6 weeks of pregnancy: symptoms, tips and necessary care

In general, the beginning of pregnancy, especially its sixth week, is full of excitement, nervous states and many hormonal changes that cause various symptoms... It is exciting, but at the same time it can be full of new feelings for you.

In the sixth week of pregnancy, you may have feelings similar to the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome, such as fatigue, headache, chest pain, muscle cramps, frequent urination, excessive gas or bloating... After this period, morning sickness begins, which many mothers fear and many expectant mothers experience from the beginning of pregnancy.

But all these not-so-cool symptoms mean that your body is producing the right hormones at the right time to support your beautiful baby's growth!

In this article, we want to talk about everything that happens to you in the sixth week of pregnancy.

You may have PMS symptoms such as fatigue, chest pain, and headaches.
You may have morning sickness.
Your baby is still very small: the size of a grain of rice or a pomegranate seed.
Your baby's brain and spinal cord are growing and his heart is starting to beat.
You should make a prenatal appointment with an obstetrician.

Your body changes during the sixth week of pregnancy

In the sixth week of pregnancy, you start to discover changes in your body and the pregnancy hormones become excessive and cause the symptoms we mentioned.

Although others may not yet be able to tell that you are pregnant, your uterus is growing... your bladder may be under pressure, causing you to go to the bathroom with more urgency... the increased blood flow to the kidneys also helps you pass more urine.

More information: Online appointment booking for gynecologist and obstetrician

Your fetus in the sixth week of pregnancy

At 6 weeks, your baby is about three to six millimeters long, or about the size of a pomegranate seed or a grain of rice, so it's still very small.... The baby appears to be something like a tadpole with a small tail that later develops into a spine.

The tiny buds turn into hands, feet, and ears.... The brain, lungs, and other organs are also growing.

Although it is still too early to say whether the baby's nose has gone to his aunt or not, but the facial features are becoming apparent.. There are teeth and a thin layer of skin.. The baby's heartbeat can often be detected by vaginal ultrasound at this stage of pregnancy.

Evolution of twins in the sixth week of pregnancy

During this period, if you are carrying multiple babies, the risk of certain pregnancy complications increases.... Here we have listed the most common complications that you should discuss with your doctor:

Anemia
Preeclampsia
Bleeding from the vagina
Twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome, which occurs when one baby receives more blood than the other baby.
Premature birth
Intrauterine growth restriction or fetal growth delay

If you've been diagnosed with a twin (or multiple) pregnancy, your care may change a bit...you may need more tests, face certain restrictions, or even plan an earlier C-section if your health care team deems it necessary.

People who are pregnant with twins usually gain more weight... According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this weight gain is about 16 to 25 kilograms for people whose body mass index (BMI) is between 18.5 and 24.9.

You also usually need more nutrients than when carrying just one baby, including:

Folic acid
Calcium
Iron

Learn more: What are the symptoms of pregnancy in the first two months of pregnancy?

Protein

Symptoms of the mother in the sixth week of pregnancy

Pregnancy is very exciting, but managing unpleasant symptoms can be challenging and sometimes prevents you from enjoying it.

Some of the symptoms of the sixth week of pregnancy are:

Morning nausea
Urine frequency
fatigue
Larger and darker halos around the nipples
emotional or irritable

Here's more on how to manage these symptoms so you can focus on getting ready to have a baby.

Learn more: First signs of pregnancy before period

Morning nausea

Morning sickness is a common problem during pregnancy.... Approximately 70 to 80 percent of pregnant women experience nausea and vomiting at some stage of their pregnancy.. You may already have morning sickness, which for many people is not limited to the morning.

The cause of morning sickness is not fully understood, but it is believed that an increase in human chorionic gonadotropin plays a role.

If nausea or vomiting becomes unusually severe, talk to your healthcare provider to rule out severe nausea and vomiting during pregnancy.

