First trimester · roughly month 2 · about 34 weeks to go

6 weeks pregnant

Everything Hello Belly has for week 6 — how your baby is developing, what your body is doing, and the small things that are easier to know in advance.

Your baby at 6 weeks

5–6 weeks

Meet your baby-tadpole. Yes, make no mistake, he has a tail! Everyone once had one, and then we put on clothes, picked up sticks, started registering accounts on Instagram, and that tail fell off. In addition to the tail, around the 5th and 6th weeks we develop a rudimentary head and nubs, which later will become hands and legs. Slowly, ears, a nose, and a mouth will become noticeable. His eyes are still on the sides of his head (just like a tadpole!) and will seem very large compared to the rest of his body. In general, the baby now looks rather ridiculous and not really human-like. He looks more like a hybrid of an alien and a small dragon.

Remember not to judge a book by its cover! Regarding his "insides", the baby still has no heart, there are only 2 heart tubes which gradually take the form of the heart, but this future heart is already beating 2 times faster than mommy's. The beating heart can now be seen on ultrasound. The circulatory system, kidneys, liver, and lungs are formed. The tissue will continue to grow and will transform into bones, tendons, and muscles. The liver, stomach, pancreas, and lungs are also actively developing.

During weeks 5 and 6, the neural tube closes, and will later transform into the spine, spinal cord, brain, and the entire central nervous system. By the end of the 6th week, the baby's brain is actively forming with all the gyrus, which immediately takes control of the heart and muscles. It is especially important for mommy to take care of yourself during this time and avoid stress and harmful things to promote healthy development in your baby. During this time, the sex glands, ovules and spermatozoa began to form as well. You may not know yet, but your child already knows for sure whether he is a boy or a girl (although he does not need this information at all, there are a lot of other important things going on!)

This week's open tip

Read it in full right here — no account needed.

Smile to mommy!
A miracle happens this week — your baby has a little face: eyes, nose, mouth, and ears which you will kiss many many times.
Read the full tip →