Pregnancy Week 6

Your Baby

Your baby now measures about 1.5–2.5 mm and is about the size of a sesame seed. The amniotic sac is about the size of a grape.

The chest and abdominal cavities are continuing to form. Your baby’s jaws are appearing, the lung buds are forming, circulation is being established in the mesoderm and yolk sac and the lining of the placenta is developing. Soon, the umbilical cord will be established as the lifeline between mother and baby, transferring nutrients and oxygen.

The tiny buds that form the arms will suddenly appear this week. Liver and pancreas buds are also present. The aorta of your baby’s heart is forming.

This week marks a critical period in the development of your baby’s intestines – they are beginning to form from a portion of the yolk sac.

You

You may have noticed that you’re experiencing some of the same emotions that often precede menstruation: moodiness, irritability, tearfulness. While some of these feelings may have a psychological basis, most of the time they are just natural reactions to your body’s changing levels of hormones and can be amplified by your environment.

You may begin to notice a need to urinate more frequently. This is normal and caused by pressure on your bladder from your growing uterus along with an improved metabolism that helps your body eliminate waste more quickly. Your breasts may feel fuller, heavier, and tender. You may also notice the areola (pigmented portion of your breast) darkening somewhat.

Things to do at 6 weeks pregnant

• Read up about foods to avoid during pregnancy to minimise any risk to your growing baby
• Start a pregnancy journal, if you’d like a record of your thoughts and emotions during this experience
• Start saving up for the essentials you’ll need when baby arrives