Your Pregnancy Week 6
This week your baby has a distinguishable head and trunk! And on your baby's head…facial features! That's right, as early as week six your baby is beginning to develop facial features with indentation that will become the eyes, ears and mouth. Their larynx, or voice box, will also begin to form this week.
An EEG, or electroencephalogram, can detect and monitor your baby's brain activity this week. An ultrasound would also be able to detect your baby's heartbeat! With their circulatory system well established, their digestive and respiratory systems will also begin to form this week.
What is an ultrasound anyway?
If you aren't familiar with ultrasounds at this point, you will be very familiar with them nine months from now. A pregnancy ultrasound is an imaging test that uses sound waves to see inside of the womb. This procedure is painless and noninvasive.
While you are lying on your back, the person performing the test will place a clear, usually cold, gel on your belly. A hand-held probe is moved over the area and the sound waves that are emitted bounce off the developing fetus to create a picture on the ultrasound monitor. In some cases, a pregnancy ultrasound may be done by placing the probe into your vagina.
Scans are often performed in the first trimester to:
- Assess your baby's age
- Rule out problems like ectopic pregnancies
- Assess your baby's heart rate
- Identify problems with the placenta, uterus or pelvis
- Confirm a normal pregnancy
- Check for multiple pregnancies
- Check for Down's Syndrome
Cat Litter
You may have heard that pregnant women should not change cat litter. Though it may sound strange, this is no urban legend. Changing cat litter can put you at risk for toxoplasmosis, which is a parasitic disease that can cause pregnancy problems and serious birth defects. There is no need to get rid of your cat, but it is important for someone else to change the litter box! If that is not possible, be sure to wear rubber gloves while changing the litter and wash your hands when you are done. Toxoplasmosis can also be caused by eating uncooked meat and unwashed vegetables, so be sure to cook all meats thoroughly and properly scrub your vegetables before consumption! You should also be sure to wash all cutting boards and utensils that may have come into contact with meat before you use them to prepare foods.
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