Week 6: The Heart Starts Beating
Week six is an amazing moment when your baby's heart begins to beat!
Baby size: Pea (3-4 mm)
Baby development
From a Dot on Ultrasound to a Future Face
The embryo now has a curved C-shaped form with a small tail that will later disappear. Its development is occurring at a rapid pace.
What’s happening this week:
- Face: Indentations for eyes and nostrils develop, the foundations of the jaw and ears are formed.
- Limbs: Tiny “buds” appear — the beginnings of future arms and legs.
- Internal organs: The brain, lungs, liver, kidneys and other key organs are actively growing.
- Heart: The heartbeat becomes regular and can be captured using ultrasound.
Your baby is no longer just a cluster of cells, but a complex organism that becomes more perfect hour by hour.
Changes for mom
Symptoms Intensify
In the sixth week, hormonal changes reach their peak, so pregnancy symptoms are likely to become your constant companions. It can be tough, but remember — it’s temporary.
What you may feel more intensely:
- Nausea and vomiting: “Morning sickness” can last the whole day. It’s exhausting but a sign of a normal pregnancy.
- Severe fatigue: The body expends a huge amount of energy to support the new life.
- Heightened sense of smell: The aroma of coffee can suddenly become unbearable, and a colleague’s perfume may trigger nausea.
- Emotional rollercoaster: Tearfulness, irritability and sudden mood swings are all effects of progesterone.
If nausea becomes unbearable, be sure to try the tips from our article "10 Ways to Survive Nausea". They really work!
Overview
Week 6: Facial Formation and First Features
In the sixth week, your tiny embryo is growing at an incredible speed. Although it is still tiny, about the size of a lentil, the foundations of its future appearance are being laid.
The main event this week is that facial features begin to form. Dark spots appear where the eyes will be, and small indentations that will become nostrils. The jaw starts to outline.
The heart, already formed, beats rhythmically, about 100-140 times per minute, and it can already be seen on ultrasound as a tiny pulsating dot. This is one of the most moving moments of the first doctor’s visit.
This week is a time of amazing transformations. Your little one becomes more and more like a tiny human each day, although external resemblance is still far off.
Each day brings dramatic changes. You can follow this incredible process in our article "Fetal Development by Weeks".
Tips for mom
The Art of Small Steps and Self‑Care
Your main task right now is not to demand too much from yourself. Listen to your body and give it what it asks for — mainly food and rest.
How to help yourself:
- Frequent small meals: Eat 5–6 times a day in small portions. Avoid strong hunger, as it worsens nausea.
- First doctor’s visit: If you haven’t been to an appointment yet, now is the time. The doctor will confirm the pregnancy, determine the due date and order the first tests.
- Avoid triggers: If certain smells or foods irritate you, try to avoid them.
- Don’t stay silent about your feelings. Share your concerns with your partner, a friend or your doctor. You are not alone in your experiences.
To understand which elements in your diet are most important at this stage, read about essential vitamins and nutrients.
Tips for partner
Your Role: Chief Comfort Manager
This week can be one of the toughest for your partner because of the intensity of the symptoms. Your support and practical help are critically important right now.
What you can do:
- Take over kitchen duties. Frying onions or boiling meat can be a real torture for her heightened sense of smell.
- Watch her water balance. Gently remind her to sip water in small amounts throughout the day.
- Be her psychologist. Listen to her complaints, even if they repeat. Say: "I understand how hard it is for you. How can I help?"
- Go with her to the first doctor’s appointment. Seeing your baby’s heartbeat on the ultrasound screen is an experience that bonds forever.
Read more about how to keep warmth and closeness in the relationship during this challenging period in the article "Relationships and Sex During Pregnancy".
Checklist
Your Action Plan for Week 6
A structured approach will help you feel more confident.
- ✅ Schedule and attend the first prenatal appointment.
- 📝 Ask the doctor all the questions from your list. Don’t hesitate to ask about anything that concerns you.
- 🛒 Buy “safe” foods: crackers, bananas, yogurt, oatmeal.
- 💧 Place a water bottle in a visible spot, as a reminder to drink more.
- ❤️ Discuss with your partner the division of responsibilities for the next few weeks.
- 📚 Prepare for upcoming doctor visits by reading about tests and examinations during pregnancy.