Early Pregnancy-6 Weeks
Your baby is the size of a “lentil”.
Major developments during your 6th week of pregnancy:
- Nose mouth and ears are beginning to take shape
- There are dark spots where your baby’s eyes will be
- Baby’s heart is beating 100-160 per minute,
- Intestines are developing
- New tissue that will become baby’s lungs is present
- Baby’s pituitary gland is forming along with the rest of his brain, muscles and bones.
- Baby is only 1/4 inch long
Quick Clicks:
- Over the counter medications and other medications during pregnancy
- Mother to Baby – Overall facts about what affects mom affects baby
- Morning sickness: Causes, concerns, treatments
- Doctor or midwife: Who should deliver your baby?
- Infections that can affect pregnancy
Infections cannot always be avoided but there are ways to help limit your exposure.
- Good hand washing
- Not sharing glasses or utensils
- Not cleaning cat litter
- Gloves on when gardening
- Staying away from anyone with a contagious disease
- Avoiding food borne infections
- Washing fruits and vegetable
- Thoroughly cook meat, fish and eggs
- Clean kitchen work surfaces
Personally you may feel emotionally labile, one day you are moody and maybe even sad the next day joy filled …this is somewhat normal. The emotional fluctuations are caused by hormones that are changing during pregnancy. You may also be thinking about how your life is changing along with your body and that can cause anyone to be emotional.
Spotting can be relatively common at this stage. Up to 25% of women experience this. It can be normal but it can also be a sign of a miscarriage. If you have any spotting or bleeding call your healthcare practitioner or go to the emergency room immediately.
By now, you are probably taking prenatal vitamins. Sometimes, they can be the cause of stomach upset. Many pregnant moms have this problem with their vitamins, including this writer, If this happens, check with your doctor or midwife. There are chewable vitamins that might work better for you during pregnancy.