6 week pregnancy: Baby development, symptoms and Tips

Short Answer: At 6 weeks pregnant, your baby is an embryo about 4 to 6 mm long, roughly the size of a lentil or a sweet pea, and weighs less than a gram. The neural tube finishes closing, the heart tube beats and loops, and tiny buds that will become arms and legs appear. A vaginal ultrasound can often show the heartbeat for the first time this week or next. You may have nausea, tiredness, sore breasts, bloating, frequent urination and mood swings, or very few symptoms, and both are normal. Your belly is not growing from the baby yet. Any bloating is mostly hormones and slow digestion. This week, take folic acid, book your first prenatal visit, avoid alcohol, tobacco, risky foods and unapproved medicines, and learn the warning signs of ectopic pregnancy and miscarriage. Call a doctor for severe or one-sided pain, heavy bleeding, dizziness, fainting, shoulder-tip pain or vomiting that stops you keeping fluids down.

Pregnancy weeks are counted from the first day of your last period, not from conception. Six weeks pregnant means about four weeks since conception, and about two weeks after your missed period. You are in your second month, about one and a half months pregnant, and your due date is about 34 weeks away. For the week before, read our guide to 5 weeks pregnant, and to follow the whole journey see our pregnancy guidelines week by week.

Week 6 at a glance

Sizes are tiny and vary between guides and between pregnancies. Doctors measure the embryo from the top of the head to the bottom, called the crown-rump length, in millimetres. A difference of a millimetre or two from a chart is normal.

How many months is 6 weeks?

At 6 weeks, you are in the second month of pregnancy, about one and a half months along. Doctors use weeks, because months are uneven and weeks are exact.

The count starts from your last period, so the first two weeks were before conception. At 6 weeks, your baby has been growing for about four weeks, and the first trimester is roughly half over.

Your baby at 6 weeks

This week is part of the most delicate stage of development. The embryo is building the basic structure of almost every organ, which is why folic acid, good food and avoiding harmful substances matter so much now.

Size. The embryo is about 4 to 6 mm long and curled in a C-shape. It is bigger than last week, when it was 2 to 3 mm, and it will roughly double by next week. It weighs less than a gram, far too little to feel.

Heart. The heart began as a simple tube that started pulsing last week. This week it grows, bends into a loop and starts to divide into the chambers that will become the four-chambered heart. It is not fully formed yet, and that happens by about 10 weeks. The rate is about 90 to 120 beats per minute at 6 weeks, and it rises to 150 to 170 by 9 weeks. A slower rate early on is often normal.

Neural tube and brain. The neural tube, which becomes the brain and spinal cord, completes closing about now. The front end swells into three parts, which become the forebrain, midbrain and hindbrain. This is why folic acid is advised from before pregnancy to 12 weeks. If the tube does not close properly, it can cause conditions such as spina bifida.

Eyes, ears and nose. Small dark spots appear where the eyes will be, and a lens forms. Pits on the sides of the head become the inner ears, and two small pits become the nostrils. The jaw and cheeks begin to take shape.

Arms and legs. The arm buds have grown into small paddles, and the leg buds are just starting. Fingers and toes appear in the coming weeks.

Gut and organs. The gut tube is lengthening, and the liver, lungs, kidneys and pancreas are forming in outline. The liver begins to make blood cells. The thyroid and other glands start to appear.

Blood and circulation. Blood vessels link the embryo, the yolk sac and the forming placenta. Blood cells circulate, and the heart pumps them.

Tail. A small tail is visible at the bottom of the spine. It shrinks and disappears over the next weeks. This is normal.

Placenta and cord. The placenta is growing and attaching to the womb lining, and the umbilical cord is lengthening. The yolk sac still supplies much of the nutrition, and the placenta takes over at about 10 to 12 weeks.

Amniotic sac. The embryo floats in a fluid-filled sac, which cushions and protects it for the rest of pregnancy.

What has not happened yet. The baby has no fingers, toes, eyelids or recognisable features. Bones are not forming yet, apart from a flexible cartilage framework. Movements cannot be felt, and scans cannot show sex.

