6 Weeks Pregnant: Symptoms, Belly Size & Ultrasound

6 weeks pregnant is a milestone to celebrate and savor. You may have just had your first positive pregnancy test, or your period may have been late for a few days. Either way, you are officially about to embark on a beautiful journey that will last for nine months.

Your baby at week 6 of pregnancy

Your embryo is growing at a rapid rate, gaining 1 millimeter per day. If you don’t think that’s much, consider if you grew by one-third overnight; then you’ll understand how hard the child is working!

By the conclusion of this week, the head will be larger than the body of the embryo. It has tiny limb buds that are beginning to develop into shoulders, arms, hands, and even the beginnings of fingers; and tiny leg buds that will develop into thigh, leg, and foot components by the end of this week.

This beating that began a week ago has gotten more regular and rhythmic, and the heart has already separated into two (of four) chambers. The main news this week is that the embryo is building an umbilical cord, its lifeline to nourishment and oxygen, and its constant companion for the next 34 weeks or so!

6 weeks pregnant is how many months?

When you are 6 weeks pregnant, you are officially in 2 months of your pregnancy. Just another 7 months to go! Congratulations, you’ve already made great progress!

How big is your baby at 6 weeks pregnant?

A baby of six weeks is about the size of a pea or an orange seed. From its head to its tail, it is about 0.63 centimeters (0.25 inches) long. Your baby has doubled in size in the past week, so this may look small. As of this week, its size will increase by another factor of two.

6 weeks pregnant: baby’s development

This week, the baby in the womb starts to move, and it gets its first sense of touch. The first movements of the baby are slow, but they are very important. Prenatal activity promotes appropriate bone and muscle development.

Before the embryo can move, its neurons and muscles need to make connections that work. Before the baby moves for the first time, the first connections between neurons and muscles can be seen.

By the end of week 6, the embryo responds to a light touch on her lips or cheeks by reflexively moving away!⁹ The embryo moves away when his umbilical cord or the wall of the uterus touches him in the womb. By 8 weeks after conception the embryo is regularly touching himself or herself.¹⁰

The embryo now develops by roughly 1 millimeter per day. There are periodic periods of rapid development for many bodily parts. The feet come along a full three to four days after the hands. Rays that will eventually become the thumbs and fingers begin to form at around 5 1/2 weeks.

In the embryo, the liver produces white blood cells; however, it ceases this production upon birth. The white blood cells mature into functional components of the emerging immune system.

A pregnancy that is ectopic will show symptoms between four and six weeks after fertilization. When the embryo implants and develops in a fallopian tube instead of the uterus, this is known as an ectopic pregnancy. If the embryo grows too large inside the fallopian tube, it will rupture the tube and the mother will bleed to death.

Tragically, the embryo is either surgically removed or drug-stopped to prevent further development. Ectopic pregnancies are, thankfully, extremely uncommon.

Your body at 6 weeks pregnant

Given that you only missed your period last week, it’s quite likely that you’ve just just learned you’re pregnant by week 6 of pregnancy. While many claim to be having symptoms in the sixth week of pregnancy, some women report no symptoms at all.

Both of these scenarios are typical, therefore ladies who haven’t yet displayed symptoms shouldn’t be concerned. Physical and emotional symptoms can vary greatly as a result of your altering hormone levels. It’s typical to have some overload or anxiety in the beginning. You are making a new life, after all!

6 weeks pregnant: possible symptoms

The first trimester (0 to 16 weeks) of pregnancy is different for every woman, and every pregnancy. According to the Office on Women’s Health, one of the most common early signs is a missed menstrual period.

Common signs and symptoms

The most common early signs and symptoms of pregnancy might include:

Spotting or light spotting (also called implantation bleeding). Implantation bleeding, in women who experience it, can be a confusing symptom of pregnancy. When the embryo implants into the uterine wall, some blood may be released. However, only about 20 to 30 percent of women experience this bleeding, which is really more like a pink or very light red discharge of blood. Any bleeding that is not your period should be discussed with your doctor.

Cramping.Mild cramping during pregnancy is common during week 6. As your baby grows, your uterus and other tissues around it will grow as well. It’s important to see a doctor right away if you experience discomfort that’s worse than period cramps, especially if it’s followed by a high temperature or diarrhea.
Morning sickness. This could be the week that morning sickness finally hits you if it hasn’t already. Nausea that usually occurs in the morning can strike at any moment. It could be set off by anything, including certain motions, odors, an empty stomach, or perhaps nothing at all. Keep some crackers or other simple starchy snacks on hand for those unexpected spells of nausea.
Exhaustion. It’s normal to feel wiped out from pregnancy exhaustion. Naps may assist when your progesterone levels rise and cause you to feel increasingly sleepy, and some women report that modest exercise and small meals help, too. Too little iron can lead to anemia, which in turn can make you feel weary all the time.
Moodiness.The surge of hormones that occur during pregnancy can cause a woman to experience an outpouring of feelings, including sadness and even tears. Additionally, it is not uncommon to notice shifts in one’s mood.

