6 weeks pregnant
This week began the second calendar month of the gestational period. More than six months must pass for the birth of a child. At the 6th week of pregnancy, the fetus is actively developing, and the woman feels significant changes in her condition.
Content:
- Pregnancy calculation methods
- How to confirm pregnancy - 4 methods
- What happens to the fetus at 6 weeks?
- What happens in the female body?
- Hormones
- Feelings of a pregnant woman at 6 weeks
- Toxicosis
- Pain in the abdomen and lower back
- Discharge and bleeding
- Fever and colds at 6 weeks gestation
- Smoking and alcohol
- Sex
- Recommendations for the formation of the diet
- Lifestyle at 6 weeks pregnant
- Special problems
Pregnancy calculation methods
If a little more than a month has passed since the beginning of the last menstruation, according to the obstetric method of calculating the period, the sixth week of pregnancy began. The embryonic method starts counting from the expected day of ovulation. Normally, this process occurs in the middle of the menstrual cycle. Accordingly, there is a difference of 2 weeks between fetal and obstetric gestation. The sixth week of the embryonic method corresponds to the eighth obstetric week.
The disadvantage of the embryonic method is that it is inaccurate with an irregular menstrual cycle, when a woman's menstruation comes every time at a different time. This feature of the body can be individual, arises as a result of the abolition of hormonal contraceptives, the appearance of hormone-dependent pathologies.
In this case, other methods for determining the duration of pregnancy are used:
- Measuring the size of the fetus during an ultrasound scan;
- Ascertaining the period of the first fetal movement (during the first pregnancy, movement is felt at 20 weeks).
The accuracy of determining the gestational age is important for calculating the expected date of birth, determining the start date of maternity leave, issuing a sick leave.
How to confirm pregnancy - 4 methods
At the 6th week of pregnancy, test strips or a blood test for hCG will necessarily show a positive result, since there is an increased content of chorionic gonadotropin, a hormone secreted by the corpus luteum of pregnancy, in the blood and urine of a pregnant woman.
During an ultrasound scan of the uterus, the embryo at obstetric week 6 of gestation looks like a tiny light dot against the darker uterus. Ultrasound is done according to indications; this method is not used at this stage to determine the term.
Possible information obtained during an ultrasound scan at week 6:
- Having multiple pregnancies;
- Having an ectopic pregnancy;
- The presence of a heartbeat of the embryo.
It is impossible to determine the sex of the fetus at this time, since the external genital organs of the embryo are not yet developed.
During a gynecological examination, the doctor will definitely detect visual signs of pregnancy - an increase in the uterus to the size of a plum, a change in its color. Outwardly, a pregnant woman in most cases looks as usual - her belly has hardly increased.
What happens to the fetus at 6 weeks?
At the 6th obstetric week of pregnancy, the embryo has already existed for 4 weeks. It weighs about 4 g, its height is 1 cm, and the embryo itself looks like a cylinder bent in the shape of the letter C. The volume of amniotic fluid is 3 milliliters. At the head end of the cylinder, brain bubbles appear - the rudiments of the future hemispheres of the brain, the neural tube is tightened, it is converted into the embryonic nervous system. The cells of the future central nervous system begin to proliferate.
Due to this, the embryo begins to respond to external stimuli by bending in lateral directions. On the future face, the rudiments of the nose, ears, mouth stand out, the eye fossa - the visual vesicles - are noticeable. Internal organs continue their formation - the liver, lungs, trachea, bronchi, stomach, trachea, and pancreas develop. One of the most important organs of the immune system begins to develop - the thymus, or thymus gland.
The small heart still looks like a tube, but it already makes about 140 beats per minute. This heart rate is the norm for a fetus at 6 weeks gestation. The heartbeat can already be detected and measured during an ultrasound scan.
The embryo develops cartilage tissue - the basis of the future musculoskeletal system. On the side opposite to the head end, the fetus has a tail, which in the future will become the tailbone. On the limbs of the fetus, knee and elbow bends are outlined, fingers grow slightly.
What happens in the female body?
At the 6th week of pregnancy, the active development of the umbilical cord and placenta begins - a child's place, which supplies the fetus with food and oxygen until the very birth. Until now, these functions have been entrusted to the yolk sac, which will soon cease to exist. The fetal bladder will become a reliable protection for the fetus from external physical influences. Already at this time, the fetus is able to move in the amniotic fluid.
The enlarged uterus puts pressure on the bladder, forcing the woman to urinate frequently. When the uterus rises above the womb, these sensations will cease to annoy the pregnant woman. It is important at this stage to differentiate a similar pregnancy symptom from the signs of cystitis - pain and cramps in the lower abdomen, radiating to the lower back. If not treated in time, the infection will spread ascending to the ureters and kidneys, causing pyelonephritis.
