Congratulations, the 6th obstetric week of pregnancy has begun: your last period was 6 weeks ago, and a whole 4 weeks have passed since conception. She is in her second month of pregnancy.

What happens at midwife week 6?Despite the fact that the body of your unborn child still consists of a head and a small "tail", he already has tiny eyes, ears and even a mouth. 4 tubercles have already appeared on the sides of the small body - these are the future arms and legs of the fetus.

Embryo heartbeats at a speed of 100-160 beats per minute, and blood begins to circulate through the vessels of his body. The intestines of the unborn child develop, the rudiments of future lungs appear.

Embryo size at 6 weeks gestation do not exceed 4 mm, which can be compared with a pomegranate seed.

Pregnancy test at 6 weeks

what prohibited at week 6 pregnancy? The list of restrictions is small: you cannot and be in a room where others smoke, you must not consume and must not overheat (take hot baths, visit a bathhouse or sauna).

Sex at 6 weeks pregnantnot prohibited unless you have bloody (brown, pink) discharge and severe pain and abdominal pain.

In the next few weeks, your companion may feel very tired. Don't show annoyance if she can't clean up or cook dinner after work. Now a lot of her body's energy is spent on creating a new life, so less energy may remain to maintain order in the house. Prepare dinner yourself while she rests.

What happens to the embryo: the heart beats twice as often as that of the mother; the liver produces the first blood cells; the neural tube closes, the brain is formed. The formation of the digestive and excretory systems begins. Sexual differentiation occurs. The thymus is formed (development of the immune system). Muscles, tendons, bones are formed.

The fetus is already moving, but the woman does not yet feel it. With such a high level of development, the weight of the embryo is 0.9-1.3 g, the length is 4-9 mm.

The feelings of the mother in the sixth and seventh weeks of pregnancy intensify: toxicosis intensifies, profuse salivation joins, tingling appears in the mammary glands, nipples darken. Headache, dizziness, fainting sometimes join fatigue.

Outwardly, pregnancy is almost not manifested yet - the belly does not increase, some pregnant women, on the contrary, lose weight, some women develop acne (this does not pose any danger). The risk of "miscarriage" is also present, so abdominal pain and discharge cannot be ignored.

The kid is very susceptible to the influence of negative environmental factors. It is important to regularly consume vitamins, foods rich in calcium, fractional meals, and avoid taking medications. Stressful situations should be avoided and blood pressure measured regularly.

In the ultrasound photo, the embryo looks like a bean. Small tubercles are already visible on its body - arms and legs.

What happens at week 6?

In the sixth week of pregnancy, further development of the systems of internal organs occurs. The beginning of the sixth week is essentially key in the formation of the fetal nervous system. The neural tube, which is the prototype of the central nervous system, is completely closed.

The nervous system is an integral morphological and functional set of various interconnected nervous structures, which, together with the endocrine system, provides an interconnected regulation of the activity of all body systems and a response to changes in the conditions of the internal and external environment.

And by the end of the week, it will take on the basic outlines of the nervous system. From the thickening of the neural tube, the brain develops, at this stage, grooves and convolutions are formed. The brain becomes like the brain of an adult. The cranium begins to form. The first neural connections appear. The newly formed brain already controls the work of the heart and muscles of the fetus. Thus, the nervous system not only actively develops, but also begins to function slowly, of course, not yet as actively as it happens in a mature person.

Brain development

The small heart does not yet look quite familiar - it looks like a tube. And even if it is not perfect yet, however, blood circulation is already happening through the liver. In the liver, blood cells are formed, which enter the various parts of the heart with the bloodstream.

The rudiments of arms and legs appear, and by the beginning of next week the rudiments of fingers will appear. The skeletal system has not even begun to form yet; it is being replaced by the cartilaginous system, the development of which is in full swing.

Informative video

The face has not yet formed, while only the locations of the future eyes are visible on it - the eye sockets and the mouth. And the bubbles from which the eyes are formed are now located on the sides of the head. There are also the future auditory canals that give rise to the inner ear. Just at this time, its formation takes place, while the baby does not hear anything, of course, but he already begins to feel.

At the same time, a very important organ of the immune system, the thymus, begins to form from the ecto- and endoderm. The rudiments of the bone marrow also appear, which will subsequently deal with the processes of hematopoiesis.

The digestive, endocrine and respiratory systems continue to form, although the respiratory system will start working only after birth, with the baby's first breath, and while his breathing is carried out at the expense of the placenta. The reproductive organs have not yet formed, however, sexual differentiation has already taken place - the sex cells have already formed.

And, of course, the development of the placenta continues at this time. At this time, it is already attached to the wall of the uterus. In addition to the placenta, the umbilical cord, which began to form at 2 weeks, continues to develop. Thanks to the umbilical cord, the baby not only communicates with the mother, but also gets the opportunity to actively move. The amount of amniotic fluid surrounding the embryo is about 3 ml.

Feel

The sensations remain the same, only their intensification is possible. Nausea and vomiting in the morning, and sometimes during the day, drowsiness, fatigue, irritability, engorgement of the mammary glands, some women note a tingling sensation in the chest, intolerance to some smells and tastes that may have been loved before, and vice versa, frequent urination. Of course, all people are different and it is impossible to say with certainty that all women feel the same thing during pregnancy. Some women do not notice any changes in either their behavior or in the body at all.

