Welcome to week six!
By this week your baby is about the size of a lentil bean and the mouth, nose, ears and intestines are starting to develop.
Your pregnancy hormones are increasing, and you may be feeling more nauseated or have urinary frequency due to the fullness of the uterus which is laying on top of your bladder. Over the next 2 weeks symptoms related to the first trimester will probably peak and most women start to feel different. However, some women still don’t “feel pregnant” or even have the common symptoms of early pregnancy and that is normal too. Remember that every pregnancy and every woman are unique.
Over the next 2 weeks symptoms related to the first trimester will probably peak and most women start to feel different.
How my Baby Grows
- Your baby’s tiny heart is beating somewhere between 150-160 beats per minute which is twice as fast as that of an adult, it is divided into four chambers and can be seen by ultrasound
- There are now tiny arm and leg buds that will grow into limbs over the coming weeks.
- The embryo is C-shaped with a head that is larger than the rest of the body.
- Facial features like the eyes, nose, chin and even jaw and cheeks are forming at this point on your baby
- Very primitive germ cells that will form the male or female genitalia are present.
- Organs like the kidneys, liver and lungs are forming and the trachea, larynx and bronchi are present by now.
Symptoms Mama may Feel or Experience
- Between now and the next two weeks the symptoms of pregnancy will peak.
- If you are having nausea and vomiting it is usually helpful to eat small frequent meals every two hours rather than big meals at one time, most women benefit from avoiding fried or spicy foods and drinking between meals rather than with the meals as water or other liquids can over distend the stomach and lead to nausea or vomiting
- You may also experience indigestion which can lead to nausea and vomiting, there are several over the counter medications that are safe to take during pregnancy for indigestion and your provider can probably provide a list of approved ones for their practice, it is helpful to stay in an upright position after meals as laying down can increase the chance of regurgitation
- Some women have an increase in headaches during pregnancy, if you have a history of migraines, about a third of pregnant women’s migraines will increase, a third will decrease and a third will stay the same as prior to the pregnancy
- If you are prone to sinus headaches, they may increase during pregnancy due to enlargement of the frontal and maxillary sinuses
- Some headaches are simply due to dehydration, so remember to keep up your fluids, if you have a headache, it is best to try rest and hydration first to relieve symptoms as this will often work
Thoughts to Consider
- Are you thinking of travel in the coming months, if so, there are certain travel precautions to be aware of and your provider may have additional ones?
- Stay hydrated even though you may have to stop more often to go to the bathroom.
- Get up and move every 1-2 hours as this will reduce your risk of a blood clot which is more common during pregnancy.
- Check for local health risks at the location you are traveling to, the CDC is a great resource for this information
- If you are planning a guided tour or cruise you may want to check with the travel organization about any specific restrictions, they may have for pregnant women
- Do you use dyes, perms or other hair treatment on a regular basis?
- If you do it is probably best to wait until after the first trimester to have them done as being in an enclosed area with chemicals may cause nausea or vomiting.
- Check out our article in Go-to-Topics on hair treatments during pregnancy.
Tips for a Healthy Pregnancy
- Don’t forget your mental health during pregnancy.
- Many women struggle with depression during pregnancy or the postpartum period even if your baby is healthy and the pregnancy is cherished.
- If you have symptoms, please discuss them at one of your prenatal visits or schedule a separate visit to talk about how you feel
- Some women develop stress related to symptoms of fatigue and not being able to “get as much done” as they normally can, this may lead to anxiety over expectations which are sometimes unreasonable
- A community of other women who are pregnant
- Many cities have groups of pregnant women who walk together, meet together to talk or share information.
- There may be prenatal exercise classes where you can meet other women at different stages of pregnancy
- Some churches or other organizations have groups that meet or support pregnant women, check it out
Dr. Cheryl Sharp,
Certified Nurse Midwife
Chief Content Officer
Chief Content Officer