When you enter your sixth week of pregnancy, you may find yourself wishing for the joyful days before you were pregnant. You’re now moving into the part of the first trimester that is most difficult for many women. Morning sickness, extreme mood swings, a growing belly, and frequent urination top the list of frustrating symptoms you may start feeling at week six. And while these symptoms may be unpleasant, they won’t last too long. Try to stay positive and focused on how wonderful it will be to hold your baby rather than allowing yourself to become fixated on these unpleasant issues.

Your Baby at Week 6

Your baby’s body and organs are forming rapidly at week six. His head is starting to take shape, and an ultrasound may be able to capture dark spots that will soon become eyes and ears. His heart is beating now too at nearly twice the speed of your resting heart rate. His kidney, liver, lungs, and other major organs are also forming, though his entire body is still probably less than a centimeter long.

Your Body at Week 6

At week six, your body is in full force reacting to your pregnancy. It’s pumping more blood to your pelvic region, so frequent urination is common at this stage. Your hormones are fluctuating, so you may also be experiencing rapid mood swings. It’s good to spend some time with your partner reading about the changes occurring in your body so that you can both understand that your moodiness is the direct result of your pregnancy. Understanding the cause can make these moments easier to handle for both of you.

At this stage, you may also find yourself experiencing your first cravings and first bouts of nausea and morning sickness. Don’t let the name morning sickness fool you—it can occur at pretty much any time of the day. Though the nausea and morning sickness may be the most unpleasant part of being pregnant, it will pass. Usually by the end of the first trimester, women no longer experience morning sickness.

Some women experience spotting in the first trimester. While this is not unusual, spotting can also be an early indicator of miscarriage, so make sure you report any issues to your doctor. He/she will be able to perform an examination to ensure everything is normal and put your mind at ease.

Stretch Marks at Week 6

At this stage, you may start noticing that your belly is growing, though it’s likely to be such a minor difference that only you will be able to see it. While it’s unlikely that your stomach will expand so much this early on that you’ll develop stretch marks, it’s never too early to start taking measures to prevent stretch marks from developing.

Using a stretch mark prevention cream, eating collagen-rich foods, and trying to avoid eating unhealthy foods are all good ways to reduce your likelihood of developing stretch marks at this stage of pregnancy and in the weeks to come.