Also, some women note pain in the lower abdomen, this may be associated with the growth of the uterus or its hypertonicity. It is worth paying attention to the discharge, brownish spotting during the alleged menstruation does not pose any danger, but if they are abundant and not associated with the cycle, and are also accompanied by pain, it is necessary to visit a doctor. Even if at this time toxicosis suddenly stops abruptly, which some women are insanely happy about, you should be on your guard, perhaps the pregnancy has died away.

Stomach ache

Abdominal pain, as mentioned above, can be caused by the growth of the uterus, changes in the work of the intestines. If they are not accompanied by bleeding and fainting, this is considered normal. But if a woman complains of severe sudden acute pain in the abdomen, it is worthwhile to urgently consult a doctor. Also, the reason for going to the doctor will be a pulling pain in the abdomen on one side, radiating to the side. In these cases, the doctor usually does an ultrasound scan and excludes an ectopic pregnancy. A pregnant woman should understand that severe abdominal pain cannot be tolerated, and an urgent need to consult a doctor. A spontaneous miscarriage can occur at any time, but in the early stages it is more likely, in some cases the dead fetus leaves the mother's body on its own, and in some it remains in the uterus and decomposes, poisoning the woman's body. It is possible to determine a frozen pregnancy only by ultrasound.

Dangers

As mentioned earlier, week 6 is still a critical period in the development of the embryo: during this period, miscarriages most often occur, and malformations of the unborn baby are formed, therefore, the behavior of the expectant mother should be very careful and meaningful, because any factor can affect the course of pregnancy environment.

At this time, a woman can learn about the wrong course of pregnancy: about an ectopic pregnancy, that is, the embryo does not develop in the uterus, but in the ovaries or fallopian tube. A doctor can confirm or deny an ectopic pregnancy using an ultrasound scan. They solve the problem promptly.

It is worth paying attention to toxicosis. In general, toxicosis is caused by the process of maturation of the placenta, therefore, you should not be afraid of nausea and vomiting in the morning, but if it is accompanied by frequent vomiting, weight loss, fainting, you should consult a doctor for advice. A headache can also appear in a pregnant woman, this is most often due to hormonal changes, but if the headache is accompanied by an increase in blood pressure, it is worth taking measures, of course, not on your own, but with a doctor.

Fetus and belly size

The fruit is actively growing and developing. At this time, he can already move, of course, the expectant mother does not feel this yet. Thanks to the appearance of the first nerve connections, the fetus begins to feel. With such a high level of development, the weight of the embryo is 0.9-1.3 g, and the length is 4-9 mm. On ultrasound, you can see the fetus, it looks like a small bean; on high-resolution devices, you can see the tubercles, which will soon become arms and legs. You can also hear his heartbeat. Now the baby's heart beats twice as often as mom's.

Changes in the abdomen are not yet visible, because the uterus still does not exceed the size of a chicken egg. Sometimes, due to toxicosis, a woman, on the contrary, loses weight. Many women note the rounding of the abdomen - this may be due to the banal bloating due to the restructuring of the intestines.

Mommy's food

At this stage of pregnancy, nutrition is very important. After all, unbalanced nutrition can lead to a deficiency of micro- and macroelements, which are necessary for the normal development of the fetus and, as a result, to developmental defects. It is also worth giving up products containing flavors and dyes, eating less flour, fatty, salty and smoked foods. Eat more fruits, vegetables, steamed dishes. At this time, the nervous system is formed, therefore it is very important to take folic acid, which was described in detail at 5 weeks. Also, calcium is a very important macronutrient for pregnant women.

Calcium is an element without which the basic life processes cannot proceed normally.

In our body, the proportion of this macroelement is only 2%, it would seem that these two percent can affect, but this is more than the proportion of any other element, and we really need calcium. After all, it is an important component of the bones of the skeleton and teeth, as well as the blood coagulation system and other systems. During pregnancy, symptoms of calcium deficiency often appear: a feeling of "crawling", cramps in the lower extremities, joint pain, drowsiness, and sometimes irritability and insomnia, hair loss, constipation, and tooth damage. In the early stages of pregnancy, a lack of calcium can lead to stunted growth and development of the fetus. In the future, it can increase the risk of developing rickets in a child, since conditions for normal bone growth are formed in the prenatal period. The daily requirement for calcium for a pregnant woman is 1300-1500 mg. All dairy products, nuts, legumes, fish, seafood, garlic, celery are a source of calcium. One should take into account the presence of diseases in a pregnant woman in which the absorption or assimilation of calcium is impaired - diabetes mellitus, peptic ulcer disease, chronic hepatitis and others, as well as a banal intolerance to dairy products. In such cases, it is recommended to take additional medications in the form of vitamin and mineral complexes. To take them, of course, it is necessary to reasonably, because an excess of calcium is harmful as well as its lack.

What to do

6 week - a reason to register with the antenatal clinic. In the consultation, the doctor will set up an exchange card for the expectant mother, in which changes in weight, abdominal size and woman's well-being will be recorded. Also, the doctor, together with the expectant mother, should find out the presence of hereditary and chronic diseases that can affect the course of pregnancy and the development of the baby.
In general, a woman should rest more, especially if she feels stretching in her stomach, breathe fresh air, and walk more.

If there are no contraindications for a doctor, go in for sports, but, of course, in moderation, for example, swimming is perfect. Many women are fond of yoga for pregnant women - this is an excellent prevention of constipation and fetal hypoxia, but you can do it in the absence of abdominal pain and with the permission of a doctor.

If a woman works in a workplace where chemical exposure is possible, it is worth going on vacation during pregnancy. Hard physical labor and strong emotional upheavals are also contraindicated, because the baby already now feels what the mother feels, so try to get only positive emotions, and then the pregnancy will pass both for you and for the baby easily and will only bring positive emotions.

