Pregnant in week 6
In week 6 your baby is the size of a lentil. The heart is almost complete as a tiny tube and starts beating at around 6+0, and the very first buds for arms and legs have appeared. For you it may be the week when nausea and tiredness really start to set in.
Your baby in week 6
Your baby measures around 4 millimetres. The head is large compared with the rest of the body because the brain is growing so fast, and there are small dark spots where the eyes and nostrils are forming.
The heart tube is folding and forming chambers – the first heartbeats come at around 6+0, and then it beats about 110 times a minute. Small buds show where the arms and legs will be, and the neural tube along the back has closed.
The foundations of the internal organs – liver, lungs and digestive tract – are forming, and the face very slowly begins to take shape.
Your body and symptoms in week 6
For many the early pregnancy symptoms peak around now. Nausea – which despite the name morning sickness can strike at any hour – affects up to 70% of pregnant women and is linked to the rising hCG.
Fatigue can be overwhelming, your breasts tight and tender, and your sense of smell so heightened that smells you normally like suddenly turn your stomach. Frequent urination and mood swings are also common.
The symptoms are a sign that the hormones are working as they should. If you have none at all, though, it is not a sign that anything is wrong – around one in four pregnant women have only mild symptoms.
Good advice for week 6
Eat small and often
An empty stomach makes nausea worse. Keep almonds, crackers or fruit within reach and eat small portions throughout the day rather than a few large meals.
Try vitamin B6
Vitamin B6 is the best-documented remedy for pregnancy nausea and is also used in Danish antenatal care. Many also find relief from acupressure wristbands. Talk to your doctor or midwife about the dose.
Drink enough water
Dehydration worsens both nausea and fatigue. Small, frequent sips are easier to keep down than large amounts at once.
Be kind to yourself
The first trimester is hard on the body. Say yes to help, lower your ambitions for a couple of weeks, and remember that for most it improves after weeks 12-14.
Relevant with us in week 6
This is what we can offer you at this point in your pregnancy.
Frequently asked questions in week 6
How bad can the nausea get?
Nausea and occasional vomiting are normal. If you vomit many times a day, lose weight or can't keep fluids down, it may be hyperemesis – contact your doctor.
Can I exercise when I'm this tired?
Yes, gentle exercise like walking and swimming is good and can even reduce nausea and fatigue. Listen to your body and don't push yourself.
Can you see the baby in week 6?
At an early scan you can often see the embryo – the flickering heartbeat only appears from around 6+0. We recommend waiting until weeks 7-8 to be sure of seeing the heart clearly.
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Read on in week 6
Early pregnancy scan in Copenhagen – everything you need to know (2026)
Guide to your first pregnancy
