When you are first pregnant there can be a lot of emotional ups and downs as you begin to notice early pregnancy symptoms, becoming a game of ‘period or pregnancy.’ Getting the results that yes, you are pregnant is such an amazing feeling, especially if you have been trying to conceive.
Symptom spotting or feeling anxiety about how your body is reacting to pregnancy can create negative emotions surrounding early pregnancy. Let’s talk more about the symptoms you may experience when you are 6 weeks pregnant to help ease the burden and worry about what happens after your positive results.
Missed Period
Missing a period can be an unclear sign for anyone who has an irregular cycle, but for most, missing a period is the most obvious symptom of pregnancy. Some people experience some slight bleeding after implantation, aptly called implantation bleeding. Implantation bleeding could be mistaken for a light period, but it should be apparent that it is different from what you see during a regular cycle.
Nausea
Books, movies, TV, social media all showcase the hallmark symptom of pregnancy, nausea. Due to the rapid rise in hormones, you can feel mild to severe nausea resulting in decreased appetite and vomiting. Often, you’ll feel increased nausea with hunger or fullness or around strong scents.
Nausea can last from a few weeks, months, or for the entire pregnancy. Severe nausea during the pregnancy is diagnosed as hyperemesis gravidarum, characterized by extreme nausea, and can be treated medically.
Nausea doesn’t typically appear until 5 or 6 weeks of pregnancy and the lack of nausea does not indicate abnormalities in your pregnancy.
Metallic Taste
Unusual metallic taste in your mouth is a very weird symptom, but it happens. Having this taste in your mouth happens between meals and can be a very early symptom of pregnancy. Due to its subjective nature, this symptom can be difficult to assess.
Breast/Chest Tenderness
Like other symptoms, the increased hormones lead to physical pain and breast or chest tenderness. Showing up closer to 6 weeks into pregnancy, this symptom is unmistakable and uncomfortable to put it mildly. Most pregnant people experience this symptom, so be on the lookout for a sore chest.
Breast/Chest Swelling
Speaking of the chest, you may notice an increase in size in the first few weeks of pregnancy and continue to grow. By the end of pregnancy, you can see an increase in a cup size or two.
Exhaustion
Being tired is an understatement in the first trimester. You may find yourself napping throughout the first trimester of pregnancy. Even at 6 weeks of pregnancy you may see this symptom.
Bloating
Leaving you in the ballpark of too-soon-for-maternity clothes but I-can’t-fit-these-jeans. Similar to bloating during the menstrual cycle, it can feel uncomfortable to button the top button, but in this case as your uterus accommodates the growing fetus you’ll need to switch over to looser and larger clothing.
If you find yourself symptom spotting or searching for 6 weeks pregnant symptoms, you may want to grab an over-the-counter pregnancy test or go to a healthcare office to have a pregnancy test performed. This will help give much needed answers about symptoms you may be experiencing.
Every pregnancy is unique, you may experience all or none of these symptoms at six weeks of pregnancy or have different symptoms all together. Your best guide for your medical and pregnancy needs will always be your personal healthcare team. Be sure to talk with your healthcare partner for any concerns or questions you may have about your pregnancy.
Whew after reading all of these symptoms I need a nap, a snack, and sweatpants. Go take a deep breath and congratulations on your new or soon to be pregnancy!
