There is still a lot of time before the baby appears. The woman only found out about her interesting situation. The happiness of pregnancy can be overshadowed by new, unpleasant symptoms.
What happens to the fetus at 6 weeks gestation?
There are two ways to determine the duration of pregnancy: fetal and obstetric. And for a period of 6 obstetric weeks, the baby was only 4 weeks old. This is due to the fact that the obstetric period for determining pregnancy begins from the moment of the last menstruation according to the woman's calendar. It is then that the egg cell, which will become an embryo, begins its development. Only two weeks later, she is ready for fertilization and leaves the follicle. The sperm is given one day for fertilization. And if this happens, then a long process of development begins from an embryo into a full-fledged baby.
Many people have seen what one grain of black pepper looks like. This is the size of the embryo now. Its length for a period of 6 obstetric weeks is about 4 millimeters. Weight is no more than 4.5 grams. At the same time, the baby looks completely disproportionate:
- The head is very large.
- The body is elongated and has a tail.
- Instead of arms and legs, so far only tiny rudiments can be seen.
- Instead of fingers, the embryo has only tubercles.
- The rudiments of future genitals appear.
- The child's muscle tissue begins to develop.
Although the child is now very small, the internal systems in his body are developing every day. The baby's heart is already capable of making 140 beats per minute. It is possible to determine the frequency at this time only with the help of an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus.
Already at this time, the baby has bends where knees and elbows will later be. Small cartilages appear in the embryo. Over time, they will become harder and turn into real bones.
The unborn child is already beginning to develop the inner ear. And the neural tube becomes the baby's nervous system at the embryonic stage.
The embryo at 6 weeks gestation already has the following internal organs:
- A heart.
- Lungs.
- Liver.
- Brain.
- Stomach and pancreas.
- Thymus or thymus gland, which will be responsible for the immunity of the child.
The organs are still imperfect. Most of them will develop for a long time. But at this time it is important that they appeared in the baby.
What changes occur in the body of a pregnant woman?
6 obstetric week of pregnancy is just the beginning of the first trimester of pregnancy. If the pregnancy is proceeding normally, then the birth will take place only at the end of the third trimester. Now the woman is just getting used to the idea that she is pregnant. Presumably, only four weeks have passed since conception, and the woman's body is already functioning in a new way. Outwardly, the expectant mother changes little. The breasts may swell slightly. Very often, women throughout pregnancy note increased breast sensitivity. Especially the nipple area. A pregnant woman may experience a tingling sensation in this area and an increase. It often happens that even the color of the nipples and areola becomes much darker than before pregnancy. Do not be intimidated by this. After the woman gives birth and breastfeeds the baby, the nipples will become lighter and smaller.
The belly of a pregnant woman will not begin to increase soon, but the size of the uterus is already changing. The kid needs enough free space. The size of the uterus at this time is the same as that of an average orange. A woman can already feel that the muscle tissue in the lower abdomen begins to stretch. Such sensations are considered normal if they are not accompanied by severe pain. Stretching should be irregular. A pregnant woman should definitely tell her obstetrician-gynecologist about them. If such sensations cause severe discomfort, then the doctor may prescribe drugs that relax the muscles. For example, no-shpa. The dosage is discussed with each patient individually.
At the 6th week of pregnancy, the development of a very important organ in the life of the baby and the pregnant woman - the placenta - continues. Its existence is possible only during pregnancy. The condition of the placenta will be monitored by specialists at all stages of pregnancy. After all, the correct and problem-free development of the baby depends on its correct functioning. After childbirth, the placenta is separated and leaves. As soon as the pregnancy ends, this organ becomes unnecessary for the woman. But with a new pregnancy, the placenta appears again and goes through several stages of its development:
- Formation.
- Development.
- Maturity.
- Aging.
A woman with the onset of pregnancy may experience weakness and irritation. There are frequent cases of excessive emotionality. It may be difficult for the relatives of the pregnant woman at this stage. After all, a storm of emotions of a pregnant woman will fall on them.
Toxicosis in early pregnancy
For many pregnant women, the 6th week of pregnancy is associated with an unpleasant symptom - toxicosis. It occurs due to a sharp surge in hormones in a woman's body. As a result, the following symptoms may appear:
- Aggravated sense of smell. Most of the smells in a woman can be perceived very negatively. It is also interesting that some seemingly unpleasant odors can cause a woman to have a persistent desire to smell them. At the same time, it is unrealistic to predict what addictions a pregnant woman may have.
- Changing food preferences. A pregnant woman may suddenly want herring with jam, cucumbers with fruit salad, or any other seemingly incompatible foods. Also, a woman can sharply fall in love with such products that previously aroused dislike.
- Nausea is a common symptom of a pregnant woman. It can last the entire first trimester. You can reduce it with the help of salty foods, water with lemon, bread crusts. Many women find their own way to relieve nausea during pregnancy. It is important to understand that if you do not eat on time, then the nausea will only worsen.
- Vomit. If a woman is sick no more than 4 times a day, then this is considered the norm. If the frequency is higher, then you should consult a doctor who monitors the course of pregnancy. The pregnant woman may need to be hospitalized in a hospital to maintain the pregnancy. There is a high likelihood of dehydration due to frequent vomiting. In addition, a woman cannot eat normally, and her body is not saturated with useful substances.
What should a pregnant woman pay attention to?
Now a woman must register at the antenatal clinic. The pregnancy will be managed by an obstetrician-gynecologist. At the first stage, a woman is given special cards for a pregnant woman. One of them is constantly kept in the antenatal clinic, and the other is in the hands of the pregnant woman. All data is entered into it, including biometric indicators, test results and ultrasound examinations.
At this time, it is advisable for a woman to go for an ultrasound scan in order to be sure of the normal course of pregnancy. If the embryo is attached not in the uterine cavity, but in the fallopian tube, then a critical situation may arise. Also, at this time, the ultrasound diagnostics doctor will be able to determine whether pregnancy is developing and whether the baby's heart is beating. A pregnant woman will be able to find out if she is carrying one or two babies.
It is now important to keep track of your secretions. Transparent or slightly whitish without any pungent odor are considered normal. If a woman finds that her discharge has an unpleasant odor or an abnormal color (white, yellow or green), then this is a good reason to urgently contact her gynecologist. Such discharge indicates the presence of an infection. Most often, a pregnant woman is susceptible to a fungal disease called candidiasis or thrush. But abnormal discharge can talk about other sexually transmitted diseases.
If a woman has bright scarlet discharge, then it is necessary to urgently call an ambulance. Emergency care must be called even if a woman is experiencing acute pain in the abdomen.
