Pregnancy Calendar Week 6

Week 6

What's Happening to My Body?

In this sixth week of pregnancy, your baby is 4 weeks old.

So how tall is a shrimp? That's right, the growing baby looks more like a tiny shellfish than a human right now, and it's impossible to measure a shrimp -- or your baby -- like you would an infant or adult (from the top of the head to the bottom of the feet) because it doesn't have any feet! Even after the baby develops legs and feet, they're usually pulled close to the body, so the little dumpling is measured from the crown of the "head" to the "rump." Right now, crown-to-rump length is about 2 to 4 millimeters.

This is a very big week for the baby. The beginnings of a backbone and head are quite distinct, and the heart is beating, although it's located on the outside of the body. The arm and leg buds are beginning to show, and the rudimentary eyes are located on the sides of the head, not in front.

Because the internal organs and limbs are in such an early stage of development, the embryo is very sensitive to any drugs, viruses or bacteria that might get past the placental barrier. Most defects begin four to eight weeks into development (six to 10 weeks of pregnancy); this time-span is known as the embryonic period. Substances that can seriously deform or harm the baby at this point are not always as dangerous in the later stages of pregnancy, although they can still cause damage.

You've been pregnant for a month now, but no one can tell by looking at your tummy. So don't use your pregnancy as an excuse to grow a Haagen-Dazs belly just yet. Your breasts might be larger, which may be an improvement, or it may simply be annoying. Remind your mate to appreciate your augmented chest gently because it's probably quite sensitive. You may have gained a pound or two, but if you've been extremely nauseated, you could have lost weight. (Speaking of vomit, here's a tip: Don't take your prenatal vitamin with citrus juice because the acidic combination can upset your already queasy stomach. Taking it at bedtime may also help).