6 weeks pregnant
Tiny arms and legs are budding.
In short
At 6 weeks your baby is about the size of a lentil. Tiny arms and legs are budding.
- First trimester, week 6 of about 40.
- Your GP will refer you to your maternity unit or hospital for your dating scan and your first appointment there, which is called the booking visit.
Turn your baby round in 3D every week in the free Lullagram pregnancy section
Your baby is curved with a little tail, a bit like a tiny tadpole. There's a bulge where the heart is and a bump at the head end that will become the brain.
How big is my baby at 6 weeks?
At 6 weeks your baby is about the size of a lentil. These are typical figures from fetal growth charts. Your own baby may be bigger or smaller, and your scans are what count.
What is my baby doing at 6 weeks?
- Your baby is curved with a little tail, a bit like a tiny tadpole.
- There's a bulge where the heart is and a bump at the head end that will become the brain.
- Small swellings called limb buds will grow into arms and legs.
- Little dimples on the sides of the head will become ears.
- Sometimes the heartbeat can be seen on a vaginal ultrasound scan around now.
What changes for me at 6 weeks pregnant?
- Nausea and vomiting, often called morning sickness, usually starts between 4 and 7 weeks.
- Despite the name, it can happen at any time of the day or night.
- Feeling very tired is common because your body is working hard to grow your baby.
What is a good tip for this week?
Eat little and often. Plain, dry foods like toast or crackers are often easiest, so keep a few by the bed for first thing in the morning.
What can a partner do this week?
If cooking smells make things worse, take over the cooking and keep easy snacks in the house.
What should I know in Ireland at 6 weeks?
- Your GP will refer you to your maternity unit or hospital for your dating scan and your first appointment there, which is called the booking visit.
When to get help: If you can't keep fluids down or you have signs of dehydration like dark pee, a dry mouth or feeling faint, contact your midwife, GP or maternity unit straight away. HSE: when to get help.
Want these updates on your phone? The Lullagram app has a free pregnancy section with this week-by-week guide, Irish dates worked out from your due date, a contraction timer and more. When your baby arrives, the baby tracker is ready in the same app.
Guides for your pregnancy: pregnancy care in Ireland · maternity leave and benefit · hospital bag checklist · popular baby names · free IVF in Ireland · due date calculator
Sources and guidance
This page is written to be consistent with the official guidance below. It is general information for parents in Ireland, not medical advice. Links checked 23 September 2026.
Great app that has everything. great especially around the new born phase where you need to record and keep an eye on everything for doctors/nurses and your own self assurance. Quick action buttons help and although I haven't yet posted on it, the community section is brilliant for help and reassurance that I'm doing things right and that certain things that happen are normal and nothing to worry about.