16.07.2020 46677 0
The sixth week of pregnancy according to obstetric calculation is the fourth embryonic week. This means that about 28 days have passed since conception. At this stage, most women no longer just guess about their new status, but have official confirmation in the form of a positive pregnancy test and/or a gynecologist’s report. But this is not enough for the expectant mother. It is important for her to know what to do, what is happening to her body, how the baby is developing and what changes to expect during this period.
Changes in a woman's body
External signs
. At this stage, the belly continues to retain its pre-pregnancy shape, so the happy position will not be visible either externally or in the photo. But the expectant mother may notice other changes. Under the influence of hormones, the amount of pigment in the skin increases. Women prone to hyperpigmentation may develop freckles or age spots, a darker stripe down the middle of the abdomen, and visibly darker and rougher nipples and areolas. Many women are pleasantly surprised to notice that their skin has become radiant and their hair has become especially silky.
Enlarged uterus.
The baby grows, and the uterus grows with him. In the sixth week, it increases to the size of a large plum, which still does not affect the contours of the figure. And if a woman notes that her favorite jeans have become slightly tight at the waist, then this is not due to an increase in the size of the uterus. Most likely, changes in appetite during pregnancy, decreased physical activity, or hormonal changes led to slight weight gain or swelling.
Hormonal changes.
Hormones control the course of pregnancy, and this is not an exaggeration. For example, progesterone, the main participant in this process in the early stages, is responsible for ensuring that pregnancy is not only established, but also maintained. True, this same hormone can slow down intestinal motility, which manifests itself as constipation. And other pregnancy hormones often cause emotional swings when the expectant mother experiences unreasonable sadness, joy or irritation (and this is all within a short period of time). Hormones can also affect libido: temporarily reduce it to almost zero or, conversely, increase the sexual appetites of the expectant mother.
How you feel
The belly has not yet begun to grow, despite the fact that the uterus has become larger. Sometimes bloating, which is associated with digestive problems, is mistaken for an enlarged abdomen. This trouble occurs due to an increase in progesterone levels. In addition, during pregnancy, the stomach muscles relax, making it increasingly difficult for food to leave the stomach. To reduce discomfort, eat small meals, eat more fiber (fresh vegetables, fruits and dried fruits), drink at least two liters of water per day and do not wear clothes that compress the epigastric region.
During the 6th week of pregnancy, you may feel nauseous (especially in the morning) and sometimes vomit. You will develop strange eating habits and become more sensitive to smells. All this is a sign that your body is adapting to the needs of the little man who is growing inside you. Early toxicosis will subside when the formation of the placenta is complete (approximately 14–16 weeks of pregnancy).
During this period, as in the past week, you will quickly get tired and feel drowsy. Due to changes in hormonal levels, headaches, dizziness and even fainting are possible. Another unpleasant aspect is the increase in sebum production, which can lead to acne.
You will also notice that your nipples become very sensitive and the halos around them darken. In the future, their richer color will serve as a guide for the baby to get to mother's milk, because in the first months of life, newborns' vision is still weak.
What's happening to the baby
Six weeks is the “age” in which the baby’s development occurs very quickly and intensively. Now the fetus is becoming more and more like a small person.
Fetal development.
At this stage, the child’s facial features have already been formed. Of course, this is not yet the face that mom and dad will see when they first hold the baby in their arms, but the eyes and nose, as well as the upper and lower jaws, are already quite well developed. True, the eyes are still closed; the child will learn to open them a little later. The embryo is already making active movements. True, he is still too small for the mother to feel this: at this stage the length of the fetus is about 3-4 mm. In the sixth week, every day is very important. After all, the organs of the endocrine system begin to form in the embryo, and the nervous system and digestive tract are actively formed.
Fetal heartbeat.
Although the fetus is still very tiny, it already has a heart. It is not fully formed, but is already fully occupied with “training.” An ultrasound can detect a heartbeat that reaches 110–130 beats per minute.
Good to know
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Healthy eating during pregnancy
What to eat during pregnancy to ensure your baby is born smart
Rational nutrition of pregnant women
Features of nutrition during pregnancy
Nutrition for a pregnant woman: how to create a menu for every day
Why are separate meals and fasting days useful for pregnant women?
What should mommy eat? Diet for pregnant women
All texts for pages about mother and baby were kindly provided by RAMA Publishing - these are chapters from the book by Svetlana Klaas “Your Favorite Little Man from Conception to Birth”, reviewer Irina Nikolaevna Kononova, Candidate of Medical Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the Ural State Medical Academy (Ekaterinburg).
