Week 6

My Baby's Development

By this week, your baby’s brain and nervous system are developing at a rapid pace. Optic vesicles, which later form the eyes, begin to develop on the sides of the head, as do the passageways that will make up the inner ear.

Your baby's heart begins to beat by this week. It may even be detected on ultrasound examination. The beginnings of the digestive and respiratory systems are forming, too. Small buds that will grow into your baby's arms and legs also appear by this week.

Since their legs are curled up against the torso for much of the pregnancy, it makes the full-length measurement difficult. So, babies are measured from the crown to rump, rather than from head to toe. By this week, your baby only measures 0.08 to 0.2 inches (2 to 5mm) from crown to rump.

My Body

Common pregnancy complaints may hit in full force by this week. You may feel extremely fatigue as your body adjusts to the demands of pregnancy. And tender, aching breasts, nausea and vomiting (morning sickness) may leave you feeling less than great. Despite its name, morning sickness can occur at any hour or all day. So, don't be surprised if your queasy stomach doesn't pass by noon. Nausea isn't the only thing that has you running to the toilet, hormonal changes and other factors (such as your kidneys working extra hard to flush wastes out of your body) cause you to urinate more frequently, too.