Twins. If you are carrying twins, a scan can sometimes show two sacs or two embryos at 6 weeks. Twins are more likely if you have had fertility treatment or have a family history. Your doctor will advise you on extra care.

6 weeks pregnant ultrasound

An ultrasound at 6 weeks is not routine for everyone, but it is common and often helpful. Doctors usually advise one if you have pain, bleeding, uncertain dates, a history of ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage or fertility treatment. Others have their first scan at 8 to 12 weeks.

What a scan can show. A transvaginal scan, with a slim probe placed gently in the vagina, gives the clearest picture in early pregnancy.

What a scan cannot show. The baby’s sex, facial features, fingers and toes, or most organs. Do not expect to see a “baby” yet. The scan will show a tiny bean-shaped embryo with a flickering heartbeat, if all is well.

Measuring and dating. The crown-rump length, taken when the embryo is visible, gives a reliable estimate of the gestational age, accurate to within about 5 to 7 days in the first trimester. If it differs by more than a week from your dates, your doctor may adjust your due date. A smaller embryo often means you ovulated later than you thought, which is common, and not a sign of a problem.

If no heartbeat is seen at 6 weeks. This is common and not always a bad sign. If the pregnancy is very early, or ovulation was later, the heartbeat may not be visible yet. Doctors do not diagnose a miscarriage from a single early scan. They look at the size of the embryo and the sac and repeat the scan after 7 to 14 days. A miscarriage is usually diagnosed only when the embryo is 7 mm or longer with no heartbeat, or when the sac is large and empty. Ask your doctor what the findings mean and when to repeat the scan, and try to stay calm while you wait.

A slow heart rate. In early pregnancy, a heart rate below about 100 at 6 weeks can be normal, since the rate rises quickly in the following days. A repeat scan after a week shows the trend. A very slow rate with a small embryo needs close follow-up.

A blood clot beside the sac. A scan sometimes shows a small collection of blood, called a subchorionic haematoma, between the sac and the womb wall. It is a common cause of spotting and usually resolves on its own. Many pregnancies with one continue normally. Rest, avoid heavy activity and report heavy bleeding.

A pregnancy of unknown location. If the scan shows nothing in the womb, but your pregnancy test is positive, it may be too early, a pregnancy that is not progressing or an ectopic pregnancy. Doctors repeat hCG blood tests and scans over a few days. Go to hospital at once for severe pain, heavy bleeding or fainting.

Safety. Ultrasound uses sound waves, not radiation, and is safe at every stage when medically useful. Non-medical “keepsake” scans in the first trimester are not recommended.

Cost and quality. Prices vary widely. Ask what is included, who does and reports the scan, whether it is transvaginal and whether a doctor will explain the result.

Your body at 6 weeks

Hormones. hCG, made by the placenta, doubles about every two to three days at this stage, and it peaks at about 8 to 11 weeks. It is linked to nausea. Progesterone and estrogen rise, which relax smooth muscles, slow digestion and make you tired.

The womb. It is still small, about the size of an orange or a lemon, and inside the pelvis. You cannot feel it from outside, and it does not push your belly out yet.

Blood volume. It begins to rise, and will increase by up to 40 to 50 percent by the third trimester. You may feel dizzy, tired or short of breath.

Breasts. They may be larger, tender, tingly or heavy, with darker nipples and small bumps on the areola, called Montgomery tubercles, which keep the nipples moist. These changes are normal.

Kidneys and bladder. You pass urine more often because your kidneys filter more blood and hormones relax the bladder. The womb is too small to press on the bladder yet.

Gut. Progesterone slows digestion, which causes bloating, gas, constipation and heartburn. A heightened sense of smell is common.

Weight. Many people gain nothing or even lose a little in the first trimester, especially with nausea. Some gain a little. Both are normal.

Skin and hair. A glow, acne, dry skin or oily skin can all appear. Hormones cause these changes.

Mood. Mood swings, tearfulness and irritability are common. Worry about the pregnancy is normal too.

Cervix. A thick plug of mucus forms to seal the cervix and protect the womb.

6 weeks pregnant symptoms

Symptoms often become noticeable around 6 weeks, but some people have very few. Neither is a sign of a problem.

