1. 6th week of pregnancy - what happens in week 6 of pregnancy
2. How your baby develops in the 6th week of pregnancy
3. How you feel in the 6th week of pregnancy
4. 6th week of pregnancy - symptoms and complaints
5. What to do in case of bleeding in the 6th week of pregnancy
6. What can be seen on the ultrasound in week 6 of pregnancy?
7. What you should look out for in week 6 of pregnancy

6th week of pregnancy - what happens in week 6 of pregnancy

In this 6th week of pregnancy, your baby is still tiny and yet it is developing at breakneck speed. In this sixth part of our pregnancy calendar, you can find out about the fascinating milestones it will reach during these days, how the cocktail of pregnancy hormones will affect your body and what else you should look out for.

How your baby develops in the 6th week of pregnancy

Around four weeks have passed since fertilisation and your baby is 3 to 5 mm in size. It is now going through a very sensitive development phase, which is why you should take particularly good care of yourself.

Your baby changes shape

While the embryo still had the shape of an oval germinal disc last week, it is now becoming more elongated. The tiny curved shape is reminiscent of a small worm or a tadpole. Your baby's head will emerge from the upper thickened end. The back is bent and the embryo even has a kind of tail this week.

Your baby's heart starts to beat

On day 22 after fertilisation, i.e. right at the beginning of the sixth week of pregnancy, something wonderful happens: your baby's heart beats for the first time. At this point, it is shaped like a tube and starts to contract rhythmically. A little slowly at first, but soon it will be beating twice as fast as your heart. 160 beats per minute is completely normal for your little embryo. By comparison, the heart of an adult at rest has a frequency of around 60 beats per minute. So your little one is already travelling pretty fast.

Organs, nervous system and umbilical cord begin to form

In this sixth week, many things happen at the same time. The neural tube and the neural crest develop in the back area. The brain, spinal cord and many other parts of the nervous system will develop from these. This is an extremely sensitive process. In order to avoid disorders and malformations, the use of Folic acid is very important in this early phase of pregnancy. You should take 400 micrograms of this B vitamin in addition to food.

At the same time, your baby's intestines are forming. The preliminary stages of various organs such as the stomach, liver and lungs also develop. Even the first anlagen for the eyes and mouth are already developing. The umbilical cord is also growing. As the pregnancy progresses, this will form a connection between your baby and the placenta and thus supply your unborn child with all the important nutrients.

Practical help for you:
Emergency service midwife Katharina explains the most important things about the maternity pass online.

How you feel in the 6th week of pregnancy

The pregnancy is not yet visible on the outside, but the embryo is developing rapidly and your body is fully focussed on carrying a baby. A colourful mix of hormones floods through you and leads to an increase in pregnancy symptoms and complaints. You may well feel unsettled by the changes and the new life situation. Just a few weeks ago everything was normal and now a baby is growing inside you and you have to get used to the idea of soon becoming a mum.

Many pregnant women go through this phase(s) of uncertainty and every woman deals with it differently. For some, it helps to find out as much as possible about everything that is going on in the body. Others try relaxation techniques. Perhaps it will help you to make contact with your baby now, to connect with it mentally or in conversations. In general, it is advisable to talk to your partner, your best friend or your midwife about all your uncertainties and to know that you are not alone.

6th week of pregnancy - symptoms and complaints

Your uterus will now slowly start to grow. If a vaginal examination is carried out during this week, the doctor or midwife will notice that the cervix is now softening. The cervix changes colour due to the increased blood flow. It now appears bluer in colour. Due to the increasing hormone concentrations in the body, especially hCG and progesterone, many women increasingly suffer from pregnancy symptoms. But don't worry if you don't notice any changes. There are some women who do not feel any signs of pregnancy in the 6th week of pregnancy. Below we present three of the most common symptoms and show you what measures can help.

