Week 6

If you have a painful or burning sensation when you pass urine (urinate, wee), you may have a urinary tract infection (UTI).

Early pregnancy concerns

Women’s bodies go through a lot of changes during pregnancy, but whilst some episodes of discomfort and irritation can be self-managed, others should be checked out by your GP or midwife. Please see our symptom checker below for guidance.

Early pregnancy symptom checker

• Abdominal pain, cramps, stomach-ache?

It is completely understandable to worry about stomach pain in pregnancy and be anxious about miscarriage. Stomach pains or cramps are common in pregnancy and are usually nothing to worry about.

Mild stomach pain in early pregnancy (during the first 12 weeks) is usually caused by your womb expanding, the ligaments stretching as your bump grows, hormones constipation or trapped wind. It may sometimes feel like a ‘stitch’ or mild period pain. It’s is probably nothing to worry about if the pain is mild and goes away when you change position, have a rest, do a poo or pass wind.

If you are having persistent stomach pain (pain that won’t go away), cramping, symptoms of a miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy or if the pain comes on suddenly, it should be checked by a doctor, your GP, or midwife immediately.

It is common to have light bleeding or ‘spotting’ without pain before 12 weeks. Often, this is not serious, but you should contact your GP, doctor, midwife or Early Pregnancy Unit immediately to be assessed as bleeding can sometimes be a sign of something more serious. Try to remember that many women who have bleeding in early pregnancy (before 12 weeks) go on to have a successful pregnancy. Just make sure that your symptoms are checked at the time the bleeding occurs.

Bleeding in pregnancy after 12 weeks is not common. If this occurs, contact A&E or your hospital maternity unit immediately so you can be reviewed.

If you have a painful or burning sensation when you pass urine (urinate, wee), you may have a urinary tract infection (UTI).

Symptoms of a UTI include:

• discomfort in the lowest part of your stomach (pelvis)
• back pain
• loin pain (your sides between the lower ribs and pelvis, and the lower part of the back)
• needing to wee a lot or an uncontrollable need to wee
• cloudy, foul-smelling (fishy) or bloody wee
• a raised temperature (over 37.5°C)
• feeling sick (nausea) and vomiting.

If you get a UTI in pregnancy, it is not an emergency, but it should be treated as soon as possible with antibiotics that are safe to use in pregnancy. Cystitis is a very common UTI and should be treated like any other UTI with antibiotics when you are pregnant. Treatment will prevent the infection spreading to the kidneys or causing further complications such as premature labour if you develop a UTI in later pregnancy

Your GP will ask for a sample of your wee so that it can be tested to make sure that you are put on the correct antibiotics.

Stomach bugs are common in pregnancy. It is very unlikely that your baby will be harmed from a bug lasting less than 48 hours. If you think you have a stomach bug it is important to keep calm and rest as much as possible. Drink plenty of water and eat small light meals if you feel hungry. As long as you are fit and healthy, have no long-term medical conditions (e.g diabetes) and are drinking plenty of water, there is no need to worry if you don’t eat for 24 hours.

Seek advice from your GP if you are unable to keep fluids down or if you are still suffering with diarrhoea and vomiting after 48 hours.

DO NOT take any medication to stop diarrhoea in pregnancy, such as Imodium, without speaking to your GP, midwife or pharmacist first.

Nausea and vomiting in pregnancy, often known as morning sickness, is very common in early pregnancy.

It can affect you at any time of the day or night, and some women feel sick all day long.

• Morning sickness and Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG)

Morning sickness (nausea and vomiting) is very unpleasant, and for some women it can significantly affect their day-to-day life. But it doesn’t put your baby at any increased risk, and usually clears up by weeks 16 to 20 of your pregnancy.

Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) is a severe form of morning sickness. HG can be serious, and there’s a chance you may not get enough fluids in your body (dehydration) or not get enough nutrients from your diet (malnourishment). You may need specialist treatment, sometimes in hospital.

Mild headaches can be caused by hormones and are common in pregnancy. If you have a mild headache, it’s safe to take paracetamol. Make sure you follow the instructions on the packet for how much you can take. Try to take the lowest dose of paracetamol that works and for the shortest amount of time. Your midwife, GP or pharmacist can give you more advice if the pain is ongoing and doesn’t go away with paracetamol.

To prevent and manage headaches in early pregnancy you should try and drink at least eight glasses of fluid a day to avoid dehydration, make sure you get enough sleep and eat a healthy balanced diet. Rest and relaxation are also important.

Call your midwife, GP or hospital maternity unit for advice if you have a very bad headache or a headache that won’t go away.

Experiencing increased vaginal discharge during pregnancy is common. Healthy vaginal discharge is usually thin, clear or milky white and shouldn’t smell bad. You should speak to your midwife or GP if you are unsure about any increase or change in your vaginal discharge or if …

• it smells bad
• it is green, brown or yellow
• you feel itchy or sore around your vagina
• you have pain when you wee.

The above symptoms may indicate you have an infection that requires treatment.

Week 6

Now the size of a baked bean, your baby is growing and changing at a fast pace. To achieve this, they get everything they need from you.