Do not start vitamin B6, anti-nausea medicine or herbal remedies without your doctor’s advice.

No symptoms? Having few or no symptoms at 6 weeks does not mean something is wrong. Symptoms vary from person to person and from pregnancy to pregnancy, and they come and go. Call your doctor if the loss of symptoms comes with bleeding or pain, or if you have had a miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy before and need reassurance.

Why is my belly so big at 6 weeks?

Many people notice their belly looks bigger or feels tight at 6 weeks, before the baby could possibly cause it. Your embryo is only a few millimetres long, and the womb is still deep in your pelvis, so the baby is not the reason.

Common causes of a larger belly:

Twins. A bump at 6 weeks is almost never twins. Twins rarely show until much later, and bloating is the usual cause. A scan confirms the number of babies.

When a big belly needs a doctor. Call if the bloating is severe and rapid, or comes with other signs:

• Severe or one-sided belly pain
• Vomiting that you cannot control
• Rapid weight gain, shortness of breath or very little urine. If you are on fertility treatment, these can be signs of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), which needs urgent care
• Fever, or pain when passing urine
• Bleeding with pain
• Dizziness or fainting

What to expect next. You will probably not look pregnant until about 12 to 16 weeks, and later in a first pregnancy. Bloating usually eases around the second trimester. Wear loose, comfortable cotton clothes, and avoid tight waistbands.

Vaginal discharge at 6 weeks

An increase in thin, milky white discharge is one of the earliest and most common pregnancy changes. It is called leukorrhoea, and it is caused by higher estrogen and more blood flow to the cervix and vagina. It helps protect against infection, and it usually lasts through pregnancy.

Normal discharge:

• Thin, clear or milky white
• Mild or no smell
• No itching, burning or soreness
• Increases as pregnancy goes on

What helps: wear cotton underwear, change panty liners often if you use them, wash with water or a mild, unscented soap, wipe from front to back and avoid douching, which upsets the natural balance and can cause infection. Do not use tampons in pregnancy.

See a doctor if discharge is:

Do not treat discharge yourself with tablets, creams or herbal washes from a pharmacy or a traditional healer without a diagnosis. A swab or exam confirms what it is, and the right treatment is safe for your baby.

Spotting, cramps and miscarriage

Spotting at 6 weeks. About 1 in 4 pregnant people have some spotting in the first trimester, and most go on to have healthy babies. The old idea that spotting at this stage is “implantation bleeding” is not right. Implantation happens about a week after ovulation, around 4 weeks of pregnancy, so spotting at 6 weeks has another cause.

Common, often harmless causes:

• Hormone changes
• A small blood clot beside the sac (subchorionic haematoma)
• A cervix that bleeds easily, after sex or an internal examination
• A small growth on the cervix, called a polyp

What to do for light spotting: wear a pad, not a tampon, and note the colour, amount and any pain. Avoid sex until it stops, rest if you can and call your doctor to report it and to arrange a check. Light spotting that stops is usually fine.

Cramps. Mild period-like cramps or a pulling feeling are common as the womb stretches. They should be mild and settle with rest.

Call a doctor the same day, or go to hospital, if you have:

• Bleeding that is red and heavy, or soaks a pad in an hour
• Bleeding with strong cramps or pain
• Passing clots or tissue
• Severe or one-sided belly pain
• Dizziness, fainting, pale skin or a racing heart
• Shoulder-tip pain
• Fever, chills or foul-smelling discharge

Miscarriage: what to know.

• About 10 to 20 in 100 known pregnancies end in miscarriage, most in the first 12 weeks. More happen before a person knows she is pregnant.
• In more than half of early miscarriages, the cause is a chromosome problem in the embryo, which cannot be prevented and is nobody’s fault.
• Miscarriage is not caused by normal exercise, work, lifting normal loads, sex, stress, a shock, spicy food, hot or cold food, ripe fruit, a minor fall or an ordinary argument. Please do not blame yourself.
• The risk is higher with age, previous miscarriages, uncontrolled diabetes or thyroid disease, smoking, alcohol and high caffeine intake.
• Once a heartbeat has been seen, the risk falls. For a person with a normal heartbeat at 6 to 7 weeks and no high-risk factors, about 9 in 10 pregnancies continue.
• Signs include vaginal bleeding, often with cramping or back pain, passing clots or tissue and a loss of pregnancy symptoms. Not every bleed is a miscarriage, and not every miscarriage causes much pain.

