Dark spots where eyes will be, tiny pits that will become ears, and the faintest dimple of a mouth — your baby's face is taking shape this week. At 6 weeks, the embryo is roughly the size of a sweet pea, curled tightly in a C-shape, with a heart beating at a staggering 110 to 120 beats per minute.
🍼 What's Happening With Your Baby
The jaw, cheeks, and chin are beginning to form. If you could look closely, you would see the optic vesicles developing on the sides of the head — these will eventually move forward to become the eyes.
The arm and leg buds that appeared last week are extending. They look a bit like tiny flippers right now, but the tissues that will become hands and feet are already differentiating.
Internal organs are forming rapidly. The liver, pancreas, lungs, and stomach are all developing from the internal endoderm layer, and the primitive neural tube has officially closed, securing the spinal cord.
🤰 What You're Feeling This Week
Hormone levels (hCG, estrogen, and progesterone) are climbing aggressively, which means your symptoms are likely intensifying. Exhaustion at week 6 can feel paralyzing — your body is manufacturing the placenta, a completely new, disposable organ.
You might notice your breasts have grown significantly larger, accompanied by a heavy, aching sensation. The blood flow to the pelvic area is increasing dramatically, which can cause a feeling of fullness or heaviness in your lower abdomen.
Emotional volatility is peaking. You might find yourself crying at a television commercial or feeling sudden flashes of irritability. This is chemically induced and completely out of your conscious control.
The Heartbeat Speeds Up
The primitive heart has divided into left and right chambers and is now pumping blood through the main vessels. It beats roughly twice as fast as your own heart.
✅ What To Do This Week
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Embrace ginger and B6 — if nausea is disrupting your life, ginger tea, ginger candies, and Vitamin B6 supplements are scientifically proven first-line defenses against pregnancy sickness.
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Buy a supportive bra — your breasts are growing to prepare for lactation (yes, already!). A soft, wire-free maternity sleep bra can vastly improve your comfort right now.
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Be cautious with raw or undercooked meats — ensure all meat is cooked to a safe internal temperature to avoid parasites that can cross the developing placenta.
"Your heart is pumping faster, your blood volume is rising, your kidneys are filtering more. You look the same on the outside, but internally, you are running a physiological marathon 24 hours a day."
— A Note From Your Body, Week 6