Pregnancy Symptoms Week 6: Your Baby's Heart Starts Beating!

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Pregnancy symptoms at Week 6 may include a flurry of emotions because if your period is delayed and you had sex during your fertile period, you are likely pregnant, and a home pregnancy test kit will confirm it. Many women discover they're expecting between week 4 to week 7, depending on their cycle. You may be inclined to repeat taking the test to make sure you didn't get it wrong the first (or second, third, and so forth) time.

Pregnancy signs Week 6

You may have confirmed your pregnancy, but don't be surprised if you are not experiencing the physical signs of pregnancy yet. Your body, however, has been busy preparing for your baby. 

You are yet to sport a bump, even a tiny one, but your womb has started to expand. It's making room for the baby's rapid development, as well as the developing placenta and the amniotic sac and fluid. Your body is also producing more and more blood to sustain your pregnancy.

The increasing levels of blood flow and hormone production of hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin, the one detected by home pregnancy home tests), progesterone, and estrogen are the reasons why you're experiencing a lot of changes in your body. 

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Pregnant symptoms Week 6

The changes will result in pregnancy symptoms like the following: 

Heartburn and indigestion

Get used to dealing with heartburn because chances are you're going have them until it's time to deliver your baby. The book What to Expect When You're Expecting explains that the muscle at the top of the stomach, which usually prevents digestive juices from backing up, relaxes to make room for your growing uterus. 

Frequent urination

You will go to the bathroom more often than usual and wake up in the middle of the night to pee. Your hCG is causing the increase of blood flow to your pelvic area, and your kidneys are getting the hang of pregnancy mode. It means they're working more efficiently. 

Peeing more often is normal, but it shouldn't be painful. If you're experiencing pain while urinating, that could be a sign of a urinary tract infection (UTI), which is common during pregnancy's 6th week, so consult your doctor as soon as possible. 

Bloating, gas, and constipation

Blame the hormone progesterone for more tummy troubles. You may feel like your tummy often feels swollen, or sometimes constipated. The muscle contractions that usually move food along through the intestines are slower now that you're pregnant. Plus, extra iron from your supplements may also be a factor. 

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Breast tenderness

Having sore, tender breasts at week 6 is due to the body's increased blood flow. Your breasts are getting heavier, your areola is slightly bigger, or your entire nipple area are all signs that it's prepping for milk production as early as now. 

Fatigue

You feel exhausted quickly and be overly tired or sleepy after doing simple everyday activities. That's because of progesterone, which may have a sedative effect. Your body needs to produce so much blood so see it as a sign that you need to slow down.

Nausea and vomiting

You may start experiencing morning sickness, but not all women will have it. And when it happens it'snot always mornings. Some women get it all day and even beyond the first trimester. Pray and hope that it gradually goes away when you enter your second trimester. Some women get severe morning sickness called hyperemesis gravidarum that may warrant medical attention. 

Mood swings

You feel cranky or cry for the littlest reasons and may experience extreme moods, all because of the fluctuating hormones. Feeling overly tired and your changing blood sugar levels, plus all the other changes our body is going through may also be factors. 

Cramping and spotting

You may still feel a bit of cramping and may notice a bit of spotting. Pain stronger than your typical period cramps or bright red vagina discharge is a cause for concern, so call the doctor immediately.

Your baby's development on Week 6

Your baby is continuously growing and changing shape, according to What To Expect. If you have an ultrasound on the sixth week of pregnancy, you might see a tadpole-like embryo that's still tiny, about the size of a pea, at 4 to 7 millimeters long.

It's looking more and more like a fetus, however, although not yet fully formed. Your doctor may point out his head and torso; the arms and legs are more like buds and not limbs at this point. The face is not yet defined, too, but there are tiny openings that would soon develop into a mouth and nostrils. The cheeks, chin, and jaws are also beginning to form, as well as dark patches that will turn into eyes and small folds at the side of the baby's head, which will form the ears. 

The embryo's tail-like end is what will be the baby's spinal cord. Your baby's brain hemispheres are also already forming at Week 6. The kidneys, livers, and lungs, are all developing as well.  

At Week 6 of the pregnancy, your baby's heart starts beating, but it may be too faint for a doppler or a stethoscope to pick up. Your baby's heartbeat should grow stronger in a couple of weeks, about 150 beats per minute, and you may even see a tiny pulsating dot in your next ultrasound. 

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Your to-do list on Week 6 of pregnancy

You should schedule your prenatal appointment. Some doctors ask patients to come in at around week 6 of the pregnancy to make sure everything is on track early on. Others doctors will schedule your first prenatal checkup at week 8 through 10 of the pregnancy when the baby's heartbeat can be easily detected. 

Write down all the questions that pop in your head. No matter how silly it sounds, write it down so you won't forget to ask your doctor. Your obstetrician-gynecologist should be able to answer your questions. Use your first prenatal checkup to have a feel of your budding relationship. Do not be afraid to change doctors if you don't feel comfortable. 

If you haven't told the daddy-to-be, this would be a great time to involve him in the pregnancy journey. You should start figuring out your finances, too, and start delegating responsibilities. You could also announce the pregnancy to your family and friends, or even just select ones. You may soon need help once the pregnancy symptoms go full blast. You need to start listening to your body and not overexert yourself.

Not all preggos get morning sickness or constipation as every pregnancy is different. If you're not so lucky, don't worry. You can try the following options to try and alleviate these symptoms such as:

• Avoid clothes that constrict your belly.
• Drink lots of water and eat fiber-rich food.
• Don't rush through your meals; take your time.
• Eating bland foods may help ease nausea.
• Have five small meals a day; choose healthy snacks.
• Ginger tea may ease morning sickness. 

If you've had a preconception checkup, continue taking your prenatal vitamins and supplements. If you have a hard time taking in capsules, ask your doctor for alternatives (try chewables!).

More on your week-by-week pregnancy:
Pregnancy Symptoms Week 5: Your Baby's Major Organs Are Forming

Pregnancy Symptoms Week 7: Your Baby Has Started Moving!

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