6 weeks pregnant

During this week, Your Child’s heart will start beating. But also a little face is taking shape. Cheeks, chin, and jaws begin to form, and the eyes and nose are now visible as tiny little dots. 

Many women start to feel tired.

Your Child’s development
Your Child is now the size of an apple seed — about 5 mm — and a tiny little heart can sometimes already be seen beating on a vaginal ultrasound scan.

The face starts forming: The facial structures begin to develop. The little nose and eyes are forming but may just look like small dark spots on the outsized head. There are also pouches and arches that will become part of Your Child’s ears and jaws, which will eventually become one adorable face.

A little mermaid: Your Child’s lower body develops at a slower pace compared to the upper part, so your little one may initially look like a mermaid.

The organs are forming: The respiratory system is forming by creating a pharyngeal arch. Inside, cells that will become your baby’s intestines are developing, along with the bud of tissue that will become her lungs, liver, and kidneys.

Your development
Many women feel tired now, and approximately 80% experience morning sickness.

The reason for being tired stems from our blood. In order to supply Your Child with enough nutrients and oxygen, your body produces more blood than it’s used to, and this can sap your energy, reducing your blood sugar and blood pressure.  

To work against your morning sickness, remove greasy or spicy foods from your diet. Also, drink enough water, and get enough rest.

Your breasts push your nipples: You might also notice that your breasts push your nipples out more than usual. This happens because the blood flow to your chest tends to increase at this time to prepare you for breastfeeding later. 

Spotting or bleeding: If you notice spotting or vaginal bleeding, you may want to talk to your doctor about it. It can be an early sign of a miscarriage or an ectopic pregnancy — a situation where a fertilized egg attaches itself somewhere other than inside the uterus.

What you can do now
The next few weeks are crucial to Your Child’s development since most vital organs are formed. You two need a healthy diet, good sleep, and, ideally, no stress, because too much stress can impair the developing brain of little Your Child. It’s time to start taking prenatal vitamins if you have not yet started taking any.