How does a mother feel in the sixth week of pregnancy?
Although the pregnancy has not yet manifested itself externally, the expectant mother may notice more or less pronounced changes in her health.
Breast tenderness.
The mammary glands begin to prepare for feeding the baby from the first weeks of pregnancy. They may increase by 1-2 sizes and become sensitive. In some cases, even the touch of clothing to the breast causes pain to a woman. The nipples and areolas may darken and the skin of the areola becomes rougher. Such changes are normal, because this is another stage in preparing the breasts for feeding the baby.
Early toxicosis.
Even women who feel great in the first five weeks of pregnancy often experience nausea in the sixth or seventh week. It is caused by hormonal changes, which, among other things, affect the digestive organs and make the nervous system particularly “reactive.”
Possible complications
As in previous weeks of organogenesis, the main danger that awaits new life in the womb of a woman is a violation of the formation of organs. In case of a gross anomaly, the mother’s body independently gets rid of the embryo through spontaneous miscarriage. This is part of natural selection. If such an outcome occurs, you should consult a doctor to determine the cause of this phenomenon.
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It is important!
Nausea and vomiting are experienced by approximately 70% of pregnant women, usually occurring in the first trimester of pregnancy*.
The severity of toxicosis varies widely. An expectant mother may experience nausea only from the taste of a certain product, only in the morning or only in hot weather, etc. But attacks of severe nausea can be overcome by any strong smell, even from one that she previously liked (from her favorite perfume, the aroma of fresh baked goods and etc.).
Increased fatigue.
A growing fetus needs energy. But he is completely dependent on the mother, so she has to share her resources with the baby. If a woman has no problems with her health, and her lifestyle can be called healthy, then such energy consumption is not very noticeable. But if a pregnant woman suffers from toxicosis, often experiences stress or is exposed to physical exertion, then the feeling of fatigue and drowsiness is quite pronounced.
Frequent urination.
Frequent urge to urinate can be observed already in the very early stages of pregnancy. This is due to both hormonal changes in the body and an enlarged uterus, which irritates the bladder.
Mood swings.
Again, hormones are to blame. In most cases, the body adapts to its new status, and mood swings stop or become less pronounced. But in the first trimester, the expectant mother needs to be prepared for the fact that emotions will not depend on objective circumstances. Causeless euphoria and sadness can replace each other just like that and several times over a short period of time.
New taste preferences
. The need for a pregnant woman to eat something strange has become almost a legend.
Surveys
Ultrasound in the sixth week of pregnancy.
At this stage, the fact of pregnancy is usually beyond doubt. And although an ultrasound examination is rather general in nature, since the size of the fetus does not allow us to assess the features of its development, ultrasound can:
- confirm pregnancy in doubtful cases;
- determine the location of the fetus and its size;
- determine single or multiple pregnancy;
- determine fetal heartbeat and heart rate.
Laboratory diagnostics.
When registering at the antenatal clinic, the doctor prescribes tests necessary to assess the health of the expectant mother and identify any factors that could threaten pregnancy. This is a general blood and urine test, an analysis to determine the level of hCG, blood type and Rh factor, as well as a study to detect sexually transmitted diseases. At this time, the baby’s father may also be involved in laboratory tests if the doctor sees the need for this. For example, this is necessary when the parents have different Rh factors or a woman is diagnosed with an STD, the treatment of which must be carried out in both partners.
We are counting the deadline
From a medical point of view, the sixth week is a little more than a month from the first day of the last menstruation.
This calculation of the period is called obstetric. There is an embryonic method of calculation - from the moment of expected ovulation. It usually occurs in the middle of the cycle. Therefore, the embryonic period lags behind the obstetric period by two weeks. The sixth week from conception (from ovulation) is the eighth obstetric week. What if a woman’s menstruation was not regular? This happens due to the abolition of hormonal contraceptives, certain diseases or individual characteristics of the body. Then the doctor will calculate the period differently. For example, by the size of the fetus (measured by ultrasound). Or by the first movement of the fetus - if a woman is preparing to become a mother for the first time, this will happen at approximately 20 weeks (i.e. movement).
Why do doctors need such precision? They must calculate the EDA - the expected date of birth. Based on it, the period of maternity leave will be calculated later and sick leave will be issued.
