6 weeks pregnant
Pregnancy may still be new, many of the symptoms are likely to begin to appear and the embryo is unlikely to be seen. But counting from the date of your last menstruation, a little baby the size of a pomegranate seed has been forming inside you for 6 weeks.
There are those who are a little confused in counting the time of a pregnancy in weeks and prefer to think in months, which represents that you are in the second month.
However, the months do not have a certain period, that is, some have 30 days, others 31 and still have the month of February, with 28 or 29 days. So doctors count in weeks and set a likely date of delivery at 40 weeks.
If the exams leave no doubt, it is time to prepare for many changes and new sensations. Starting with the baby’s accelerated development. Want to know more? So keep reading.
Baby development
At approximately 4 millimeters, your baby is compared to a pomegranate seed or a small bean. The neural tube begins to close and the spinal cord will soon form.
The heart tube grows in four chambers and the heart rate will increase by about 3 beats per minute per day. That week, the frequency starts with 103 beats and ends with 126, but it may not be possible to hear yet. Do not freak out. This will probably happen in the coming weeks.
Small black spots appear where the eyes will form in the future. Folds of tissue mark what will be the chin, cheeks and jaw. The nose area protrudes and the ear is demarcated.
Small buttons mark arms and legs. Hands and feet are flat and fingers are forming. The formation of the lungs will happen throughout pregnancy, but they already exist as individual tubes.
What happens to mom
There are some very common pregnancy symptoms, however not all women will experience the same situations. Nor is it good to be comparing your pregnancy with that of friends or acquaintances, this avoids greater anxiety and nervousness. Try to live each moment of your pregnancy, individually.
In addition to menstrual delay, other symptoms that can happen in this first trimester are:
– morning sickness, some women may experience vomiting.
– excessive sleep and fatigue, rest whenever you can.
– colic
– dizziness
– sensitive and swollen breasts
– increased urge to urinate, if there is pain or burning, talk to your doctor.
– mood swings, talk to your partner about support at this point in your life.
If it is your first pregnancy, the belly probably hasn’t changed much, starting to grow from the 22nd week, but remember that this is not a rule. If it is the second, it may already be a little bigger.
Care that should be taken at this stage
If you have not yet made an appointment with an obstetrician to start prenatal care, now is the time. The doctor should prescribe folic acid with iron, which is essential for the development of the baby’s central nervous system and to prevent anemia in pregnancy.
Maintaining a healthy and balanced diet is very important. Try to balance your food well and do not fall into the conversation that pregnant women need to eat for two, getting too fat is also harmful, as well as not eating properly.
Include fibers to prevent constipation and foods rich in folic acid like beans, oranges, spinach. Drink plenty of fluids. Avoid excess fat, fried foods, sweets and processed foods.
Take extra care with hair dyes, X-rays, use of medications without medical advice and products that may harm your baby’s health.
If you experience any unusual symptoms such as severe pain, pelvic pain or bleeding, contact your doctor as soon as possible.
These are more boring things to talk about, but you need to be careful.
Ectopic pregnancy
In only 1% of women, pregnancy occurs outside the womb. In most cases, the baby begins to develop in the fallopian tubes, the so-called tubal pregnancy.
Symptoms such as pelvic pain, swollen abdomen, irregular bleeding and discomfort early in pregnancy. Consulting a doctor is of utmost importance to prevent the baby from growing, breaking the tube and causing internal bleeding.
Miscarriage
From 8% to 20% of pregnancies with less than 20 weeks can suffer a miscarriage, with this chance being reduced to 1% after this period. For this reason, it is good to be on the lookout for any obvious signs, such as stronger colic and bleeding.
Follow medical guidelines, take good care of yourself and your baby and enjoy every moment of your pregnancy.