At this time, it is time to register with the antenatal clinic, even if the woman does not feel any negative symptoms and the pregnancy is easy. The doctor will prescribe the necessary diagnostic procedures, intake of vitamin and mineral complexes.
Hormones
The content of the main pregnancy hormone, progesterone, continues to increase. Progesterone keeps the pregnancy going by preventing the uterus from contracting too much. Human chorionic gonadotropin, or hCG, secreted by the placenta, increases its concentration in the blood of a pregnant woman. Normally, hCG levels rise until the end of the first trimester of pregnancy, and progesterone levels rise until the fortieth week of pregnancy. Monitoring of hormone levels is carried out in case of a threat of miscarriage, if an ectopic pregnancy is suspected.
Feelings of a pregnant woman at 6 weeks
The general condition due to the effects of hormonal changes in the body is characterized by a decline in strength, constant fatigue and lethargy, and fluctuations in the emotional state. The mood in a short time can dramatically change from euphoria to moodiness and increased irritability. Taste preferences change - favorite foods cease to attract, addictions to the absorption of sweet, salty, exotic fruits and minerals appear strange for others.
Physical changes in a woman's body:
- cessation of menstruation;
- increased sensitivity and soreness of the breast;
- darkening of the nipples and areolas around them;
- an increase in the waist;
- digestive disorders - heartburn, colic, constipation;
- decrease in blood pressure;
- changes in the condition of the skin of the face and body - the appearance of acne, porosity and looseness of the epidermis;
- increased sensitivity to temperature fluctuations.
All changes are associated with changes in the physiology of the female body, designed to maintain pregnancy.
Video about what happens in the female body at the 6th week of pregnancy, about sensations and possible problems:
Toxicosis
It is not at all necessary that the symptoms of toxicosis correspond to the common stereotype - nausea and vomiting, complete rejection of food. Many women go through pregnancy without experiencing these symptoms, or suffering them mildly.
At 6 weeks, the following symptoms of toxicosis may appear:
- aversion to pungent odors;
- selective attitude towards certain foods, especially protein foods;
- nausea in the morning, vomiting;
- decreased appetite;
- increased salivation;
- dizziness, headache.
To reduce discomfort, you need to spend the first meal without getting out of bed. A light breakfast of a cup of tea, croutons or lean cookies will help smooth out the manifestations of toxicosis. The reason for the onset of symptoms of toxicosis is the body's adaptive response to pregnancy and the appearance of a fetus with characteristics that differ from its own parameters. Indomitable vomiting requires medical supervision in a gynecological hospital. Severe early toxicosis can become a threat to pregnancy.
Video about fetal formation at the 6th week of pregnancy, early toxicosis and visual signs:
Pain in the abdomen and lower back
The only acceptable pain at 6 weeks of gestation is weak sensations in the form of light contractions, or mild pulling pain in the lower back. They indicate a stretching of the ligaments of the growing uterus or the effect of progesterone on the tissues of the reproductive organs. Normally, these sensations last up to 20 weeks of pregnancy.
Pain of an intense nature, severe spasms, accompanied by bloody discharge - a symptom of trouble (threats of miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy). Perhaps this is how surgical pathology manifests itself (appendicitis, renal colic), or the genitourinary system is infected with pathogenic bacteria. In any case, you should consult a doctor to determine the source of negative feelings.
The cause of a miscarriage can be mental or physical stress, overheating, fetal development pathologies. If the pregnancy cannot be maintained, it is necessary to terminate it in a hospital setting with minimal consequences for the woman.
An ectopic pregnancy occurs when an embryo develops in a woman's fallopian tube or abdomen. The growing fetus stimulates the tube to rupture, causing profuse bleeding and loss of consciousness from painful shock. Only urgent surgical intervention with tube removal can save a woman's life.
Discharge and bleeding
Normally, at 6 weeks, a healthy pregnant woman has clear, odorless, mucous vaginal discharge. Such discharge indicates an increased concentration of lactic acid bacteria in the vagina and a change in hormonal levels.
Discharge as a sign of pathology:
- Abundant leucorrhoea in the form of cottage cheese with a yellowish tinge, accompanied by burning, itching, hyperemia of the vaginal mucosa - a sign of thrush, vaginal candidiasis;
- Yellowish, greenish, brown discharge with an unpleasant odor is a sign of an infectious disease of the reproductive system, std;
- White curdled leucorrhoea of a mucopurulent nature is a symptom of colpitis, an inflammatory process on the vaginal mucosa.