If you are miscarrying, your doctor will examine you, and may arrange an ultrasound and blood tests. Options include waiting for it to pass naturally, medicine to help it pass and a small procedure. Heavy bleeding, fever, severe pain or fainting need urgent care. If you are Rh negative, ask about an anti-D injection after bleeding.

Grief. A miscarriage is a loss. It is normal to feel sad, angry, guilty or numb, and you may need time. Talk to someone you trust, and ask for help if sadness does not ease. Most people go on to have a healthy pregnancy, and doctors usually advise further tests only after two or three miscarriages.

Ectopic pregnancy warning signs

An ectopic pregnancy is one that implants outside the womb, most often in a fallopian tube. It affects about 1 to 2 in 100 pregnancies. It cannot continue, and if the tube ruptures, it causes life-threatening bleeding. Symptoms usually start between 5 and 9 weeks, so 6 weeks is the time to know them.

Warning signs:

• Sharp, stabbing or persistent pain in the lower belly or pelvis, often on one side
• Vaginal bleeding, which may be light, dark brown or watery, or heavy
• Shoulder-tip pain
• Pain when passing stools or urine
• Dizziness, feeling faint or fainting
• Pale skin, a fast heartbeat, weakness or collapse

Higher risk: a past ectopic pregnancy, tubal or pelvic surgery, pelvic infection, an IUD in place when you conceived, fertility treatment, smoking and endometriosis. About half of ectopic pregnancies occur in people with no known risk factor, so everyone should know the signs.

What to do: go to a hospital emergency department at once, or call 999. Do not wait, and do not eat or drink if you may need surgery. Tell the staff you may be pregnant, and when your last period was.

Treatment. Found early, an ectopic pregnancy can be treated with an injection of methotrexate. Otherwise, keyhole surgery removes it, sometimes with the tube. Early care protects your health and your fertility, and many people have a healthy pregnancy afterwards.

Signs of a boy or a girl: what is true

Many families are eager to guess the sex of the baby. There are many folk beliefs, and none is reliable.

When can you really know?

At 6 weeks, a scan cannot show the sex, because the genitals have not developed. The sex is set at conception, but it cannot be seen for several more weeks.

Please remember: a healthy baby is what matters. Choosing or acting on the sex of a baby, including pressure to have a son or ending a pregnancy because of sex, is unethical and harmful. If anyone presses you, tell your doctor or call the national helpline 109, which supports women who face pressure and violence.

6 weeks pregnant: what to avoid

The first trimester is when the baby’s organs form, so this is the time to be most careful. Most everyday foods and activities are safe. These are the ones to avoid or change.

Myths to ignore. Eating banana, ripe papaya, pineapple, eggplant, duck eggs, hot food, cold food or jackfruit in normal amounts does not cause miscarriage. Many old rules about “hot” and “cold” foods have no medical basis, and they can leave a pregnant woman short of nutrients. If you are unsure, ask your doctor.

Medicines. Always ask a doctor or pharmacist before taking any medicine, including herbal and over-the-counter products. Do not stop medicine for a long-term condition, such as epilepsy, diabetes, thyroid disease, asthma or high blood pressure, without talking to your doctor. Some need to be changed, and untreated conditions can harm the baby. A fever of 38°C or more needs a doctor, and in Bangladesh it may be dengue, so do not treat it at home.

Nausea and vomiting

Nausea affects about 7 in 10 pregnant people, and vomiting about half. It often starts at about 5 to 6 weeks, peaks at 9 to 10 weeks and eases by 12 to 14 weeks, though it lasts longer for some. It is called morning sickness, but it can happen at any time of day or night. Having it does not mean anything is wrong, and neither does not having it.