Details about the deadlines (how to calculate) and the delivery date
Alarming symptoms
Most of the changes that an expectant mother observes are quite normal, even if they are not very pleasant. But some sensations or symptoms should be paid close attention, as they may indicate possible health problems or problems with pregnancy.
Pulsation in the uterus.
The feeling that the uterus hurts (pulsates) may be normal: along with the enlargement of this organ, blood circulation in it increases, which leads to “beating” in the abdomen. But this can also be a sign of a tumor in the uterus, so it is important to tell your doctor about such pulsation.
Side pain.
The feeling of something tugging in the stomach is normal if it occurs periodically and does not interfere with the quality of life of the pregnant woman. Most often, such sensations occur due to sprained ligaments and do not pose any danger. They are able to “migrate” and appear either on the left or on the right in the lower abdomen. But if the pain appears frequently, is quite severe, in the same place, or is accompanied by other unpleasant sensations, then you need to consult a doctor as soon as possible.
Brown discharge.
At the sixth week, the attachment of the embryo to the wall of the uterus has already been completed, so brown discharge, which may appear during the period of fetal implantation, is abnormal at this stage. The cause of such a symptom may be an infectious or tumor disease that was not previously diagnosed, and the threat of termination of pregnancy.
Blood.
Any discharge with traces of blood should alert the expectant mother. The cause of this symptom can be a wide variety of conditions - from mechanical damage to the vaginal mucosa (for example, during sexual intercourse) to spontaneous abortion.
Cold symptoms.
An increase in body temperature within 37.0–37.3 °C is considered normal in the early stages. Therefore, there is no reason to worry, although consulting a doctor still wouldn’t hurt. But if the elevated temperature is accompanied by a feeling of body aches, headache, runny nose and other symptoms of ARVI, then you should consult a doctor immediately. This is necessary, since viral diseases can harm the baby, and high body temperature can even cause pregnancy to fail.
My heart is filled with happiness
My baby!
It’s so joyful to feel with all our being that you and I are together!
My heart is overflowing with happiness. In just a week, you have grown and become like a tiny bean with a bowed head and a tail bent inward. Only 8-9 mm in length and weighing 4.5 g. You have ears in the form of tiny dimples on the edges of the head closer to the neck, and eyes - seals on the sides of the head. The hands and feet take their first forms. But the main and most exciting news for me is your heart... It began to pulse! And the circulatory system started working. In the meantime, I want to enjoy every moment of life with you. I walk as if dancing among butterflies, flapping their light wings around my head. And lightness fills me from head to toe. I open my arms like a soaring bird in high heavenly flight, and I believe that in the movements of your little body you feel just as light and free.
“The Miracle of a New Life” is a coloring book for expectant mothers from psychologist, best-selling author of books for mothers Tatyana Aptulaeva and illustrator Alena Ustinova.
Lifestyle of an expectant mother
Control over your health and lifestyle adjustments are necessary from the very beginning of pregnancy. The doctor gives personal recommendations to each woman, taking into account all the features identified during the examination. But a few universal tips will be useful to all expectant mothers.
Nutritional features.
Of course, the diet should be complete and healthy. But during the period of toxicosis, it is important to adapt your diet to your condition so as not to provoke attacks of nausea and vomiting. It makes sense to give up all foods that increase toxicosis and replace them with nutritional analogues. For example, if you feel sick from fish, you can completely switch to lean boiled meat, and replace whole milk with fermented milk products.
Recommendations
Remember every second that your baby is sensitive to any external influence. Do not take any medications without your doctor's permission, try to avoid stress, get plenty of rest and eat well.
It is best if you eat food in fractions (eat often, but in small portions). At 6 weeks of pregnancy, it is necessary to include complex carbohydrates in the diet, which are beneficial for the digestive system. To do this, eat legumes, cereals, pasta, garden herbs, zucchini, cabbage, bell peppers, apples, peaches, grapefruits, cherries. Avoid all edible “harmful” foods, but do not forget to consume foods that contain calcium (milk, cheese, cottage cheese, kefir, etc.).
Continue taking your vitamin/mineral supplement (if you are vomiting, take your vitamins when you are least nauseous). Weigh yourself regularly and monitor your blood pressure: if it is slightly low, there is no need to worry, but if it is elevated, this is a reason to be wary. By the way, not only various diseases, but also nervous experiences can increase blood pressure, so you need to learn to calm down and relax.
