Week 6 is when sickness and tiredness often settle in properly. If you have an early scan, this is around when a flicker of heartbeat can first be seen.
Your baby this week
- Heartbeat
- The heart is beating fast, and can sometimes be seen on an early ultrasound from around now.
- Face
- Dimples are forming where the eyes, ears and nostrils will be.
- Limb buds
- Small buds have appeared that will grow into arms and legs.
What you might notice
- Nausea and sickness, often worst on an empty stomach. Small, frequent snacks can help.
- Deep tiredness, even after a full night's sleep.
- Bloating and wind as digestion slows down.
- Tender breasts and darker skin around the nipples.
Call your midwife, doctor or early pregnancy unit today if
- You have bleeding, or cramping pain low in your belly
- You have sharp pain on one side, pain in the tip of your shoulder, or you feel faint
- You're being sick so often you can't keep fluids down
- You have a fever, or it burns or stings when you pee
If the pain is severe or you feel faint, call emergency services.
Coming up
Your first appointment usually includes blood tests, blood pressure and questions about your health. What to expect.
If sickness means you can't keep fluids down, call. It's treatable, and you don't have to push through.
Questions to bring to your next appointment
- What blood tests will I be offered, and what do they look for?
- What should I do if sickness stops me eating or drinking?
- Will I have an early scan, or wait for the dating scan?
For your partner
Keep water and plain snacks within reach, especially by the bed for mornings. Small things matter a lot right now.
NUGA follows you week by week
Enter your due date once and NUGA knows you're at week 6. The day before each appointment, it gathers what you've noted and the questions to bring.
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This page draws on public guidance from:
General information, not medical advice. Every pregnancy is different, and your midwife or doctor knows yours. Last updated October 2026.