Pregnancy Symptoms Week 6, and your baby size
Contents
Pregnancy symptoms at week 6 are caused by rising pregnancy hormones, mainly hCG, progesterone and estrogen. Week 6 is counted from the first day of your last period, so you are roughly a month past conception and well into your first trimester.
For many women, symptoms such as nausea and tiredness are just starting or getting stronger at this stage. They often ease after week 12.
Your Baby's Size at 6 Week Pregnant
At week 6, the embryo is about 6 mm long, roughly the size of a pea, according to the NHS week 6 pregnancy guide. Tiny limb buds, which will become arms and legs, are starting to form.
What are the Chances of the Miscarriages at Week 6 Pregnant?
Early pregnancy loss, meaning loss before 13 weeks, is common. ACOG estimates it happens in about 10 of 100 known pregnancies.
About half of early miscarriages happen because the embryo does not develop properly, often due to chromosome problems. They are not caused by normal activity, exercise or sex.
Pregnancy Symptoms Week 6
It is still early, so you may have few symptoms or none. Some women feel very sick, while others feel almost nothing. Both can be normal. Pregnancy symptoms week 6 include
1- Nausea
Nausea is common and is not limited to the morning. It can last all day and may come with or without vomiting.
Small, frequent meals, a snack before getting up and ginger can help. Talk to your doctor if you cannot keep food or fluids down, and don't take anti-nausea medicine without your doctor's advice.
2- Tender Breast
Your breasts may feel sore, swollen and tender to touch as blood flow increases and the breast tissue starts to change. Your nipples may become more prominent and the areola may darken.
3- Spotting
Light spotting is fairly common at week 6 and in other early pregnancy spotting situations. It can be implantation bleeding, but it can also signal a miscarriage or an ectopic pregnancy.
Because you cannot tell the cause yourself, report any bleeding to your health care provider. Seek urgent care if bleeding is heavy or comes with pain, dizziness or shoulder pain.
4- Abdominal Cramps & Bloating
Mild cramping, a bit like period pain, and bloating are common as the uterus grows. Progesterone also slows digestion, which adds to the bloated feeling.
Drink plenty of water and eat more fiber and vegetables to prevent constipation. Ask your doctor before taking any pain reliever. If cramps are severe or come with bleeding, contact your doctor straight away.
5- Frequent Urination
Needing to pee more often is common in early pregnancy. Hormones increase blood flow to the pelvis and kidneys, so you produce more urine.
If urinating is painful or burns, or you feel the urge but cannot go, contact your doctor. These can be signs of a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI), which is more common during pregnancy and should be treated promptly.
HP Thoughts: The sixth part is now available for reading: 8 Weeks Pregnancy Symptoms.
Sources
- 6 weeks pregnant guide, NHS
- Early Pregnancy Loss, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
- Bleeding During Pregnancy, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
- Morning sickness, MedlinePlus