Nausea and vomiting

Most women struggle with nausea sooner or later in the first trimester. This is probably due to the increase in the pregnancy hormone hCG. Fortunately, these symptoms usually disappear after the first twelve weeks. Only a few women feel nauseous throughout their pregnancy. Nausea also has no negative consequences for your baby. However, if you experience excessive vomiting and severe fluid loss, you should consult your doctor. Mild to moderate morning sickness can be alleviated as follows:

• Don't eat too large portions of food, but spread your meals throughout the day. This puts less strain on your stomach and keeps your blood sugar at a constant level.
• Avoid strongly flavoured, acidic and greasy dishes.
• If you often feel sick in the morning, it's best to have a snack in bed before you get up.
• Avoid very cold or carbonated drinks.
• For many women, ginger tea helps against nausea.
• There are many homeopathic remedies that have proven effective for morning sickness. These include Sepia, Nux vomica and Arsenicum album. However, as these remedies, when taken in low potency, contain components of the original substance, they can also have side effects. You should therefore only take homeopathic medicines after consulting your midwife or doctor.
• Essential oils are also a very pleasant way to treat pregnancy complaints. Simply try out which scent helps you best. Lemon, peppermint, bergamot and mandarin have generally proven to be effective.
• Contact your midwife. She will help you with further tips and tricks.

In my workshop on "Pregnancy complaints", I will talk to you about ways to alleviate typical complaints during pregnancy. I want to support you in experiencing these 9 months of your life as pain-free as possible. Whether you are suffering from nausea, heartburn, back pain or water retention, I will explain to you what the causes are and what helps best.

Breast tenderness

Many women notice a change in their breasts as one of the first symptoms of pregnancy. They feel plumper, firmer and larger in the first few weeks. They tighten and the nipples often react sensitively to touch. The reason: the pregnancy hormones prolactin, progesterone and oestrogen lead to an increase in glandular tissue. Your breasts are already beginning to prepare for milk production and breastfeeding.

Make sure you wear a bra that does not constrict your breasts. Many pregnant women like to wear a sports bra without underwiring. If your nipples feel very irritated, try a relaxing lavender bath or lavender compress. You can relieve breast tension with a massage using lavender, orange blossom or almond oil.

Tiredness

Do you suddenly need a nap every day and feel tired all the time? No wonder, incredible things are happening in your body right now. After all, a new person is growing inside you. Your metabolism is changing, your hormones are going crazy and your body first has to get used to the new situation. One of the reasons for the extreme tiredness is the hormone progesterone, which has a calming effect on the organs. Take the time to put your feet up from time to time and try to calm your thoughts.

If you want to get your circulation going, we recommend some exercise. Take a yoga session in between or go for a walk in the fresh air. In the morning, alternating showers with warm and lukewarm water have a very stimulating effect. Rosemary baths have a similar effect.

What to do in case of bleeding in the 6th week of pregnancy

For many women, it is a big scare when they notice bleeding in early pregnancy. Around one in four pregnant women notice spotting in the first few weeks, which can occur once or several times. If you don't have any other symptoms, such as severe abdominal pain, you don't need to worry too much. Nevertheless, you should make an appointment with your gynaecologist to be on the safe side. An ultrasound scan will quickly clarify whether your baby is doing well. You may have a progesterone deficiency. This can be treated by taking progestogen preparations and magnesium. If you have been diagnosed with bleeding in the 6th week of pregnancy, your doctor will probably advise you to rest more and avoid sex for the next few days.

What can be seen on the ultrasound in week 6 of pregnancy?

During an ultrasound scan in the 6th week of pregnancy, there is already a chance that you will be able to see the embryo. Towards the end of this week of pregnancy, the embryo is around 4 to 5 mm in size and can be visualised as a curved worm. Although your baby already has a heartbeat, this is often not yet visible on ultrasound. You may already be able to see the heartbeat in the blood vessels of the umbilical cord. But don't worry if nothing can be seen apart from an amniotic cavity. There are so-called corner stools, which sit at the very edge of the amniotic cavity and only become visible a little later. And perhaps your embryo has developed a little later than you think. It's best to try to remember now whether you can remember the day of conception. This is the best way to determine the development of your baby and the time of birth.

What you should look out for in week 6 of pregnancy

In order to optimise your baby's development in this sixth week of your pregnancy, there are a few things you should bear in mind:- Eat a healthy and balanced diet.

• Avoid cigarettes and alcohol.
• Continue to take folic acid.
• Drink enough water.
• Give yourself regular rest breaks.
• You shouldn't miss out on exercise. Gentle sports such as yoga, Nordic walking and aqua aerobics are ideal.

You should also arrange your first antenatal appointment with your gynaecologist and look around for a midwife now. You can supplement your pregnancy support with our online range of courses and workshops. Midwife Katharina explains to you in our free workshop "Starting your pregnancy", you'll find everything you need to know about upcoming check-ups and your baby's development in the first few weeks. She also has helpful tips for pregnancy complaints. Also ideal for pregnant women in the first trimester are the workshops "Online prenatal care" and "Get to know and understand your maternity record".