report any bleeding to your doctor or caregiver as this could be a sign of a miscarriage. It is also important to look out for the other signs of miscarriage.

By now, it is likely that you will have gained another pound in weight as your body changes. Of course, this will depend on other factors, such as morning sickness and your diet. Morning sickness commonly starts at pregnancy week six but you may be one of the lucky few who does not suffer from this. Morning sickness usually goes away by week 12 or 13.

There are some who suffer from pregnancy sickness throughout their pregnancy. Symptoms are different in every woman and in every pregnancy. It is important to avoid stress during this time so do not worry if you do struggling to put on weight and eat due to morning sickness. Talk to your doctor or midwife about it if you do become worried or you struggle to keep anything down.

Constipation is also common at this time. Constipation is a common symptom throughout pregnancy and not just as pregnancy week six since the growing baby will cause your digestive tract to become more cramped. This slows your digestive system down. You can help this by eating a high fibre diet. The fibre will also help you to feel fuller for longer.

Avoid Overeating

When you are six weeks pregnant, there is no need to “eat for two”. Your body will use calories much more efficiently during pregnancy so you and your baby get just the right amount of nutrients. It is only in the third trimester when you need to start eating more – and then, you only need to increase your calories by up to 300 calories per day.

Pregnancy sickness is often worse on an empty stomach, which is why it is commonly referred to as morning sickness. By morning, your body will have been through a fast and your stomach will be empty so sickness is more likely. Make sure you eat little and often and look for healthy options to make sure you get the nutrients that you need. Fruit, vegetables and nuts are excellent light choices during the day to avoid an empty stomach.