What helps:

• Eat a few dry biscuits, toast or puffed rice before getting out of bed
• Eat small meals every two to three hours, so your stomach is never empty
• Avoid triggers, such as strong smells, spicy, oily or very sweet food and cooking fumes. Ask someone else to cook, if you can
• Sip cold fluids through the day. Try lemon water, ice chips or oral rehydration solution
• Try ginger, in tea, biscuits or food
• Get fresh air, keep the room cool and rest
• Brush your teeth after vomiting, and rinse your mouth
• Eat protein with meals, which may settle your stomach
• Take iron-folic acid with food or at night, and ask your doctor if iron makes nausea worse

If nausea is bad, your doctor may advise vitamin B6, with or without doxylamine, or another anti-nausea medicine. Do not take them without advice.

Hyperemesis gravidarum. About 1 in 100 pregnant people have severe, persistent vomiting that needs treatment. Signs are vomiting many times a day, being unable to keep down food or water, weight loss of more than 5 percent, dark urine or passing very little, dizziness, a dry mouth, weakness and a fast heartbeat. See a doctor the same day. Treatment includes fluids through a drip, anti-nausea medicine, vitamins and sometimes a short stay in hospital. It is not your fault, it is treatable and you do not need to push through it.

Food, folic acid and supplements

Folic acid. Folic acid, or folate, helps the neural tube close, and lowers the risk of neural tube defects by about 70 percent. The tube closes this week, so the most critical period is ending, but folic acid still matters for your baby’s continued growth and for your own blood. Take 400 micrograms a day until 12 weeks, or the higher dose your doctor prescribes if you have diabetes, epilepsy, a family history of neural tube defects, obesity or thalassaemia. If you have not started, start today.

Iron. Most doctors in Bangladesh prescribe iron-folic acid tablets from the first visit, usually 60 mg of iron and 400 micrograms of folic acid a day, to prevent anaemia. Take them as prescribed. If iron upsets your stomach, take it with food or at night, and ask your doctor before stopping.

Vitamin D. It helps your body use calcium. Many women in Bangladesh have low levels, especially if they cover their skin or spend most of the day indoors. Ask your doctor whether you need a supplement.

Iodine. Use iodised salt in your cooking. Iodine supports your baby’s brain development.

Calcium. Supplements are usually advised from about 20 weeks. Ask your doctor.

Do not take extra supplements or herbal products without advice. More is not better.

Eat more of:

• Protein: well-cooked eggs, fish, chicken, lentils (dal), beans and milk
• Iron-rich foods: leafy greens (shak), lean meat and lentils, with lemon or guava for vitamin C
• Folate-rich foods: leafy greens, lentils, beans, oranges and fortified foods
• Calcium: milk, yogurt, and small fish eaten with the bones
• Fruit and vegetables: a variety of colours every day
• Whole grains and fibre: brown rice, whole wheat roti and oats
• Healthy fats: well-cooked oily fish, nuts and seeds
• Water: 8 to 10 glasses a day, more in hot weather

How much to eat. You do not need extra calories in the first trimester. Do not “eat for two”. If nausea limits what you eat, eat what you can, in small amounts, and rely on your iron-folic acid to help fill gaps. Tell your doctor if you are losing weight quickly.

Your first prenatal visit

The World Health Organization recommends at least eight contacts with a health professional during pregnancy, with the first before 12 weeks. Early care finds problems that can be treated, and gives you advice and supplements. If you have not booked yet, do it now, ideally for 8 to 10 weeks.

What usually happens:

• A review of your medical history, previous pregnancies, medicines, allergies and family history
• Blood pressure, weight, height and a physical check
• Confirmation of your due date, often by scan
• A discussion of food, supplements, habits and symptoms
• Blood and urine tests, which may include:

• A prenatal card, which you should keep safe and bring to every visit

Questions to ask:

• Which supplements should I take, and for how long?
• Are my current medicines safe?
• Which foods and activities should I avoid?
• What symptoms mean I should call you or go to hospital, and what number do I use at night?
• When is my next visit, and which scans and tests are planned?
• Where should I plan to give birth, and what does it cost?

Write down the answers.