Colpitis can cause infection of the fetus and amniotic membranes, disruption of the course of pregnancy. Chronic colpitis takes a latent course, keeping the risk of complications. Vaginal candidiasis requires treatment, but does not threaten the course of pregnancy. The symptoms of STDs need to be differentiated and the disease that provoked them should be treated.
Fever and colds at 6 weeks gestation
A slight increase in temperature to + 37 + 37.2 ° C is permissible at 6 weeks of gestation. This symptom is the effect of the corpus luteum of pregnancy. If a woman keeps a diary of basal temperature, she will be able to detect in time an alarming sign - a decrease in BT indicators. It may indicate a threat of miscarriage., A decrease in progesterone levels.
Reduced immunity due to the stress caused by pregnancy becomes the cause of frequent respiratory diseases. At this stage of pregnancy, it is dangerous to treat ARVI not only with medicines, but also with folk remedies. It is necessary to consult a doctor in a timely manner, notifying him of pregnancy, in order to prescribe the correct course of treatment.
Possible therapeutic measures:
- Drinking plenty of cranberry juice and green tea;
- Consumption of vitamin C, rosehip decoction;
- Bed rest;
- Rinsing the nose, throat with saline or sea water.
It is extremely dangerous to carry a cold on the legs, there may be a threat of miscarriage, complications of pregnancy and childbirth.
Smoking and alcohol
Although the fetus has received reliable protection from physical damage in the form of the placenta, it does not protect against the penetration of nicotine and alcohol through the placental barrier. For the normal course of pregnancy, an urgent need to stop exposure to toxins.
Possible complications:
- Low birth weight;
- Premature pregnancy, premature birth;
- Delay in the intellectual and mental development of the child;
- Anomalies in the development of external and internal organs of the fetus.
Sex
At this time, the intimate relationship of the spouses does not pose a danger to the development of the fetus. It is reliably protected by the uterus and amniotic fluid from physical damage. The entrance to the cervical canal of the cervix is closed with a mucous plug that protects the fetus from infection. Contractions of the uterus during orgasm will not damage the embryo, will become a kind of gymnastics for the uterine muscles.
A contraindication to sexual relations can be a threat of miscarriage, sexual infections in a partner.
Recommendations for the formation of the diet
Adequate nutrition that meets the needs of the mother and baby is the goal of developing a diet in the sixth and subsequent weeks of pregnancy. During this period it is absolutely not necessary to eat "for two", but it is imperative to saturate your menu with fruits and vegetables, dairy and sour-milk products, herbs, nuts, lean meat and fish.
The formation of the main organs of the fetus requires a variety of foods consumed. Do not forget about a balanced vitamin and mineral complex, a sufficient amount of folic acid, necessary for the full development of the nervous system.
It is necessary to limit the use of canned foods, pickles, smoked meats, fatty and fried foods, foods with a large number of artificial inclusions (sugar substitutes, sweeteners, taste improvers).
To prevent symptoms of toxicosis, it is better to eat often, but little by little, to steam or bake in the oven.
Lifestyle at 6 weeks pregnant
A woman should always remember that her careless actions can harm the fetus inside her, which is closely connected with her by a common circulatory system and a special emotional connection.
Rules to be followed:
- Do not use household chemicals with a high content of chlorine and ammonia;
- It is advisable to limit contact with pets that can be sources of infection with toxoplasmosis - a disease that carries a teratogenic risk to the fetus;
- During the season of viral infections, you should not visit crowded places, communicate with potential carriers of viruses;
- If a pregnant woman works in hazardous working conditions, it is necessary to switch to light work as soon as possible on the basis of a pregnancy certificate from the antenatal clinic.
Special problems
A positive emotional background has a beneficial effect on the course of pregnancy. Therefore, you should inform your loved ones about it and ask them for a special attitude and tolerance for mood swings. You should not strive to get vivid impressions from films with manifestations of cruelty and "horror". A surge of emotions will definitely be reflected in the future child, he will receive the same stress hormones as the mother.
It is advisable to regulate the mode of work and rest, not to work late, adhere to a measured lifestyle, strive for positive impressions.
Video about problems at week 6 - morning sickness, flu and cold treatment:
The author of the article: Lapikova Valentina Vladimirovna | Gynecologist, reproductologist
Education: Diploma in Obstetrics and Gynecology received at the Russian State Medical University of the Federal Agency for Healthcare and Social Development (2010). In 2013 completed postgraduate studies at N. N. N. I. Pirogova.
