6 weeks pregnant: symptoms and body changes

Your baby is not yet called a foetus at 6 weeks (they’re still an embryo up until around week 8 of your pregnancy¹, but they’re doing lots of growing and developing, even at this early stage.

If you could zoom in and see your baby up close, you’d notice two little bumps – one where their heart will be, and one that will become their head and brain. You’d also see some tiny swellings called limb buds that will develop into arms and legs, and dimples that will become their eyes and ears².

You might be offered a 6-week scan if there’s a reason to check your baby’s development, for example, if you’ve had complications in a previous pregnancy, have undergone IVF, or have experienced some bleeding^3,4. If you have a 6-week scan, it will be with a transvaginal ultrasound, and you might be able to see their heart beating⁵.

At 6 weeks pregnant, your baby is just 6mm long, or around the size of a pea. They look a little like a tadpole right now, with a curved tail⁴.

Your body is amazing, changing and adapting to meet the needs of your growing baby at every step of your pregnancy.

While your baby’s still this tiny, you probably won’t have a visible baby bump – you’ll likely start to show in your second trimester (especially if this is your first baby). That means that, for now, it’s still safe for you to sleep on your back or stomach. Later in your pregnancy, especially in your third trimester, it’s safest to sleep on your side⁶. 

At 6 weeks pregnant, you might be starting to notice some of those tell-tale early pregnancy symptoms. For example, a missed period, feeling more tired than usual, sore breasts and feeling sick (otherwise known as morning sickness7).

You might also start to go off some of your favourite foods, develop a taste for things you don’t usually like, which could be the beginnings of those much-talked-about pregnancy cravings7.

Have a look at some of the other 6 weeks pregnant symptoms that could be making themselves around about now.

Cramps

It’s common to notice a few mild cramps at 6 weeks pregnant - they may be similar to period cramps. Usually, they’re caused by your changing hormones and ligament pains in your growing womb⁸. Cramps might also be down to constipation or trapped wind.

Spotting and bleeding

Some spotting or very light bleeding at 6 weeks pregnant can be normal. It’s often called implantation bleeding as it happens when your baby (embryo) embeds itself in the wall of your womb⁹.

Implantation bleeding often happens around the same time as you’d usually get your period but tends to stop after 1 or 2 days¹⁰. If you’re 6 weeks pregnant and experiencing heavier bleeding that doesn’t stop, contact the maternity assessment unit to speak with a midwife.

Most cramping and spotting are harmless, but occasionally, it can be a sign of a complication with your pregnancy.

Contact your GP or midwife if⁸:

• You have pain when you pee, or blood in your urine
• You have vaginal discharge that’s unusual for you
• The pain is severe and doesn’t go away
• You have a fever

Headaches are another common early pregnancy symptom at 6 weeks. They usually improve with time, but it’s usually safe to take paracetamol for the pain if you need to. Speak to your doctor or pharmacist before taking any painkillers while pregnant and always follow the instructions on the packet¹¹.

If you have a very painful headache along with problems with your vision or swelling in your face, feet, or hands, it could be a sign of pre-eclampsia, and you should get in touch with your midwife or GP straight away¹¹.

Your progesterone levels increase in early pregnancy to support your growing baby. Progesterone can also affect your digestive system and cause pregnancy symptoms like heartburn, bloating and constipation¹².

If you’re feeling bloated at 6 weeks pregnant, try to pack plenty of fibre into your diet to help keep things moving, and eat smaller meals more often to avoid feeling too full^13,14.

You might notice patches of darker skin on your face at 6 weeks pregnant, caused by your changing hormones¹⁵. You might hear it being called melasma, chloasma, or the mask of pregnancy. Once your baby arrives, your skin will likely return to its usual colour and tone.

During early pregnancy, it’s important to get the vitamins and minerals  that you and your growing baby need to stay healthy.

As well as eating a healthy and balanced diet , you’re advised to take 400 micrograms of folic acid every day for the first 12 weeks of pregnancy¹⁶. Folic acid helps your baby’s spine and brain to develop normally and can reduce the risk of defects like spina bifida¹⁷.

Vitamin D is also very important as your baby grows and develops. Experts recommend taking a daily vitamin D supplement during pregnancy right up until your baby is born¹⁶. If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, you can get free vitamin D supplements through the Healthy Start Scheme. Find out if you qualify here.