6 Weeks Pregnant

How the Embryo Is This Week

With 6 weeks, it is already possible to see the buds that will eventually become the baby’s ears. Your baby’s small heart can be visualized and sometimes even heard with a doppler ultrasound. The baby’s heart rate can reach 160 beats per minute¹! The smaller the baby, the faster the heart beats. And make no mistake: if you can already hear it this week, it will be the most beautiful sound you’ve ever heard in your life!

What develops this week

Fetal development at 6 weeks of pregnancy is moving very quickly, and cells are multiplying more and more each day! The genitals begin to form at this stage² and, of course, the internal organs too. The spine, the brain, veins, and heart are constantly changing. The stomach, kidneys, liver, lungs, and spleen are still very small, but they already exist, so they can continue to develop faster in the weeks ahead. Now, at 6 weeks and about the size of a bean, your baby can be more easily identified with a transvaginal ultrasound. Their large eyes are disproportionate to the size of the head, they still do not have eyelids, and their nostrils are starting to appear. So, they are starting to look more like a baby. This embryo will already begin to move, though the mother won’t be able to feel it yet. It’s the miracle of life unfolding!

How Mom Is Feeling…

At this moment, mom may not even notice all the changes happening in her body. But her hormones are in full swing! She may not yet suspect a new life is forming, but she may begin to notice from the symptoms or a missed period that something is different. Sometimes, a mother’s intuition may start to give signs, but suspicion, fear, or insecurity bring doubts. The right thing to do is to take a test as soon as possible to check for the presence of HCG, the hormone responsible for maintaining pregnancy. At 6 weeks the levels may already be high enough to give a very clear positive both for your doctor and to make a surprise for dad. By the way, does he already know about the pregnancy? No? So how about making a lovely surprise for him?

6 Weeks Pregnant – Symptoms

Sleep… That 4-letter word can define a pregnant woman³! You might even fall asleep sitting up. For some women, it’s common to need more hours of rest than usual. It’s no longer just 6 or 8 hours. It seems like the day never ends, and sleep becomes a constant companion. At one point, I even fell asleep standing up on the bus home. Hunger and tiredness can also show up and are common. Don’t be alarmed. Aches during this phase are a constant complaint among newly pregnant women. Early symptoms such as cramps, back pain, leg pain, twinges, and a feeling of heaviness in the lower abdomen are common. You only need to worry if the pain gets stronger and only on one side of the lower abdomen. In this case, you should see a doctor to check whether the pregnancy is located in the right place, that is, inside the uterus and not in the fallopian tube. Another moment that marked me and will always be in my memory was my youngest daughter Melissa’s first ultrasound. It was emotional to see her tiny heart beating so hard, it’s indescribable! Her development was perfect, and in just a few weeks, she was so much bigger.

External Factors

If you haven’t told your family and friends yet, they may notice something different about your behavior. Even if some people aren’t even considering the possibility that you’re pregnant, those closest to you may pick up on some changes. Those closest to you may even notice a different smell. Smell? Yes! A pregnant woman may start to give off a different scent than usual. This is due to hormonal changes. So your mom, husband, dad, or other close people may notice the difference. Photo: potifolio embriologia, Dani Gu