Pregnancy Week 6
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Pregnancy Week 6
Pregnancy Week 6: You are Half-Way There!
By now your baby's eyes are taking shape as are the nostrils on your baby's face. If you were to peak inside your belly you would see tiny indentation at the sides of your baby's head. This is 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. The many changes that occur during the first few weeks of pregnancy are remarkable. Think about it. Just a few short weeks ago your baby was nothing more than a ball of cells. Soon your baby will be a miniature version of you and your partner. It doesn't get much more exciting than that. Your baby develops more now than at any other time during pregnancy. It is during the first trimester your baby begins developing his or her arms, legs, fingers and organs. This is one reason it is very important for you to stay healthy and avoid any toxins that may interfere with your baby's early development. The First Beat Often by 6 weeks of pregnancy your baby's heart may start to beat. Usually it takes a few more weeks before you or your healthcare practitioner picks up on your baby's heartbeat using a Doppler sound detection device. What your doctor can usually do is see your baby's heart beating using a transvaginal ultrasound. If you have an ultrasound early in pregnancy, your doctor will likely offer you pictures of your tiny bean! While your picture will look somewhat like a blob, you should be able to see the cavern of your uterus and a large head attached to a tiny body. Eventually your baby will grow into a proportional newborn baby. For many parents, seeing their baby's heart beat for the first time is a life changing experience. Once you see your baby's heartbeat, you know you have life inside you. This often is the point where many men break down and joyfully look with wonder at the tiny newborn baby you produced together. A baby's heartbeat in utero is much faster when you are pregnant. For example, as you follow your pregnancy week by week, you will find your baby's heartbeat an average anywhere from 100 to 160 beats per minute. Once you are further alone in your pregnancy, your doctor may perform regular Doppler examinations to detect your baby's heart rate and ensure your baby is nestled comfortably inside of you. Keep in mind the numbers given above are ranges; if your baby's heartbeat differs chances are you do not have to worry, but speak up to your doctor if you do have concerns so he or she can address them appropriately. Weighting Games during Pregnancy Week 6 You may find you start to put on a pound or two starting at about week 6 of pregnancy. As you follow your pregnancy week by week you will gain between 25-35 pounds, although some women may gain more and some less. Much of the weight you gain during the first trimester is associated with bloating or water retention. Some women will loose weight because they have severe morning sickness. If you have severe morning sickness and vomit frequently, you should contact your healthcare provider. Your healthcare provider may want to provide you with some IV therapy to ensure your electrolyte balances don't get too low and to ensure you don't get dehydrated. The good news is after the first trimester, morning sickness usually ends, and you start the really fun time of pregnancy. More on that later. Just remember that every woman is different. Most doctors or healthcare providers recommend women add an extra 300 calories during the second and third trimester of pregnancy to help support their body and their growing baby. That means you can have a cup of yogurt and about half a bagel with peanut butter extra. You will probably feel either (1) much hungrier than this or (2) not hungry at all. For now, go with your instinct. Just be sure to take it easy and take care when selecting foods for you and your baby. Some foods are not safe to eat during pregnancy. These include foods that are not pasteurized including some soft cheeses. Raw meat or fish is also not recommended during pregnancy. Why? These foods increase your risk of developing a condition called lysteria, a severe form of food poisoning that occurs when you consume foods that may contain parasites or other foreign materials. If you aren't sure what is and what is not safe to eat, talk with a nutritionist or your doctor. Usually they will recommend you follow the advice above, and heat any sandwich meats or cold cuts you have in the refrigerator before eating to help destroy or kill any bacteria that thrives in cold environments.
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