pregnancy | week by week

A grain of rice

Your Baby's Size =

Week 6: Your Baby’s Growth Continues

Your baby’s nervous system starts developing.

During your sixth week of pregnancy, your baby grows at a phenomenal rate, and her systems develop significantly.

Here’s what is happening when you’re six weeks pregnant:

• Your baby, called an embryo, is clearly visible on an ultrasound. The embryo is about 1/4 inch long -- about the size of a grain of rice.
• When you’re six weeks pregnant, the baby’s nervous system and all major body organs -- heart, kidneys, liver and lungs -- begin to form.
• Facial features -- jaw, cheeks, chin, nose and eyes -- begin to develop around the sixth week of pregnancy.
• Your baby’s heart is beating about 80 times per minute and gets faster each day.

Morning Sickness Solutions

Fight nausea with nutrition.

Morning sickness is caused by elevated levels of hormones in the body. The most common symptoms are nausea and vomiting, as well as mood swings. A good way to help relieve these symptoms is to make some nutrition changes, including:

• Eating small meals or snacks frequently throughout the day.
• Limiting or avoiding greasy, spicy or fried foods.
  
• Drinking fluids to stay hydrated -- especially if you’re vomiting.
• Indulging healthy cravings.

It might also help to:

• Avoid any odors in your daily routine that make you queasy.
• Sleep and rest as much as possible.