Belly photo

In the sixth week of pregnancy, the symptoms that the mother experienced at 4 and 5 weeks continue to increase. This is a natural phenomenon: the embryo continues to actively develop, grow, its internal organs are formed, it requires more and more nutrients and energy. The "hormonal storm" continues in my mother's body. In some women, symptoms of toxicosis continue to increase (see description of the fifth week of pregnancy).

In the sixth week, many women still can't get used to the fact that a new little man is growing inside them. In combination with hormonal fluctuations, this makes the expectant mother very emotional. The mood instantly changes from endless joy to depression and tears. This is normal. However, if you have depression or depression for several days in a row, you need to see a doctor.

Signs and symptoms of 6 weeks pregnant

Symptoms at 6 weeks of gestation are expressed in different ways. Some women feel great, others feel creepy. The main manifestations that you can notice for a period of six weeks:

· Nausea... Despite the fact that she is called "morning", she can be worried at any time of the day. If vomiting occurs, you need to visit a doctor: this symptom may indicate early toxicosis of pregnant women.

· Increased fatigue... In the first trimester of pregnancy, it's normal to feel like a squeezed lemon. First, the embryo grows intensively, it needs a lot of "fuel" and "building material". Secondly, your body is not yet fully accustomed to changing hormone levels.

· Breast pain... The hormones prepare them for feeding the baby.

· Frequent urination... The fact that you are often pulled to the toilet is the "fault" of the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin... It forces more blood to flow into the vessels of the pelvis. Frequent urination is a normal manifestation of early pregnancy. However, if you feel pain and cramps, if urine comes out with difficulty, if blood or other unknown impurities appear in it, you need to visit a doctor.

· Bloating... Often, increased gas production in the intestines is accompanied by constipation. This effect is due to the hormone progesteronewhich slows down the contractions of the intestines and makes food stay in it longer. This is necessary so that the body can extract the maximum of valuable substances from food, because the embryo needs them. Consuming enough fiber and fluids will help cope with the unpleasant symptom. There are laxatives that can be used during pregnancy, but you should consult your doctor before using them.

· Abdominal cramps and small traces of blood on the underwear... These symptoms can occur not only in the sixth week, but also at any other week in early pregnancy. Spasms and mild soreness are most often associated with an enlargement of the uterus and stretching of its ligaments. Bleeding occurs due to injury to the cervix, which has become softer and more tender during intercourse. If the pain is severe, and the bleeding resembles menstruation, you need to see a doctor.

You may have had some doubts in the previous weeks about whether or not you got pregnant. In the sixth week, usually everything becomes completely clear: the woman's body itself gives a clear unambiguous answer in the form of well-defined symptoms. This happens in most cases, but, recall: everything is individual.

Pregnancy at 6 weeks with twins

What do you think: could you get pregnant with twins?

There are two main types of twins:
· Heterozygous (fraternal) - when two sperm fertilize two eggs. In this case, two children of the same or different sex may be born. They look like an ordinary brother and sister. The probability of giving birth to such twins for the average woman is 1:89. The probability of giving birth to triplets, quadruplets or more children is much lower - 1 in 565.

· Monozygous (identical)twins appear as a result of the fertilization of one egg with one sperm. At a certain stage, the embryo is divided into two parts, and a child develops from each. Such twins are always the same sex and look alike like two peas. The chance of giving birth to monozygotic twins for the average woman is 1: 250.

Your chances of having twins are higher if:
· You have been taking fertility medications or using assisted reproductive technologies.
· The mother-to-be or father-to-be has a twin brother or sister.
· The likelihood increases with the age of the woman. Scientists believe that this is due to a change in hormonal levels.
· With each new pregnancy, the chances increase.
· Tall, large women give birth to twins more often than short, petite ones.
If you are pregnant with twins, then the symptoms that are characteristic of the early stages of pregnancy, you will have earlier, will be more pronounced. You can find out exactly how many embryos are in your uterus during the first ultrasound screening for a period of 10-14 weeks.

What hormones "run the show" in a woman's body at the 6th week of pregnancy?

The processes that occur in the body of the expectant mother at the 6th week of pregnancy are caused by the following hormones:

Name	Structure	Effects
Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)		· Promotes an increase in progesterone and estrogen levels. · Essential to maintain pregnancy. · Increases blood flow to the pelvic area, causes frequent urination.
Progesterone		· Increases blood flow in the uterus. · Stimulates the growth of the uterine lining. · Promotes normal growth and development of the fetus. · Prevents premature birth. · Helps strengthen the pelvic muscles.
Placental lactogen		· Helps the mammary glands prepare for breastfeeding. · Increases blood levels of nutrients required for the embryo.
Corticotropin-releasing factor		· Responsible for the growth and development of the embryo. · Determines how long your pregnancy will last.
Estrogens		· Responsible for the growth of the embryo. · Provide the development and functioning of the placenta. · Help the breasts prepare for milk production.
Relaxin		· Relaxes, softens the ligaments and joints in the mother. · Prepares a woman for childbirth. · Symptoms such as constipation and pelvic pain are associated with the effects of this hormone.

How much is the sixth week of pregnancy?

Six weeks of obstetric gestational age (counted from the first day of the last menstruation) corresponds to four weeks of embryo development (embryonic, or gestational, term). Six weeks of embryo development corresponds to eight weeks of obstetric gestation.

Six weeks of pregnancy is a little more than one month and one week. Perhaps you only found out about your pregnancy 2-3 weeks ago, but officially you are pregnant for over a month!