Frequent urination. It is also typical to have to use the restroom more frequently than usual during this time. Your kidneys are putting in extra hours of effort in order to handle the more fluid that is currently in your body.
Mood swings. The remainder of your pregnancy could be rife with emotional ups and downs. The first trimester is when mood swings are most likely, the second is when they tend to lessen, and the third is when they can return. You can quickly and easily feel better by doing things like eating healthy, talking to friends, sleeping, and doing modest exercise.
Constipation. When your hormones change, your digestive system slows down, causing constipation.
Food aversions. It’s possible that you will become more sensitive to certain odors and tastes when you’re pregnant. Hormonal changes can explain these food preferences, as well as most other pregnancy symptoms.

Nasal congestion. A rise in hormone levels and blood production can cause your mucous membranes to swell, dry out, and bleed easily. As a result, you may feel stuffy or have a runny nose.
No symptoms week 6 pregnant. That’s right, it’s possible to be six weeks pregnant with no symptoms whatsoever! Every pregnancy and every woman is different. For example, some women never experience morning sickness, so if you’re one of the lucky few, enjoy these nausea-free days without worry.

6 weeks pregnant belly size

Your belly is tiny at 6 weeks. It probably doesn’t even look like it could be growing anything but a few cells at this point. In fact, it’s more likely that the rest of your body has grown more than just the embryo itself! Even though it’s small, there are many changes happening inside that are preparing for life outside of you.

Most first-time pregnancies don’t show until around week 12. If you’ve had previous pregnancies you may show earlier as a result of stretching of the muscles in your uterus and belly.

6 weeks pregnant ultrasound

Only the gestational sac and the yolk sac will be seen at this time. The embryo, which at this point is probably a little white coiled object, may be visible to the mother and the sonographer.

The yolk sac, a little white circle, will be found all around the embryo. The embryo’s yolk sac provides vital nutrients and stimulates the development of blood cells in the womb.

Can you see a baby at 6 weeks on an ultrasound?

At 6 weeks, most babies still haven’t developed enough for you to see out facial features. However, the ultrasound should be able to confirm the gestational age by measuring the foetal pole if visible or the gestational sac if the latter is not. The ability to see the baby’s heartbeat is not a guarantee.

Preparing for Pregnancy

Start your pregnancy out on the right foot by taking prenatal vitamins, consuming enough of orange juice (which is a good source of folic acid), and engaging in regular physical activity. Do not drink alcohol, use drugs, or smoke cigarettes if you are trying to conceive; you may not know when you became pregnant. Talk to your doctor about whether or not any medications, including those you use regularly, pose any risk to your unborn child.

The importance of prenatal vitamins during pregnancy

During pregnancy, you need a greater amount of folic acid and iron. Why? Here are some reasons:

Folic acid prevents neural tube defects. These defects affect the fetal brain and spinal cord in a significant way. Preferably, you should begin taking extra folic acid three months before you become pregnant.
The placenta and baby require iron to develop. The body uses iron to make blood to supply oxygen to the baby. Additionally, iron helps prevent anemia, a condition in which the blood lacks healthy red blood cells

It’s important to consult your doctor or healthcare provider to find out which are the best prenatal vitamins to take before pregnancy, and how to calculate your expected delivery date.

6 weeks pregnant hCG levels

At 6 weeks pregnant, your hCG levels can range from about 152 to 32,177 mIU/m.

6 weeks pregnant: your checklist (what to expect)

This Week: Your First Doctor’s Visit

Get ready to be poked and prodded! Your first prenatal visit will include a complete physical and a medical history as well as a battery of tests. Here’s what to expect:

Urine samples: Your doc will test the golden dew for blood sugar levels (which can indicate gestational diabetes) and infections. If you’re not a pro at peeing in a cup the first time, don’t worry, you’ll have plenty more practice—you usually do your thang in a cup at the beginning of each visit.

Blood samples: They’ll take blood to test your hCG levels and check for anemia; immunity to rubella (German measles) and possibly chicken pox; and for sexually transmitted diseases with unpronounceable names like syphilis, hepatitis B, HIV, gonorrhea and chlamydia. They’ll also be checking your blood type, Rh factor, and hemoglobin levels. Don’t worry, this doesn’t happen at every appointment

The Physical: For this and almost every other visit, you’ll step on the scale and they’ll cuff you (to check your blood pressure). But for this first, more comprehensive physical, the doc will also feel you up (checking your breasts for irregularities) and may perform a Pap smear if you haven’t had one lately. Then there’s the pelvis. Some OBs will just palpitate your belly to feel your uterus; others prefer to do an internal exam.

The Chat: If this is your first time with the OB or midwife, use this visit to get chummy (you can always find a different one if this one doesn’t laugh at your jokes). Write down questions or concerns and bring them to the appointment, along with a pen for the answers. It’s not too early to start talking about expectations for the birth, like what kind of pain medications your provider might give you or if he or she has experience with water births or any other types of birthing technique you’re interested in trying. Don’t forget simple questions, too, like the best way to reach your provider (especially after hours).