nilu
Back to Pregnancy
Trimester 1 · week 6 of 40

6 weeks pregnant

At about six weeks, the embryo is still very small, but it's already going through rapid changes in the face, the nervous system and the buds that will form arms and legs.

Translated from the original Brazilian Portuguese content with the help of artificial intelligence. Read the original in Portuguese

Read about your current week or get ready for what comes next.
Visual size comparison at week 6: a lentil
Visual reference: a lentil. Not an individual clinical measurement.
Quick read

In 1 minute

  • Early parts of the face and inner ear start to form.
  • Limb buds appear.
  • Nausea and tiredness may get stronger.
Fetal development

How your baby is doing this week

The brain and spinal cord keep forming. Buds that will later become arms and legs appear, and structures of the face and inner ear start to take shape. Heart tissue continues to mature and, depending on dating and the type of scan, cardiac activity may be seen on ultrasound.

3D artistic representation of fetal development at week 6
Artistic 3D representation. This is not an ultrasound and does not represent your baby's individual development.
Body and routine

What may change in your body

Nausea, aversion to smells, tiredness, tender breasts, gas and more frequent urination are common. Intensity varies a lot. Severe pain on one side, fainting or significant bleeding deserve prompt evaluation.

Possible steps

Care for this week

  1. Prioritize fluids and foods you can tolerate, without guilt about not keeping a 'perfect' diet on nausea days.

  2. Rest more if your body asks for it.

  3. Seek care if vomiting keeps you from staying hydrated or eating.

Prenatal care focus

  • The initial assessment usually reviews health history, blood pressure, weight, vaccines and prenatal lab tests.
Twin pregnancy

If you're expecting twins

An early ultrasound may suggest twins, but chorionicity and amnionicity should be determined by the team at the appropriate time.

Support network

For those by your side

Help with food that doesn't have strong smells, grocery shopping and household chores — this is usually more useful than offering solutions for the nausea.

Common questions

Questions for this week

Is it normal to have cramps?

Mild cramps can happen, but severe or worsening pain, or pain with bleeding, needs to be evaluated.

If no heartbeat shows up on the ultrasound, does that mean something's wrong?

Not always. Imprecise dating can make a difference of a few days; the interpretation should be made by the team following the scan.

When to seek care

  • Vaginal bleeding during pregnancy should be reported to your care team; how heavy it is, pain and gestational age change how urgent it is.
  • Severe, worsening or persistent abdominal pain deserves evaluation.
  • Fever, fainting, significant shortness of breath, chest pain or feeling very unwell need medical care.

In an emergency, go to the urgent care service in your area. This content does not replace a professional assessment.

Next · week 7

The next chapter

In week 7, hands and feet start to take shape and brain growth continues at a fast pace.

See week 7

Was this helpful?

Sources and transparency

Nilu editorial content, written from the official sources above. Individual clinical review of each week is in progress — this text is for information and does not replace your prenatal care.