What happens to the embryo at 6 weeks gestation?

At 6 weeks gestation, the embryo is roughly the size of a sweet pea or pomegranate seed. It is very tiny, only 6-7 mm in length. Over the previous week, it grew by about 3 times, and over the next week it will double.

The future baby still looks like a tadpole, it is bent in the shape of the letter "C", it has a tail, but a head has already emerged, a face has begun to form, rudiments of arms and legs have appeared: they still represent kidneys, rudiments, but can already move a little. The rudiments of the nose, eyes, ears, chin, neck, cheeks, eyelids appeared.

The ears are still tiny indentations in the neck. Later they will rise to their usual places and take on their final appearance. The rudiments that will give rise to the eyes are still small dark dots that show through the skin. At first, they are located on the sides of the head, later they gradually shift towards the nose.

The eyeballs already have the lens, iris, cornea, retina. You will not be able to find out what eye color your future baby has, but it is already predetermined at the level of genes.

The circulatory system of the embryo is becoming more and more complex. The heart beats at a frequency of 100-160 beats per minute, twice as fast as that of the mother. It used to be a simple tube, but now it is divided into 4 chambers.
Of neural tube, which runs along the body of the embryo, forms the brain and spinal cord, nerves, spine. Electrical waves appear in the brain: if an EEG were taken to the child at this time, they could be registered. The cerebral hemispheres begin to form.

The formation of internal organs is actively underway: the intestines are developing, the rudiments of future lungs and bronchial trees, kidneys, liver appear, the main endocrine gland - pituitary... The first protozoan germ cells appear in the rudiments of the gonads.

The embryo is fed through the placenta and umbilical cord.

Ultrasound at 6 weeks of gestation

If you do a three-dimensional ultrasound scan at 6 weeks of gestation, you can quite well examine the appearance of the embryo, even see tiny kidneys, from which arms and legs will form in the future. But at this time, you will not be prescribed an ultrasound examination if you do not have special indications.

The images in the pictures are as follows:

What happens to the uterus and abdomen at 6 weeks gestation?

At the sixth week of obstetric gestation, the abdomen is not noticeable: the embryo and uterus are still too small. You may "feel" that your belly is "enlarged," but this is most likely a deceptive sensation associated with excess gas and bloating. Outwardly, your pregnancy is not visible, so for a period of 6 weeks it is up to you to decide whether to tell your friends and relatives that you are preparing to become a mother, or to keep it a secret for now.

· Do not forget that the embryo is especially vulnerable in the early stages of pregnancy. Any negative impact can provoke a miscarriage. You need to take care of yourself. Never drink alcohol, caffeine, or smoke.

· You may very much want to get rid of the symptoms you are currently experiencing, but be sure to consult with your doctor before taking any medication.

· During the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, do not use permanent hair dyes.

· Your nausea may have made it harder to swallow prenatal vitamins. You can ask your doctor to recommend suitable chewable forms (these are available for children).

· If you are concerned about frequent urination, do not try to cope with it by limiting your fluid intake. This will not solve the problem and may harm you and your baby.

· There is one simple tip that helps with frequent urination. Leaning forward as you urinate will help empty your bladder better. After you feel like you're done, strain again.

· If you are worried about heartburn, try not to eat at night, do not eat a lot of food at a time (preferably several times a little), do not wear clothes that squeeze your stomach.

· If you only recently found out that you are pregnant, plan to visit the antenatal clinic soon. The doctor should examine you and order some tests, the time of the first screening is approaching.

· Try to be more outdoors.

Nutrition at 6 weeks pregnant

Fish is good for early pregnancy - it contains many nutrients and vitamins. But some seafood is high in mercury, a toxic metal that can harm an unborn baby.

Your body needs meat (an excellent choice is chicken, turkey), eggs, and other animal products. In no case should they be bought “on the street”, they should always be boiled well.

The diet of the expectant mother must necessarily contain fruits and vegetables, but pathogens and some harmful chemicals may be on their surface. Therefore, they always need to be thoroughly washed.

Consider purchasing a special fruit brush.

Tea, like coffee, contains caffeine. The choice of drinks must be treated with caution.

How to deal with nausea during pregnancy? Here are some helpful tips:
· Eat monotonous food... One that doesn't make you feel sick. Yes, the diet should be varied. But if you can only look at sweets without disgust, your body may well get all the necessary substances from sweet foods. For example, peaches can provide vitamin A, yogurt can provide protein.

· Save yourself food for the morning... Often morning sickness occurs due to the fact that a woman jumps out of bed and runs faster on business on an empty stomach. This produces hydrochloric acid, which irritates the mucous membrane, and this increases the nausea. Place a plate of croutons or something else on the table near the bed. Refresh yourself immediately after waking up.

· Eat at night... Food should be light and contain a lot of protein and carbohydrates. For example, it could be a bun and a glass of milk.

· Eat often... Five to six small snacks throughout the day are better than three to four large meals. It helps to keep the stomach slightly full at all times, relieve nausea and heartburn.

· Take food when you leave home... Croutons, cookies, nuts, small sandwiches will do.

· Avoid smells that make you sick... In early pregnancy, your sense of smell is heightened, so even smells can make you sick.

· Drink lemon or ginger tea... For many mothers-to-be, this helps relieve nausea.

If, despite these measures, nausea persists and is accompanied by vomiting, you should consult a doctor.

When do you need to see a doctor?

Seek medical attention for any unusual, alarming symptoms: severe abdominal pain, bleeding, as with menstruation, frequent vomiting, frequent dizziness and fainting.

Is it possible to have sex at 6 weeks pregnant?

Sex during pregnancy at 6 weeks is safe and even beneficial, provided certain conditions are met:
· Pregnancy should not be accompanied by a high risk of miscarriage.
· The partner should not have genital infections.
You must first consult with your doctor. Your doctor may recommend using condoms.

Week 6 Side Effects - Video Guide

6 obstetric week is 4 weeks from conception - embryonic gestation, as well as 6 weeks from the beginning of the last menstruation. The delay in menstruation is 2 weeks. Now you probably already know about your new condition. And this is again an important stage in the life of an embryo. The beginning of the sixth week of pregnancy is one of the most crucial moments in the development of your baby's nervous system.

Embryo size

What an embryo looks like

In the sixth week of pregnancy, the human embryo looks like a tiny shell, resembles a miniature auricle. It is surrounded by amniotic fluid.

Embryo development

During the 6th obstetric week of pregnancy, the laying of organs and tissues begins. The first organ of the embryo is the heart. Its contractions can be observed using ultrasound from the 22nd day after fertilization.

Good to know

So, the biggest and most important of all the achievements in development is, perhaps, the fact that the little heart makes its first beats. This happens 20-22 days after conception. At first, its contractions are not regular, but by the beginning of the sixth week, the rhythm becomes even.

In the sixth obstetric week, the intestinal tube begins to form. Organogenesis begins from this stage in the development of the embryo. In the middle segment of the intestinal tube, a connection is formed with the secondary yolk sac - the abdominal stalk, which includes large blood vessels and connects the embryo to the placenta (future umbilical cord).

An important point - neurulation occurs - the formation of the nervous system, and by the end of this week the embryo has segments of the brain and spinal cord.

At about 23 days of embryo development, the neural tube should completely close, only the holes at its ends remain open. If by the fourth week of embryonic development (6 obstetric week of pregnancy) part of the neural tube does not close completely, or if the tube closes but later diverges, for example, due to increased pressure of cerebrospinal fluid in the first trimester of pregnancy, the fetus may develop a spinal defect.

Therefore, do not neglect the intake of folic acid, because its intake contributes to the harmonious development of the nervous system of your baby!

The brain is divided into cerebral vesicles (anterior, middle, and posterior). The embryo grows and develops very quickly. From the sixth week, his brain takes up half of the neural tube, and by the end of this week, spinal nerves and nodes begin to form. The rudiments of the hypothalamus are formed in the brain.

At the same time, the respiratory system is formed (2 rudiments of the lungs), the primary kidney is differentiated.

In addition to the heart, neural tube, genital gonads, five pairs of branchial arches are visible in the embryo this week of gestation.

Good to know

The human embryo does not need gills, but this fact is attributed to the biological law of development: "Ontogenesis repeats the main stages of phylogenesis."

Repetition, of course, is not complete. The openings of the gill slits soon overgrow. From the first pair of branchial pockets, the middle ear develops, from the rest - the thyroid and parathyroid glands.

By the end of the 6th obstetric week (4 embryonic) on the ultrasound, the rudiments of the limbs and the area of \u200b\u200bthe pulsating heart are already clearly visible. The embryo's heart has two chambers. By the end of the week, an interventricular septum and a thickening of tissue appear in it, from which atrioventricular valves will form in the future.

Good to know

The heart rate reaches 130 - 150 beats per minute. Alarm signal - pulse rate of 100 or less. Especially if during this period the woman has discharge and low-grade fever.

What happens in a woman's body

There is no menses. The growing uterus, which is gaining more and more weight and size due to the formation of new networks of vessels delivering blood to it, occupies a significant area of \u200b\u200bthe woman's small pelvis, presses on the surrounding organs and up. It is likely that the uterus is already pressing on the bladder, and you have to use the toilet more often in the middle of the night.

The abdomen is still not noticeable, but your uterus at this stage is so enlarged that the gynecologist can determine the gestational age at a routine examination and it is possible to calculate the approximate date of birth. The people around you still do not know anything about the changes taking place in your body, but you probably already felt that from now on there are two of you, especially if this period did not come as a complete surprise to you, and you listen with trepidation to new sensations.

Good to know

The uterus is enlarged by 6 weeks of gestation. Normally, at the sixth week of pregnancy, it will be slightly larger than a small apple, orange, or slightly larger than a large plum.

Feelings of a woman

Good to know

During pregnancy, a new functional mother-placenta-fetus system develops, causing a number of changes in the woman's body. These changes affect all organs and systems of the mother's body. They are aimed at providing optimal conditions for the development of the fetus, a favorable course of pregnancy and its successful completion.

If you have a hard time tolerating pregnancy, then at 6 weeks, unfortunately, early toxicosis often increases. Vomiting can be even stronger, increased susceptibility to odors, increased salivation, against this background, irritability and fatigue appear. Morning vomiting may join. If you vomit more than 2-3 times a day, then this condition can be very dangerous, if you lose a lot of fluid, but you cannot replenish the loss, see your doctor immediately.

Infographics - the likelihood of toxicosis during pregnancy

Most expectant mothers suffer from morning sickness. However, some do not feel well in the evening. If you can't eat a bite at dinner but are hungry, try the following. Eat a hearty breakfast, lunch, and leave something light for the evening, like some cheese and fruit.

Hormonal changes are making themselves felt. Due to the change in hormonal levels and the associated weakening of the tone of the muscular membrane of the blood vessels, headaches, dizziness and even fainting are possible. All the same hormones can play a "bad joke" with a woman's skin: hormonal changes can lead to an increase in sebum production, which often leads to acne and acne.

Your heart also changes its rhythm and speed of work. The contractile work of the heart increases in order to enrich the blood with oxygen more and more quickly deliver blood to the vital organs of the mother, including the uterus. There is also an increase in your total blood volume. An increase in the volume of circulating blood is noted from the first trimester of pregnancy, reaching maximum values \u200b\u200bby 36 weeks. Because of this, blood pressure may increase, which is why they are monitored in the antenatal clinic.

Breast tenderness. As before, you notice that your breasts began to feel like you more than ever. Some women may experience a slight tingling sensation in their breasts. This is due to the fact that the body begins to prepare the mammary glands for milk production

The respiratory system also changes so that the lungs absorb more oxygen, since now it is needed not only by the mother, but also by the child. The hormones found in the placenta act on the lungs, thereby increasing the permeability of the lungs so that they absorb more oxygen, which is constantly needed in the right amount by the child's body.

Drowsiness, weakness, irritability, inattention. Physical malaise is also associated with hormonal changes, in particular with a sharp increase in progesterone. Fatigue, in most cases, will cease to bother you by 14-15 weeks. However, she is likely to return in the last weeks of her pregnancy.

Highlights are no different from normal ones. Clear or whitish discharge without an unpleasant odor is considered normal.

Heartburn is another common pregnancy companion. It appears from the fact that there is a constant pressure on the stomach of the internal organs of the woman from below, because the uterus slowly but surely increases, rises up. The contents of the stomach are thrown into the esophagus, there is a burning sensation, nausea. To avoid this, there is a very effective method - to eat in very small portions, but much more often than before.

Very often, at the 6th week of pregnancy, a woman is tormented by constipation. Some expectant mothers note an exacerbation of hemorrhoids, which in itself significantly complicates a woman's life.

Start taking a multivitamin for pregnant women (if you haven't already). An obstetrician-gynecologist will help you choose the right one.

In case of nausea and vomiting, take measures to alleviate your condition: eat breakfast while lying in bed, eat food chilled. Make it a rule to never leave the house hungry in the morning, and reduce meals throughout the day in volume, but make them frequent - up to 5-6 times a day in small portions. To alleviate the discomfort, you can drink fruit drink, sour fresh juices, etc. Sometimes fresh cucumber, crackers, ginger help. You will definitely find your own way to ease your condition.

If vomiting occurs more than 2-3 times a day, you should see a doctor soon. Such manifestations of toxicosis already require treatment.

If you have pain in the lower abdomen, you should see a doctor as soon as possible. If the pain is severe, call an ambulance immediately! These symptoms can appear when there is a threat of termination of pregnancy, the beginning of a miscarriage, or an ectopic pregnancy.

If you have spotting, you should see a doctor as soon as possible. In case of a combination of abdominal pain with bloody discharge call an ambulance immediately!

If you experience discomfort in the area of \u200b\u200bthe mammary glands, wear underwear made from natural materials.

If increased sleepiness persists, try to get more rest. Sleep 9-10 hours a day and do not neglect rest during the day.

With increased fatigue, temporarily give up household chores, especially those that require significant energy consumption (do not wash the floor, do not do general cleaning, etc.).

The sixth week of pregnancy is the right time to register with the antenatal clinic. The doctor will delicately examine you and prescribe the necessary blood and urine tests. They will immediately take a smear for genital infections, which can be dangerous to the fetus if they are not cured in time.

Get rid of bad habits, exclude alcohol and smoking. After all, right now, your child's vital organs are being formed.

Good to know

The most important micronutrient in the sixth week is folic acid. It reduces the risk of malformations of the nervous system, helps the correct formation of most organs and systems. From this week on, a woman should give up coffee and strong tea.

The main way to prevent fetal malformations is to correct a woman's vitamin deficiency. Vitamin complexes are prescribed for pregnant women.

• For the normal development of tissues of the embryo and regulation of tissue differentiation, foods rich in vitamin A are introduced into the diet: beef liver, eggs, rose hips, dried apricots, tomatoes, bell peppers, spinach, celery, parsley.


• For the metabolism of folic acid and iron in the mother's body, foods containing vitamin C are useful: berries, citrus fruits, walnuts. Vitamin C strengthens blood vessels and has a positive effect on the rheological properties of the mother's blood.


• For the correct formation of the lung tissue of the fetus, foods rich in vitamin E are useful: unrefined vegetable oil, sprouted wheat or rye. Vitamin E is a constituent of cell membranes and acts as an antioxidant.


• If a pregnant woman develops early toxicosis, it is useful to eat foods rich in vitamin H (biotin): peas, nuts, oatmeal, egg yolk, beef liver. However, expectant mothers should be aware that a large amount of fat-soluble vitamins (A, E, D) can have a toxic effect on the fetus.

Dangers

Risk of miscarriage

The danger of interruption at this time is very high. This is especially true for women who have previously had miscarriages or abortions in the same period. To keep your baby safe, you should be extremely attentive to your body. Any unusual discharge - brown, pink or bloody, as well as pain should be alerted.

If the lower back or stomach hurts (does not pull, namely it hurts) - you need to urgently consult a gynecologist. It happens that pain in the abdomen and lower back is associated with a gradual stretching of the ligaments of the uterus. However, only a doctor can determine the exact cause of the pain and eliminate the risk of premature spontaneous abortion.

A sharp cessation of toxicosis can also be a consequence of fetal freezing. You should be alarmed by the cessation of toxicosis. See your doctor.

Thrush during pregnancy

White discharge, accompanied by itching, may indicate thrush, which quite often worries expectant mothers at this time. This is due to the peculiarities of immunity and hormonal levels.

Colds, ARVI, ARI

A cold in the early stages of pregnancy can cause irreparable consequences for the development and health of the fetus, so colds should be treated with gentle methods.

The temperature can be brought down with the help of children's antipyretic rectal suppositories, a runny nose can be treated by rinsing the nasal cavity with sea water, a sore throat - with warm milk with honey and a piece of butter or gargling with a solution of soda and salt, and a cough - by rinsing the throat with an infusion of birch buds, dropping into it some eucalyptus or tea tree oil.

Ectopic pregnancy

If you have a delay for more than 14 days, and the test is still negative - an ectopic pregnancy is possible, hurry to find out. In most cases, it is interrupted early (6-8 weeks).

Analyzes and examinations

Thanks to the production of a sufficient amount of the hormone progesterone, which prevents the uterus from contracting and the appearance of increased tone in it, the pregnancy is maintained and proceeds normally. That is why, and also in order to exclude an ectopic pregnancy, doctors often prescribe tests to determine the level of progesterone in a woman's body, as well as hCG, chorionic gonadotropin, a hormone secreted by the placenta. Normally, these indicators should increase. So, the level of progesterone increases until the last week of pregnancy, and hCG - the entire first trimester. Timely determination of the lack of these hormones allows you to prescribe the necessary drugs on time and maintain the pregnancy. When registering a pregnant woman, a gynecologist will definitely prescribe the delivery of other necessary tests.

If you decide to register with the antenatal clinic at the 6th week of pregnancy

What tests and examinations will the gynecologist prescribe? ...

At the first appointment, the gynecologist will conduct an examination, because in order to properly advise you and give the right recommendations, he needs your data:

• He will conduct an examination on a chair, probe the uterus.


• Take a swab for analysis.


• Will conduct a survey about your health.


• Will measure your pelvis, weight.


• Will measure your blood pressure.


• Examines the mammary glands.


• He can prescribe any other tests individually if there are deviations from the norm.

He will also be sure to prescribe to be tested:

• General blood analysis.


• Analysis for the determination of blood sugar.


• Analysis for the group and the Rh factor of blood.


• General urine analysis.

Ultrasound

With the help of an early ultrasound scan (5-6 weeks), it is possible to determine the exact time, and with each new study, the information obtained will become more and more useful. There are various kinds of criticism, which argue that ultrasound diagnostics at 6-8 weeks can cause serious harm to an unborn child. But all these opinions are undoubtedly erroneous, numerous clinical studies refute these arguments. The absence of a threat from ultrasound for the expectant mother and her child is an absolute axiom, since these data have been recorded by the numerous experience of the best doctors over the years.

Good to know

The first ultrasound scan for a period of 6 weeks is necessary primarily in order to accurately confirm the actual onset of conception - the presence of the ovum in the uterine cavity.

An ultrasound scan for a period of 6 weeks is perhaps the most important of all. Thanks to him, you can get an answer to many questions and, if there are any violations regarding the course of pregnancy, prescribe an appropriate and effective treatment that will help bring the gestation to the end.

You can’t guess that you are carrying twins. Only a doctor will help to reveal this secret. The presence of two embryos at this time is perfectly determined by ultrasound examination or may be suspected by a gynecologist during examination.

Why is an ultrasound scan needed in early pregnancy?

• Establish a specific localization of the ovum, for example, uterine pregnancy or outside of it (ectopic or tubal pregnancy).


• Diagnosis of single or multiple pregnancy.


• Assessment of the size and structure of the ovum.


• Assessment of fetal activity.


• Study of the structure of the embryo.


• Examination of extraembryonic structures (chorion, yolk sac, amnion).


• Diagnosis of complications during pregnancy (threatening or incipient abortion, etc.).

At six weeks of gestation, the embryo approaches the size of a pea. With an ultrasound scan at six weeks of pregnancy, the coccygeal-parietal size is measured, this is the length of the embryo. By this size, with the help of an ultrasound scan, you can clearly determine the duration of pregnancy, this is especially important if there are discrepancies with the menstrual period of pregnancy. The yolk sac next to the embryo and the corpus luteum in the ovary continues to be visualized by ultrasound at six weeks of pregnancy. If, with an ultrasound at five weeks of pregnancy, there is still no reliable data on an increase in the size of the uterus, then with an ultrasound at 6 weeks of pregnancy, the uterus increases in size. Standard ultrasound protocols at 6 weeks of gestation usually do not indicate the size of the uterus, since these measurements are not of practical importance. Ultrasound at 6 weeks of pregnancy makes it possible to assess the presence of a developing pregnancy even with an overview scan through the abdomen, but clearer data can be obtained precisely with transvaginal ultrasound.

In addition to the listed measurements and data, with an ultrasound scan at 6 weeks of pregnancy, the fetal sac is measured. The timing of pregnancy is more accurately calculated not by the average diameter of the fetal sac, but by the size of the embryo - its coccygeal-parietal size (CTE). The cardiac contractility of the embryo is necessarily assessed. It is by the presence of cardiac activity that an ultrasound scan at six weeks is made about the development of pregnancy, about its progression.

The main methods of fetal ultrasound examination:

• Transvaginal ultrasound method - prescribed in early pregnancy. A special sensor is inserted into the vagina, which helps to determine the exact state of the placenta, identify features of the cervix and carefully examine the fetus and its internal organs. It is also correct to determine the gestational age of the baby.


• The abdominal ultrasound method is performed at a later date, since it is no longer possible to consider all the necessary data due to the growth of the baby in a vaginal way. Therefore, the sensor is driven over the abdomen. It is important, when taking the first photo to examine your baby, to have a full bladder.


• 3D ultrasound video. Modern technologies allow you to clearly see the appearance of your baby and count the number of fingers on the arms and legs, even before his birth. But now the time is too short for that. Such a study should be carried out no earlier than 24 weeks of pregnancy. Then it will be possible not only to make a high-quality photo and video of the baby, but also to find out exactly its gender.

6 obstetric week of pregnancy corresponds to the fourth week from conception. This week, the fetus is already surrounded by amniotic fluid and resembles a tiny shell.

What happens in the sixth week of pregnancy

Along with the rapid development of the embryo, changes continue to occur in the mother's body. The level of hormones continues to grow, the concentration of hCG and progesterone increases. All hormones interact closely with each other, complementing each other's action.

Such a hormonal explosion causes a change in both the physical and psycho-emotional state of a pregnant woman. She feels weak, constantly wants to sleep. Unmotivated aggression, tearfulness, bad mood - hormones are to blame for all this.

Important changes take place in the uterus. Its shape, size, consistency, reactivity change, blood flow increases.

The placenta is actively forming, which will be fully completed by the twelfth week of pregnancy. In the sixth week, the placenta already begins to produce hormones, and very soon it will be responsible for protecting and nourishing the baby.

Fetal size in the sixth week of pregnancy

The fetus in the sixth week has a size of 6.6 mm. It still weighs less than one gram, but two bumps already appear on the sides, which later become hands. A few days will pass and the same tubercles will appear in the back of the embryo, becoming the prototype of the legs. Hands develop faster than legs. By the end of the sixth week, the rudiments of the brushes will form.

A thickening appears at the proximal end of the neural tube at the beginning of the sixth week, which is nothing more than a brain rudiment. By the middle of the week, there will be a division into sections and hemispheres of the brain.

The face of the fetus begins to form. The rudiments of the lower and upper jaws, ears, nose, eyes are formed.

The heart is actively functioning, the formation of ventricles and atria occurs in it. When conducting an ultrasound, you can clearly hear the fetal heartbeat.

The yolk sac and the already formed liver begin to produce blood cells. In the sixth week, the rudiments of the large and small intestines, as well as the stomach, are laid.

The formation of the baby's genitals continues and very soon it will be possible to determine the sex of the unborn child.

Placenta formation will end soon. In the sixth week, chorionic villi and an umbilical cord are formed, which will then become the umbilical cord. All these processes prepare the child's body for a quick supply of oxygen and nutrients from the mother.

Signs of pregnancy in the sixth week

Pregnancy symptoms are already pretty clear this week. Due to the restructuring of the body, which now has to work for two, the woman feels a breakdown, constantly wants to sleep and gets tired quickly.

She begins to react extremely sharply to some odors, possibly the appearance of increased salivation. Women who, due to toxicosis, have already experienced morning sickness and bouts of vomiting, note an increase in these phenomena in the sixth week. Those who have not had these symptoms before can get acquainted with toxicosis this week. Nausea and vomiting can be caused by both food intake and odors that a pregnant woman begins to perceive very sharply.

In the sixth week of pregnancy, changes continue in the mammary glands, which are prepared by the body for future breastfeeding. The blood supply to the breast is enhanced. It increases in size, the nipples become more sensitive, when a woman touches them, she feels a tingling sensation. Areas of the nipples darken.

The uterus also continues to grow. She already has the size of a plum, but externally, the increase in the abdomen is not yet visible. The body is actively producing progesterone, which prevents the tone of the uterus from increasing, preventing the termination of pregnancy.

Photo of the belly at the 6th week of pregnancy

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Feelings of the expectant mother in the sixth week of pregnancy

The well-being of a pregnant woman in the sixth week is not the best. She feels weak in the morning, constantly wants to sleep. The ill-fated toxicosis is fully manifested. Its manifestations can be different. In some women, there is a breakdown and morning sickness, in others, toxicosis is manifested by daily painful vomiting, it can even reach fainting.

In a small percentage of women, symptoms of toxicosis are practically not observed, which greatly facilitates the course of pregnancy.

Almost all pregnant women become very sensitive to odors by the sixth week. Their salivation increases, and their taste habits change dramatically. In most cases, this goes away over time, but if there is a strong deterioration in well-being, this is a reason to see a doctor.

Brown discharge in the sixth week of pregnancy may appear due to a lack of hCG. In this case, the doctor prescribes drugs that are synthetic analogs of the missing hormone and support pregnancy (Duphaston, Utrozhestan). These funds are usually taken up to a period of twelve weeks, after which the need for their use disappears. In some cases, your doctor may recommend prolonging the use of these drugs.

If a woman has a stomach ache in the sixth week, this may indicate a threat of miscarriage.

Examination at the sixth week of pregnancy

During a visit to a gynecologist, a pregnant woman is examined and, based on the results of the examination, an appointment is made for the following tests:

• Blood test for hCG. A positive result allows you to establish the fact of pregnancy with 100% probability. If the hormone is not produced in sufficient quantities, the doctor will prescribe a course of replacement therapy to prevent miscarriage.
• Ultrasound at 6 weeks of gestation. Appointed according to indications.
• Blood test for hepatitis B, syphilis, HIV.
• Analysis to determine the blood group and Rh factor. It is carried out to prevent Rh conflict.
• General analysis of blood and urine. Helps determine the health status of a pregnant woman.
• Vaginal swab. This analysis is necessary to identify possible urogenital infections.