Exercise, sleep and sex

Exercise. Light to moderate exercise is safe and good for most healthy pregnancies. Walk about 30 minutes on most days. Swimming, gentle yoga and stretching are good. You should be able to talk while you exercise. Avoid contact sports, hot yoga, activities with a risk of falls and heavy lifting. Stop and call your doctor if you have pain, bleeding or dizziness.

Sleep. Many people need more sleep in the first trimester, and short naps help. Go to bed earlier, keep your room cool and avoid screens at night.

Sex. It is safe for most healthy pregnancies and does not cause miscarriage. Avoid it if you have bleeding or pain, or your doctor has told you to rest. Desire may rise or fall, and both are normal.

Everyday life in Bangladesh

Dengue and mosquito bites. Dengue spreads by mosquito bites, and it can be serious in pregnancy. Remove standing water around your home, use a mosquito net and a pregnancy-safe repellent, wear long sleeves and see a doctor straight away for any fever. Do not take ibuprofen or aspirin for fever unless your doctor says so.

Heat. Hot, humid weather can dehydrate you and make nausea worse. Drink water through the day, wear loose cotton clothes, rest in the shade and avoid long hours in direct sun. Oral rehydration solution helps if you have been sweating or vomiting a lot.

Safe water. In many areas, groundwater from tube wells contains arsenic. Drink water from tube wells that have been tested and marked safe, usually painted green, and avoid those marked red. Boil or filter drinking water for germs. Boiling does not remove arsenic.

Cooking smoke. Smoke from wood, dung, crop waste and kerosene harms your lungs and can lead to low birth weight. Cook outdoors or with good ventilation, use a cleaner stove if you can and take breaks from the kitchen.

Fasting. If you plan to fast, talk to your doctor first. Many doctors advise against fasting in pregnancy, particularly with nausea, because it can cause dehydration and low blood sugar. Islamic scholars allow an exemption for pregnant women if fasting may harm them or their baby.

Travel and transport. Short trips are usually fine. Nausea and tiredness can make bumpy rickshaw, CNG and bus rides uncomfortable. Choose smoother routes, sit with your back supported and avoid crowded vehicles where you could be pushed. Wear a seat belt in a car.

Work. Most people can keep working. Tell your doctor about night shifts, chemicals, heavy lifting or long standing. Take breaks to eat and drink. Under Bangladesh’s labour law, working mothers in the private sector are entitled to 16 weeks of paid maternity leave, eight before and eight after the birth, and government employees receive six months. You will need to give notice later, so check your contract.

Feelings, work and telling people

Your feelings. Early pregnancy brings a mix of feelings: joy, fear, disbelief, worry and tiredness. If the pregnancy was unplanned, you may feel unsure, and that is normal. Many people worry about miscarriage in the first weeks, and waiting for the first scan is hard.

What helps:

• Talk to your partner, a trusted friend or relative, or your doctor
• Keep a routine, with regular meals, daylight and a short walk
• Rest when you can
• Limit searching online for frightening stories. Ask your doctor instead
• Take it one day at a time

When to get help. Feeling very low, hopeless or anxious for two weeks or more, losing interest in things, being unable to sleep or eat or having thoughts of harming yourself needs attention. Depression and anxiety in pregnancy are common and treatable. Tell your doctor. If you have thoughts of harming yourself, go to the nearest hospital or call 999.

Your partner. Partners may feel excited, anxious or left out. Share how you feel, and invite them to visits. Ask for specific help, such as cooking, avoiding strong smells and sharing chores.

Telling people. Many people wait until after the first scan or until 12 weeks, because the risk of miscarriage is higher early on. It is your choice. You might tell a few people you trust first, so you have support if things go wrong. You do not owe anyone an explanation if you prefer to wait.

If you feel unsafe. If you feel unsafe at home, tell your doctor or a trusted person. In Bangladesh you can call the national helpline 109 for support with violence against women and children. It is free.

