Week 6 of pregnancy | First Trimester

Six weeks down, thirty-four to go…. Week 6 sees major developments in your baby’s growth – with many new organs and body parts beginning to form.

MOM
Once again, with your hormone levels rising, your morning sickness is at the top of the list of things that will be bothering you. Morning sickness certainly isn’t the best of names for the condition, as a wave of nausea or vomiting can strike at any time of the day or night. Nice, hey? Try to avoid triggers such as certain smells and tastes that set off your nausea. Although morning sickness is not curable, there are a few things you can do to make it more bearable.

Other changes you may be experiencing at the moment include your breasts tingling or feeling heavy, and your areola – the dark area around your nipple – becoming darker. Your mood swings may have stepped up a notch as well! Just take a deep breath and try to remember that you are going through major changes and that the world hasn’t, in fact, turned against you.

BABY
By the end of Week 6 the foetus will measure between 4-6mm from its crown to its rump (CR). The heart begins to divide into chambers and will begin beating in a more regular rhythm, while the larynx starts to develop, along with the inner ear. Upper and lower limb buds will also appear this week, and your baby’s major organs – such as kidneys and liver – begin to grow. The neural tube, which connects the brain and spinal cord, will also close. The intestines are developing and the appendix is in place, while your baby’s facial features – such as nostrils and the retinas of the eyes – are starting to form. How exciting!

DAD
At this point in time you may be really worried that your partner will never eat food again as a result of her ever-present nausea, but rest assured – this period of morning sickness will eventually abate. Try to be as supportive as you can by fetching her toast and crackers, and remember to be very patient with her as the reason for her mood swings are the raging hormones that have taken control over her body.

If you haven’t already done so, you should remember to make an appointment to see your practitioner. Next week you can expect your baby’s extremities to start forming. Until then, enjoy the sixth week of your pregnancy.