You’re six weeks into pregnancy and everything still feels unreal. And the symptoms are kicking up in full swing day by day. It can be overwhelming. In these moments, knowledge is comforting. Understanding what’s happening to your body and the baby at this stage will help you prepare and cope better. So, without any delay, let’s get into learning all about pregnancy in week 6.
Signs and symptoms
This week onwards, morning sickness i.e. vomiting, is set to be a regular feature of your day. Don’t be fooled by the name though; morning sickness can strike at any time – morning, noon or night.
Constant urge to pee: You will also begin to experience lesser bladder control and a constant urge to pee. This is because the pregnancy hormones are directing extra blood flow to the pelvic area. Therefore, drinking even a little bit of water will send you running to the bathroom, and you’ll find yourself taking more pee breaks than usual. There’s nothing worrisome about this, unless you experience pain in your bladder or urinary tract while passing urine or feel like peeing but can’t actually pass urine. In which case, you need to see a doctor.
The spike in hormone levels, relentless nausea and urination are likely to cause dehydration, which in turn will lead to frequent headaches. Staying hydrated throughout the day is one way to keep the headaches in check. You need to drink up to 2 litres of water every day. Take small sips, instead of large gulps to avoid triggering nausea. If you feel like you can’t do without a painkiller, check with your doctor first,asking which are the safest painkillers during pregnancy.
Other prominent symptoms include sharp mood swings – one moment you’re happy then next you’re tearful and sad; extreme tiredness – your body feels sore, your mind feels heavy, all you want to do is sleep; sore breasts – caused due to increased blood flow in response to your body preparing milk for the baby; gas and bloating; cramping and spotting – mild bleeding and abdominal pain are normal, visit a doctor if you experience heavy bleeding and severe abdominal cramps during this time.
What is happening to the baby?
If you need a visual comparison, the embryo is of the size of pea by now! The baby’s head and face (including the eyes, nose, jaw, cheeks and chin) are developing. The ear canals, arm and legs are starting to form too. At this stage, the kidneys, liver, lungs, pituitary gland, trachea, larynx and bronchi are taking shape too. The baby’s heart is dividing into 4 chambers and is beating at the rate of 110 times per minute. The cells responsible for formation of genitalia are also coming together. Pretty exciting, isn’t it?
What should I be doing?
First things first, relax! A lot of pregnant ladies tend to worry that all that morning sickness might be stopping nutrition from getting to the baby. But unless you’re throwing up EVERYTHING you consume, you’re going to be just fine. Try sipping on sparkling water, sucking on ice cubes and eating foods that contain ginger for relief from the vomiting.
Don’t stay away from food entirely out of fear of throwing up. Eat small, light but nutritious meals. Stay away from fried and greasy foods, as they’re likely to make you feel nauseous. Include fibre-rich foods, whole grains, nuts, soups, fresh fruits and veggies in your diet. Also have prenatal vitamins after consulting with your doctor.
Get ample sleep and exercise while you can!
Get a breast exam, Pap smear test, blood tests, immunity tests etc. Get your urine samples checked for sugar levels and infection.
Stay away from alcohol, caffeine, tobacco and any sort of drugs. Avoid using permanent hair colour during this time.
Keep an eye out for vaginal bleeding, leaking of vaginal fluid or tissue, loss of consciousness or giddiness or pelvic pain. If you experience any of these during this week, see your obstetrician immediately.
If you have any doubts or queries about pregnancy that you’d like us to address, let us know in the comments below!