First trimester
6 weeks pregnant
Baby is about the size of a lentil.
Week 6 of 40 · in your first trimester · Updated
Your baby this week
A teeny heart starts beating around now. Arm and leg buds appear.
- The tiny heart is now beating — around 110 beats per minute — though it's still a simple tube.
- Arm and leg buds appear, looking like little paddles.
- Facial features begin: dark spots where the eyes will be, indentations for ears, and a tiny opening for the mouth.
Your body this week
Nausea may peak. Frequent peeing is the body's new normal.
- Progesterone slows your digestion, which is part of why bloating and constipation start.
- Frequent urination is from rising blood volume + the growing uterus pressing on your bladder.
- Morning sickness despite the name often happens at any time of day, especially evenings.
Common symptoms
- Nausea/vomiting
- Constipation
- Bloating
- Frequent urination
- Sore breasts
- Sensitivity to smells
Things to do this week
- Try sipping ginger tea or eating crackers before getting out of bed
- Take prenatal vitamins at night (less nausea)
- Stay hydrated — small sips throughout the day
Tip
Small, frequent meals and ginger tea can help with nausea.
For partners this week
Nausea support crew
- Keep ginger tea, crackers and small snacks stocked.
- Refill the water bottle without being asked.
Typical visits around this week
Based on a typical schedule in Ontario. Your doctor or midwife sets the actual timing.
First prenatal visit
Weeks 6–12
Book with your doctor or midwife as soon as you know you're pregnant. This is usually the longest visit: your health and family history, medications, blood pressure and weight, and routine blood and urine tests (including your blood type and Rh factor). Your provider will also talk about your due date and the screening options ahead.
Questions to ask →Questions to ask ↑
- When is my estimated due date, and how was it worked out?
- Are my current medications and supplements okay to keep taking?
- Who will care for me during pregnancy and birth, and where would I give birth?
- Who do I call with questions or worries between visits?
- Which vaccines should I plan for this pregnancy?
Coming up
Dating ultrasound
Weeks 7–12
An early ultrasound that measures the baby to confirm how far along you are. Dating is most accurate between about 7 and 12 weeks, and the scan also confirms the pregnancy is in the uterus.
Questions to ask →Questions to ask ↑
- Does this scan change my due date?
- Can my partner come into the room?
- Do I need a full bladder, and how should I prepare?
- When will my provider get the results?
A flu shot and a COVID-19 vaccine are recommended at any stage of pregnancy. The flu shot is given during flu season, so the timing depends on when you're pregnant.
When to call your doctor or midwife
Bleeding, fluid leaking, a bad headache or vision changes, or baby moving less than usual all need a call. See the warning signs and who to call →
Follow your pregnancy week by week in MyBabyBase.
A due-date countdown, a mood and symptom journal, appointments, and a safe place for your documents — all in one hub.
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Further reading from health authorities
- Pregnancy — Government of Canada (Public Health Agency of Canada)
- Your pregnancy — Pregnancy Info, from the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC)
- Week-by-week guide to pregnancy — NHS (UK)
- Pregnancy — American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)