In this article you will be able to read about everything related to your pregnancy in week 6. You'll find information about the baby's development, how the mother's body is changing and tips you might need along the way. When you are pregnant in week 6, the embryo is the size of a small sugar pea. 

Baby: In week 6 all organs are formed

The embryo has now grown to be about 4 millimeters. It may sound small, but there is a lot going on in this little embryo during this week!

Development

The embryo is now 6 weeks old, which is an important time for development. From week 2-8, the embryo is growing rapidly! Did you know that embryo even means "something that grows"?

At this point, all the cells of the embryo start to divide according to the organ they will form and the basis for many of the internal functions is created, such as the brain, nervous system and sex organs. Small fold-like buds appear on the side of the body wall, which will eventually develop into small arms and legs.

Sometime around the sixth or seventh week, the heart starts beating, usually around day 22-25 after conception, and the heart rate is between 110-170 beats per minute. That's about twice as fast as in an adult!

Organ

The internal organs such as the stomach and intestines are now forming, as well as the double layer of amniotic membranes that the baby will lie in, surrounded by water. However, almost no amniotic fluid has yet formed - but it will in time. What will become the umbilical cord is not ready and has no function yet, but soon the cord will carry oxygen and nutrients to the fetus from the placenta!

Mom: Pregnant in week 6

Has your pregnancy started to sink in yet? Or have you just found out you're pregnant? Either way, it's an exciting time ahead!

Your way of life

Have you noticed any mood swings yet? Or that you need to run to the toilet often? These are common pregnancy symptoms, along with nausea, fatigue, sore and tight breasts, and a metallic taste in your mouth. However, it is not at all strange if on the other hand you feel just like normal. If you are expecting twins or more children, it is possible that you will notice any pregnancy symptoms more than someone expecting one child, but otherwise pregnancy symptoms are very individual.

Most of the symptoms experienced now are due to the large hormonal surges and the pregnancy-preserving hormone progesterone being secreted. Progesterone lowers blood pressure and the immune system, and makes it more difficult to maintain a steady blood sugar level.

Blood pressure and blood sugar

During pregnancy, the body and its cells become less sensitive to insulin, which means that increased amounts of insulin are needed to keep blood glucose levels stable. These differences can be more noticeable as a pregnant woman's blood sugar is sometimes higher than that of a non-pregnant woman, which is usually reflected in tiredness or mood swings. Because of this, your midwife will monitor your blood sugar via blood tests during most of your visits. In the second and third trimesters, the differences in blood sugar may become more apparent - then more tests can be done to see if blood sugar levels are normal.

Blood pressure often drops in early pregnancy as a result of the dilation of blood vessels. This can be experienced as dizziness when standing up quickly from a sitting or lying position, or feeling dizzy after standing for a while. You may also notice an increase in heart rate and blood volume, or that you breathe faster and feel short of breath from doing things that previously did not cause shortness of breath. These are called circulatory changes. All these symptoms are perfectly normal!

Remember to listen to your body, slow down and be gentle with yourself. There are many ways to stay physically active, but the most important thing is to recognize your condition and accept it. During pregnancy, it is especially important that you take care of yourself! There will come a time when you will be able to do things that you may not be able to do right now.

Nausea during pregnancy

About half of all pregnant women feel sick and vomit. Then there is another quarter who feel sick without vomiting. You may have heard of morning sickness, which is particularly common because of the low blood sugar you have in the morning after not eating for a few hours. While some people experience morning sickness, others suffer from nausea throughout the day.

Nausea is not a sign that something is wrong with your pregnancy, but it can affect your mental health. Some pregnant women feel so bad that it affects their everyday life, such as their relationships or ability to work. Remember that no two pregnancies are the same and only you know what you can handle. Talk to your midwife about dietary advice, other treatments/relief available for nausea or pharmacological relief in the form of drugs.

Diet and exercise during pregnancy

Eating nutritious food is good for both you and the embryo. However, if you are nauseous or only able to eat certain things at this stage, there is no need to worry. Nor, for example, if you have been drinking alcohol because you did not know you were pregnant. From now on, however, it is important to abstain completely from alcohol, tobacco, drugs and nicotine.

If you find it difficult to eat the portions you are used to because of the nausea, try eating small portions more often to regulate both energy and blood sugar. Snacks are good to put in between main meals. If you are used to eating fruit as a snack, you can try adding nuts, cottage cheese or similar as it makes your blood sugar more stable. If you are unsure about what you can and can't eat, you can see all the dietary advice for pregnant women here (link).

Movement affects our hormones, which have a direct impact on our mood. Move when the energy is there, but don't be too hard on yourself if you can't. Pregnancy is long and everything goes in cycles - feel and give your body what you think it needs right now. Things can change from one week to the next, so be attentive and kind to yourself.

You can read about week 7 here.