For information on your pregnancy journey, sign up for regular emails tailored to your stage of pregnancy or baby’s age.

What’s happening in my body?

Your baby is growing and changing at a fast pace as they start to grow arms, legs and ears. The liver, brain and musculoskeletal system are also developing.

To achieve this transformation, the baby gets everything they need from you.

Feeling nausea

Morning sickness can occur at any time of day, although it’s usually worse when you first wake up. It might help to keep a snack by your bed.

Try eating 6 small meals a day, get lots of rest, and follow a balanced, healthy diet with lots of water. Read these tips on healthy eating.

Some people find that ginger helps (such as ginger tea, ginger ale, crystallised ginger and ginger biscuits). Others say sucking ice cubes and wearing travel acupressure wristbands helps.

If you cannot keep food down, talk to your midwife or doctor.

Early pregnancy symptoms (at 6 weeks)

You may be dealing with morning sickness and tiredness, along with other early signs of pregnancy. Your symptoms could also include:

• a metallic taste in your mouth
• sore breasts
• mood swings (read about mood swings in week 8)
• headaches
• new food likes and dislikes
• a heightened sense of smell
• you may need to pee more frequently
• a white milky pregnancy discharge from your vagina
• light spotting (see your doctor if you get bleeding in pregnancy)
• cramping, a bit like period pains
• darkened skin on your face or brown patches – this is known as chloasma or the “mask of pregnancy”
• thicker and shinier hair
• feeling bloated

A lot of people start to feel better after the 1st trimester (after 12 weeks). Talk to your midwife or doctor about anything that’s worrying you.

What does my baby look like?

Your baby, or embryo, is around 6mm long, which is about the size and shape of a pea. Some people think it resembles a tadpole with its little tail.

The arms and legs are starting to form and are known as limb buds. There are tiny dents where the ears will be.

There’s a bump where the heart is and another bulge where the head will be. Sometimes the heartbeat can be picked up by a vaginal ultrasound scan, but you are unlikely to be offered one unless you’ve had IVF.

The embryo is covered with a thin layer of transparent skin.

Your baby is about the size of a pea.

Action stations

The advice for week 6 is the same as for the earlier weeks. Try to rest as much as possible.

See your midwife or GP

Share the news with your GP or ask for an appointment with a midwife at your doctors’ surgery. Alternatively you can refer yourself to your local hospital – look for contact details on their website.

You’ll need to arrange a booking appointment. This usually takes place between weeks 8 and 12, and takes around an hour.

You can talk about the options for your pregnancy and the birth. Plus you’ll be offered screening tests for infectious diseases, and conditions such as Down’s syndrome. You could ask about the Maternity Transformation Programme and how it could benefit you.

You will get your first dating scan at 8 to 14 weeks.

If it’s your first pregnancy you will probably have around 10 appointments and 2 scans in total.

Antenatal classes

Ask your midwife or doctor about online antenatal classes – they may be able to recommend one. The charity Tommy’s has lots of useful information on antenatal classes and preparing you for birth.

Antenatal classes will give you the chance to meet other people and prepare you for parenthood. The NCT offers online antenatal classes with small groups of people that live locally to you.

Smoking, drinking and caffeine in pregnancy

Ask your midwife or GP for support.

Vitamins in pregnancy

Take prenatal vitamins. You’re advised to take 400mcg of folic acid every day, until at least week 12. This helps to form your baby’s nervous system and offers some protection from conditions such as spina bifida.

To keep bones and muscles healthy, we need vitamin D. From late March/early April to the end of September, most people make enough vitamin D from sunlight on their skin.

However, between October and early March, consider taking a daily vitamin D supplement because we cannot make enough from sunlight.

Some people should take a vitamin D supplement all year round – find out if this applies to you on the NHS website.

You just need 10 micrograms (it’s the same for grown-ups and kids). Check if you’re entitled to free vitamins.

Exercising in pregnancy

You could start off with just 10 minutes of daily exercise – perhaps take a brisk walk outside. Check out Sport England’s #StayInWorkOut online exercises (scroll to the pregnancy section).

Listen to your body and do what feels right for you.

Healthy eating

There’s no need to eat for 2. You just need to eat a healthy balanced diet, with a variety of different foods every day, including plenty of fruit and veg. Have a look at our guide to healthy eating in pregnancy.

You may be able to get free milk, fruit and veg through the Healthy Start scheme.

Emotional and mental wellbeing

How are you today? If you’re feeling anxious or low, then talk to your midwife or doctor. They can point you in the right direction to get all the support that you need. You could also discuss your worries with your partner, friends and family.

You may be worried about your relationship, or money, or having somewhere permanent to live.

Don’t keep it to yourself. It’s important that you ask for help if you need it.

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)

Do you think you or your partner could have an STI? If so, get checked out, as this could affect your baby’s development. Talk to your midwife or GP, or visit a sexual health clinic.

Long-term conditions

If you have a long-term health condition, then let your specialist or GP know you’re pregnant as soon as possible.

Don’t stop taking any regular medication without discussing it with your doctor first.