Are you experiencing early pregnancy symptoms yet? By 6 weeks pregnant, some pregnant women notice that their breasts are more tender than normal, while others feel the slight twinge of nausea. Don't worry if you haven't noticed any change yet. A lack of symptoms does not mean that anything is wrong.
Keep in mind that early pregnancy symptoms can range, from the very severe to the very mild. Some pregnant women never experience any symptoms at all, and they go on to deliver healthy babies.
Early signs of pregnancy include:
A Missed Period
Frequent Need to Urinate
Fatigue
Nausea and Vomiting (also called Morning Sickness)
Sore and Tender Breasts
Backaches
Headaches
Food Cravings and Food Aversions
Mood swings and irritability
Raised basal body temperature
Symptoms vary from pregnancy to pregnancy. You may have experienced all of these in your last pregnancy, but only one or two in this one. Though the early signs of pregnancy can make you miserable, keep your mind on the baby growing inside you!
Weight Gain During Pregnancy - Week 6
Your pregnancy weight gain at 6 weeks pregnant is a little over a pound. Some women may have gained two pounds at this point in your pregnancy week by week. Remember that every woman and every pregnancy is different. Some women gain weight very quickly in the first trimester, while others gain weight slower.
When to Share the Big News
At pregnancy week 6, you and your partner are probably the only ones that know that you've got a bun in the oven! Have you thought about when you want to spring the big news to your family and friends? This is often a very personal choice. Some couples are so overjoyed that they can't wait to tell everyone, while others prefer to wait until after the first trimester, when the threat of miscarriage decreases. The choice is up to you.
In some cases, it may be difficult to keep your pregnancy a secret if your pregnancy symptoms are severe. If you are often vomiting due to morning sickness, you may have no choice but tell the people around you. Or if your job requires you to do strenuous labor (such as heavy lifting), you may need to tell your boss that you're expecting.
However, if you are the only one that knows you're pregnant, you may want to plan a big surprise for your partner. Perhaps whispering it over a candlelit dinner or something equally as romantic. Have fun celebrating your pregnancy!
Fetal Development at 6 Weeks Pregnant At pregnancy week 6, you aren't showing yet, but amazing changes are happening inside you - including the first fluttering heartbeats!
This week, your baby's placenta continues to develop and the yolk sac continues to provide nourishment for your little one. At the beginning of your pregnancy, the yolk sac is this balloon-like structure that is as large as your fetus, but it slowly gets smaller as your pregnancy continues. By pregnancy week 9 and 10, the yolk sac starts to disappear completely as the placenta take over its role.
Your little baby's face is developing. At pregnancy week 6, your baby's eyes are taking shape. Small pits have developed on the side of your little one's head, which will eventually form into his or her beautiful eyes. If you were to peak inside your belly, you would see tiny indentations at the sides of the head, where your baby's ears will sprout.
Most babies look a bit uneven during the early stages of pregnancy. Don't worry! Your baby will grow more symmetrical as he or she continues to develop in your womb.
Your future baby now measures about 0.15 inches from crown to rump at pregnancy week 6. Isn't it amazing that only a few short weeks ago, your baby was just a ball of cells?
At 6 weeks of pregnancy, your baby has developed a curved tail. You may think your little one looks like a tadpole, but this "tail" is the beginnings of his or her spinal column. In a few short weeks, this tail will disappear as your baby's spine straightens.
Your baby will develop more in the first trimester than at any other time during pregnancy. In the first 13 weeks, your baby develops his or her arms, legs, fingers, and vital organs. He or she may pack on the pounds and fat in the second and third trimester, but these next few weeks are a very critical time in fetal development.
Remember that it's more important than ever to stay healthy and avoid any toxins (such as smoking, alcohol, and drug use) that can interfere with your baby's early development.
The First Heart Beat At 6 weeks of pregnancy, your baby's heart is making its first heartbeats. Because your baby is so tiny right now, it may take a few more weeks before your doctor or healthcare provider can pick up the heartbeat using a Doppler ultrasound.
You will often have your first ultrasound at your first prenatal visit, often at week 8 of pregnancy. The fetal heartbeat is often heard at the 12th week. However, in some cases, you may have a transvaginal ultrasound early in the first trimester.
During a transvaginal ultrasound, a scanning probe is inserted into the vagina to confirm your baby's health. Early scans don't show a lot of detail, but they are helpful to doctors. They are performed in women with a history of miscarriage, history of multiple births, and to check the cause of vaginal bleeding.
If you have an ultrasound this early in your pregnancy, your doctor will likely offer pictures of your tiny baby! While your baby may look like a blob, if you look carefully, you should be able to see the cavern of your uterus and a large head attached to a tiny body. Just think - this tiny "blob" will be a 6 to 8 pound baby in less than 34 weeks!
"Weighting" Games: Pregnancy Week 6 Starting at week 6 of pregnancy, you may find that you start to put on a pound or two every week. Much of the weight that you gain during the first trimester is associated with bloating or water retention. However, morning sickness may cause you to lose weight, especially if you are vomiting frequently.
If you find yourself experiencing excessive vomiting, you should contact your healthcare provider. Severe morning sickness can dehydrate you, and this is not good for your baby. You may need to be hospitalized for some IV therapy to ensure your electrolyte balances don't get too low.
Weight Gain During Pregnancy
As you follow your pregnancy week by week, keep in mind that an average woman will gain between 25 to 35 pounds during pregnancy, though some may gain more and some less. Try to stay in that range if you are of normal weight. If you are underweight, aim to gain between 28 to 40 pounds. Overweight pregnant moms should only gain between 11 and 20 pounds.
If you gain too much weight, you have an increased risk of c-sections and you may deliver a huge baby. Although fat babies are cute, your infant will be at risk for developing high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes later in life. On the other end of the token, if you don't gain enough weight, you face premature delivery and smaller size baby.
Nutrition During Pregnancy
Remember that just because you are pregnant, this doesn't mean that you should "eat for two." Most doctors and healthcare providers recommend that pregnant women add only 300 extra calories during pregnancy to help support their growing baby.
In the first trimester, you may not feel like eating anything due to your morning sickness. Eating mini-meals and snacking during the day can help combat your nauseous stomach while giving you the calories that you need to stay healthy.
You may also want to stick to eating more bland foods and try foods or drinks with ginger.
When you do feel better, you can add those 300 extra calories easily! Eating a cup of yogurt and half a bagel with peanut butter will give you what you need.
How to Eat Healthy During Pregnancy
For an added health benefit, try to add more fruits and vegetables to your regular diet. Some vegetables, such as leafy greens, contain folate, which is an essential nutrient that aids in preventing neural tube defects. Get creative with your vegetables! It doesn't have to be the traditional salad.
Some ideas for eating during pregnancy week 6:
Dip raw vegetables (like broccoli, carrots, and snow peas) into a tasty dip.
Make a fruit smoothie for a morning treat. You might want to throw in some sliced carrots, cucumber, and apple juice to create a refreshing and delicious smoothie.
Create a stir-fry with your favorite vegetables.
For a mild flavor, you may want to grate carrots into your favorite soups, pastas, or salads.
Make your own pizza. Buy premade crust at the grocery store, tomato sauce, and top it with your favorite veggies - like mushroom and black olives.
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