6 Weeks Pregnant- Signs, Baby’s development, Weight gain and Care tips

During sixth week of pregnancy, you will start noticing the changes in your body. The changes occur due to your pregnancy hormones. Your uterus is growing now but people still can’t see that you are pregnant. The uterus may press on your bladder and send you rushing to bathroom, frequently. Frequent urination may also occur due to increased blood flow to your kidneys.

Symptoms during 6th week of pregnancy-

Other than frequent urination, there are several other symptoms which you may feel during this week. Although, pregnancy is an exciting time, but managing your symptoms during pregnancy can prove challenging. Symptoms include-

• swollen or sore breasts
• larger and dark areolas around the nipples
• nausea
• morning sickness
• fatigue
• emotional feeling
• irritation

Fetal development during 6th week of pregnancy-

When you are six weeks pregnant, your baby is about the size of a lentil.

• During 6th week, the heart begins to separate into four chambers. Heart is now beating about 150 times a minute which is twice the rate of your heart.
• The head of baby is now larger than trunk of his or her body. Head is bent over onto what will become the chest.
• The facial features are forming with dark spots where eyes will form. The openings for nostrils are developing. Baby’s tongue and vocal chords are also developing at this stage.
• The small buds are still growing. They will later become your baby's arms and legs.
• The muscle and bone tissue are building up and baby is now covered with a thin layer of skin.
• Your baby’s hollow neural tube forms a cavity. From this, the brain, spinal cord, nerves, and backbone will sprout. This cavity will develop into the ventricular system. Later on, this will produce fluid to protect your baby’s brain and spinal cord.

Twin development during 6th week of pregnancy-

If you’re carrying more than one baby in your womb, then you have a higher risk of developing pregnancy complications. Some of the most common complications are-

• twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome, which occurs when one baby gets more blood than the other baby
• anemia
• gestational diabetes
• vaginal bleeding
• preterm labor
• preeclampsia
• obstetric cholestasis
• intrauterine growth restriction, or slow fetal growth

Once twin pregnancy is diagnosed, your course of treatment may change slightly. You will need more frequent checkups, now. You may face some restrictions or you may even plan an earlier birth via cesarean. Women with more than one baby in her womb typically gain more weight. You need more nutrients than women with only one baby in her womb. Nutrients which you will need include:

• iron
• protein
• folic acid
• calcium

Weight gain during 6th week of pregnancy-

An average woman will gain between 25 to 35 pounds during her pregnancy. Some women may gain less body weight while some may gain more. To avoid any complication, it is better to stay in that range if you are of normal weight. If you are underweight, try to gain between 28 to 40 pounds and if you are overweight, you should only gain between 11 to 20 pounds.

You will have an increased risk of C-sections if you gain too much weight and you may give birth to a huge baby. Although fat babies are cute, your infant will be at higher risk for developing heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes later in his or her life. On the other hand, you may face premature delivery of smaller size baby, if you don't gain enough weight.

Care tips:

Maintain overall good health to avoid situations that can make you sick. It is time to take some extra precautions. Following care tips can help you to enjoy a healthy pregnancy.

·         Do not lift or move heavy objects. Find someone to help you out.

·         Drink plenty of water. Take nutrients to manage the loss that occurs through common pregnancy symptoms such as nausea and vomiting. Eat healthy and balanced diet.

·         Include multivitamins such as folic acid into your daily diet. Folic acid helps to prevent neural tube defects of the brain and spine in your unborn baby. So, it is taken throughout pregnancy. It is more important to take folic acid in the early stages of pregnancy and before conception as well.

·         Cook your food thoroughly. Always wash properly the raw vegetables and fruits before you consume them.

·         Nothing is more important than the safety of your baby, at this stage. It is better to pass on the duty of cleaning toilet, dealing with bleach, phenyl, or chlorine-containing materials to another family member.

·         Do not allow the morning sickness to turn you into a bedridden. Get dressed and go out to take fresh air once in a while.

·         Instead of taking one big meal, try to eat smaller portions of the meal more often. This will help you eat enough. It will also keep morning sickness at bay as it is worse on an empty stomach.

·         Smoking increases your risk of miscarriage and other complications of pregnancy. So, quit smoking. Excessive drinking can also cause some pregnancy complications. So stop drinking alcohol.

·         It is better to skip the hot tub and sauna because both of them can increase your risk of miscarriage and fetal abnormalities.