6 Weeks Pregnant
Pregnancy Body Changes
Morning sickness may be rearing its ugly head at this point. Nausea affects one third to one half of all pregnant women and usually subsides or even disappears by the start of the second trimester. It may be caused by a higher level of estrogen, as well as the rapid expansion of the uterus.
During week six of your pregnancy, your body is working hard to produce what will be your baby, which means that the symptoms of pregnancy can be more pronounced this week. Your nausea may get worse this week as your hormone levels rise. Remember it's called morning sickness, but it can strike at any point of the day. Stay hydrated by drinking lots of water. Your breasts may tingle, feel heavy, and the areola (dark nipple portion) may become darker. Food cravings and food aversions may develop. You may feel the need to urinate more often.
If you have not already done so, schedule your first prenatal appointment with your health care provider. Begin eating healthy if you haven't been, and avoid smoke, drugs, and alcohol.
Avoid changing cat litter for there is a risk of toxoplasmosis. Let someone else do this duty for a while. Toxoplasmosis can cause pregnancy problems and problems in the newborn.
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Your Baby's Growth and Development
By week 6, your baby's brain and nervous system are developing at a rapid pace. The larynx starts to form as does the inner ear. Optic vesicles, which later form the eyes, begin to develop this week on the side of the head, as do the passageways that will make up the inner ear. The head and tail of the embryo are formed, limb buds are present, and basic facial features begin to appear.
Your baby's heart will begin to beat around this time, and the earliest forms of the digestive and respiratory systems appear.
Because their legs are curled up against the torso for much of the pregnancy, making a full-length measurement difficult, babies often are measured from the crown to rump rather than from head to toe. In week 6 of pregnancy, your baby is 0.08 to 0.2 inches from crown to rump.