If the pregnancy is unplanned or unwanted. You have the right to confidential, non-judgemental advice. Talk to your doctor or a trusted health worker about your options. Menstrual regulation, a legal procedure in Bangladesh within the first weeks after a missed period, is available at government and approved NGO facilities. Do not use unsafe methods, herbal mixtures or unlicensed providers, which can cause serious harm or death. Ask your doctor or the nearest family planning clinic for safe options and support.

Where to get care

You do not need an expensive private clinic to get good prenatal care.

Tips:

• Choose a doctor or clinic you can reach easily, and plan to see the same place for most visits
• Ask what each visit and test costs, and ask for a written estimate for delivery
• Keep your prenatal card and results with you
• If you plan to give birth in a hospital, check that it has skilled staff, an operating theatre, blood and a newborn unit
• Ask your local health worker about free services
• Government facilities provide iron-folic acid tablets and tetanus vaccination at no cost or low cost

Checklist for this week

• Take folic acid daily, with iron-folic acid as your doctor advises
• Book your first prenatal visit, ideally by 8 to 10 weeks, and ask whether you need an early scan
• Stop alcohol and tobacco (including zarda and jorda), and avoid smoke
• Check all your medicines and herbal products with a doctor or pharmacist
• Do not stop medicine for a long-term condition without medical advice
• Learn the warning signs of ectopic pregnancy and miscarriage, and save your doctor’s number and the nearest hospital’s emergency number
• Eat small, frequent, well-cooked meals, and drink boiled or filtered water
• Limit caffeine to about 200 mg a day
• Protect yourself from mosquito bites, and remove standing water at home
• Rest, walk gently and avoid heavy lifting and overheating
• Talk to someone you trust about how you feel
• Decide when you want to tell family, friends and work

FAQ

How big is the baby at 6 weeks?

About 4 to 6 mm from head to bottom, roughly the size of a lentil or a sweet pea, and less than a gram. The embryo is far too small to feel.

What is the height of the baby at 6 weeks of pregnancy?

Doctors measure the length from the crown of the head to the bottom, about 4 to 6 mm at this stage. It roughly doubles in the next week.

How many months pregnant am I at 6 weeks?

About one and a half months. You are in the second month of pregnancy.

Can you see the heartbeat at 6 weeks?

Often, with a vaginal scan, from about 6 weeks. It is seen in most pregnancies by 6.5 to 7 weeks. If it is not seen, doctors usually repeat the scan in 7 to 14 days.

Is the baby’s heart fully formed at 6 weeks?

No. The heart is a looping tube that is beginning to divide into chambers. It is fully formed by about 10 weeks.

Why is my belly so big at 6 weeks?

It is mostly bloating, gas, constipation and relaxed muscles from progesterone. The embryo is only a few millimetres long and the womb is still deep in your pelvis. See a doctor for severe or rapid swelling, strong pain, vomiting or breathlessness.

Is increased discharge normal at 6 weeks?

Yes. A thin, milky, mild-smelling discharge is common. See a doctor for green, yellow or grey discharge, a bad smell, itching, burning or blood.

Is spotting at 6 weeks normal?

Light spotting is common, and about 1 in 4 pregnant people have it. Tell your doctor. Go to hospital for heavy bleeding, severe or one-sided pain, dizziness, shoulder-tip pain or fainting.

Can I tell if I am having a boy or a girl at 6 weeks?

No. Symptoms, the shape of your belly and folk tests do not predict sex. A blood test from about 10 weeks or an ultrasound at 18 to 22 weeks can show it.

What should I avoid at 6 weeks pregnant?

Alcohol, tobacco in any form, drugs, raw or undercooked meat, eggs and fish, large predatory fish, unpasteurised dairy, unwashed produce, untreated water, high-dose vitamin A, herbal tonics, hot baths, strong chemicals and any medicine your doctor has not approved. Limit caffeine to about 200 mg a day.

Is it safe to exercise at 6 weeks?

Yes for most healthy pregnancies. Walking, swimming, gentle yoga and stretching are good. Avoid contact sports, hot yoga, heavy lifting and activities with a risk of falls.

Note: This article gives general information and does not replace advice from your doctor or midwife. Every pregnancy is different. Call your doctor or go to a hospital if you have bleeding, severe pain, fever, fainting or any symptom that worries you.

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