What you can do to improve your morning sickness:

Eat several small meals several times a day.
Make foods that you tolerate well available so you can eat them little by little... Many women swear that eating saltine crackers before waking up in the morning makes them feel better.
Avoid eating spicy or fatty foods.... Simple and diet foods are better tolerated.
Do not lie down immediately after eating.
Try to avoid smells that cause nausea.
Drink plenty of fluids, especially if you have vomited.
Although studies on the effectiveness of vitamin B6 in relieving morning sickness are conflicting, the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends taking vitamin B6 supplements if approved by your doctor.
Some women report that using compression bandages made for motion sickness improves nausea.
Your nausea may be temporarily relieved by consuming sour foods and drinks.

Fatigue

Do you feel tired in the sixth week of pregnancy? This fatigue you probably have is normal... it is caused by pregnancy hormones and increased blood volume... dealing with it can become a part of your routine.

Things you can do to reduce fatigue include:

Take a nap.... This can be a challenge if you work at home or have other children to care for, but finding time to nap during the day can help relieve fatigue. This issue will be important after the birth of your baby.
Go to bed earlier at night.
Drink more fluids early in the day so you don't have to wake up early like the night before.
If possible, let others do some of the work.
Do not consume caffeine and use fruits to increase body water and supply the energy you need.

Constipation

Prenatal vitamins are often vital to your health and your baby's health, but their high iron content can cause constipation. Constipation is an uninvited guest during pregnancy, but it can be treated.

Things you can do to relieve constipation:

Drink plenty of fluids....Doctors recommend that pregnant women drink 10 cups of fluids every day....Note: If your urine is dark yellow, your body may be dehydrated.
Increase your fiber intake by eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grain breads and cereals, beans, nuts and bran.
Move... Exercise is good for the body and mind, but it also helps prevent constipation.
Don't be tempted to use laxatives before talking to your doctor.

Things you can do this week to have a healthy pregnancy

Set up an antenatal appointment with your doctor or midwife.

Remember that prenatal care is important for you and your baby to make sure any problems are treated quickly..

Some doctors want to see you at 6 weeks pregnant..others prefer to wait until 8 weeks or even later..but regardless, now is the time to read up on some helpful information.

Get a multivitamin

If you haven't already started taking prenatal vitamins, you should start taking them this week after consulting your doctor.... (Ideally, you should start taking them one year before pregnancy).

During your first prenatal visit, your doctor will prescribe a supplement that contains extra vitamins and minerals that you and your baby will need during pregnancy..

Don't smoke

Smoking increases the risk of miscarriage and other pregnancy complications. It also increases the risk of health problems and low birth weight for your baby.

To learn more about smoking cessation programs, talk to your doctor.. If you smoke, quitting can be challenging, but it's worth it for your and your baby's health.

Do not drink alcohol

Drinking alcohol can cause fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD).. Although the symptoms of FASD vary, in the most severe cases it may cause abnormal facial features, learning disabilities, and other health problems.. There is no safe amount of alcohol to drink during pregnancy.

Avoid jacuzzi and sauna

Hot baths and saunas can increase the risk of miscarriage and fetal abnormalities. As a general rule, avoid activities that raise your body temperature above 38.3 degrees Celsius.

Have good nutrition

Eating nutritious meals during pregnancy is important.... If you have morning sickness, eat foods that are good for you and don't cause nausea.

Drink enough water

Now that you are pregnant, it is very important to stay hydrated....drink at least 8-12 glasses of water a day....dehydration can lead to serious pregnancy complications.

If you have a hard time keeping water down, squeeze a lemon and bring it up... In one study, lemon aromatherapy was shown to help reduce nausea and vomiting in pregnant women.

Don't take it hard

Although low-intensity exercise is important for your health, don't exercise when you're tired..

First date before birth

Although each health care team provides different care, most include the following steps at the initial prenatal visit:

Specialist doctors or obstetricians review your medical history, including medical conditions and surgeries you've had, and prescription and over-the-counter medications... Have this information available when visiting a doctor.
Your weight, heart rate and blood pressure will be checked.
During the examination, the doctor will examine your pelvis, vagina, uterus, pelvis, fallopian tubes and ovaries.
You will be given information and instructions about what to expect during pregnancy and a healthy and safe baby.
You will have time to ask questions, so write down everything you want to know.

When should we contact a gynecologist?

Many of the things you feel are completely normal and nothing to worry about... but if you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor right away: