Pregnancy Week 6
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Your Baby's Growth and Development
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By pregnancy week 6 you can see your baby using a vaginal ultrasound. Your doctor may try to measure your baby using a "crown-to-rump" measurement. This is the distance from your baby's bottom to the very top of your baby's head. Most babies measure up to 5 mm in length by pregnancy week 6. This is roughly the size of ½ a small corn kernel.
By pregnancy week 6 your baby looks more and more human, though if you were to peer in at her you would notice she had a little buds that will form arms and legs and even a little tail. Most babies' hearts also start beating at or around pregnancy week 6. A baby's heart rate varies between 100 and 160 beats each minute. Your doctor may be able to hear your baby's heartbeat using a Doppler radar device in the next few weeks.
Changes In Your Body
Some women start gaining weight even this early in pregnancy. By 6 weeks pregnant most of the weight you gain is more likely than not water weight. It is quite common for women to start retaining fluid during pregnancy. Most women will gain around five pounds during their first trimester. Remember however that all women are different, so some may gain more and some may even lose a few pounds. This may result from extreme morning sickness.
You will notice that with or without weight changes, your waist starts to look thicker. I always found that by about 6 weeks pregnant, I started having a harder than normal time buttoning my pants. Don't worry. Leave the top unbuttoned if you have to or button your pants with a rubber band looped around the fastener.
When at home, stick to sweatpants or comfy shorts. It is way too early for you to consider maternity clothes. I always found that having a pair of pants around however, a size larger than normal often was all that was necessary to keep me comfortable during the early weeks of pregnancy.
Another way to remain comfortable throughout your pregnancy as your body changes and grows is by using a pregnancy pillow to support your body. Pregnancy pillows like the Snoozer Pregnancy Pillow provide exceptional comfort to women at any stage of pregnancy. During pregnancy you will find you sleep much better when supported by a full body pregnancy pillow. Snoozer pregnancy pillows are unique because you can twist them around your body even after you deliver to help support nursing. Crafted of the finest 100 percent cotton fabric, these pillows also make idea gifts for pregnant friends and family members. If people ask you personally what you want at this stage of pregnancy, tell them to check out our full body pregnancy pillows. You can even invest in one crafted of White European Natural Goose Down!
Many women will start experiencing morning sickness by six weeks pregnant. This is a very normal but also very uncomfortable side effect of pregnancy. I found the best remedy for morning sickness was actually keeping something in my stomach. Consider eating small meals throughout the day. I also found sipping some cool carbonated water with some fresh lemon squeezed in did wonders for my tummy. Other women find ginger a good natural remedy for helping relieve morning sickness.
Your breasts are also continuing to grow during pregnancy week six. You may notice your areolas start to darken around this time as well. Some women notice small bumps called Montgomery's Tubercles start forming or becoming more pronounced along their breasts during their pregnancy.
How Much Weight Is Ok To Gain During Pregnancy?
Most doctors recommend pregnant women who are normal weight gain between 25 and 35 pounds during pregnancy. This varies tremendously however, from woman to woman. During my first two pregnancies I gained close to 45 pounds, but only gained 28 pounds during my third pregnancy. Each time however, the weight came off within a few months of delivering.
What is important is during the second and third trimesters you add a healthy 300 calories each day to your diet. Your body needs these extra calories to help support your baby's growth and development. Most of the weight you gain will go to your baby, uterus and expanding blood volume. Only about 7 pounds of weight should actually be fat stores you're body will need supporting your baby.
The difference for me during the last pregnancy was exercise. Exercise can help you gain a modest amount of weight rather than an excessive amount of weight. I also ate more healthy foods during my third pregnancy. During my first two pregnancies I craved sweets and pancakes; during my third I craved green beans (go figure). Remember what you eat can make a huge difference in your weigh gain during pregnancy.
Read next about your baby's growth and development, as well as the changes in your body during pregnancy week 7.
