Today I am 6 weeks according to my pregnancy app. I just did an ivf calculator online and it said our due date would be May 18th. That seems like a great due date to me! Tomorrow at 1:30 will be my first ultrasound where they are looking for baby girl and looking for a heartbeat. They said sometimes you can’t see the heartbeat but I’ve always been able to see one at our first appointment so I sure hope we can this time too. I’m excited and a tiny bit anxious just because I was so worried about our first number of 44. But she sure has made up for it in all the following beta numbers! She more then doubled every single one.

Im feeling totally fine other then my darn pregnancy headaches and being a little extra tired. Im thankful for it all though because we worked so so hard to get here. My butt is getting pretty lumpy and sore as well. You should see all my sharps boxes full of needles! There is so so many. I sure hope tomorrow I have a wonderful ultrasound and get to share the good news with you all. Thanks for all the continued prayers I appreciate each and every one!

What is baby Mac up to this week?

Pregnancy is in full bloom, and unfortunately some common symptoms might be starting to kick up now too.

How’s Baby Mac?

Baby Mac is now the size of a chocolate chip, measuring approximately 1/4-1/2 an inch long. This may not seem huge, but just think about how much your little one has grown in the past month, from a tiny collection of cells to the increasingly complex human being-to-be who is currently in the process of sprouting all of their facial features. Your baby’s cute little nose and curious eyes are just starting to form, although right now they merely look like little dark spots on an oversized head. Passages and arches that will grow and develop into parts of Baby Mac’s ears and jaw are forming, and their nose won’t be far behind.

Development of Baby Mac‘s lower body lags behind that of the upper, making them look a bit like a mermaid, and they may already be wiggling their flipper-like arms! Baby Mac is also starting to straighten out from their formerly curled position, and that tail is making its way to its final destination in their back.

These upcoming weeks are some of the most important for Baby Mac developmentally, so if you aren’t on a prenatal vitamin yet, it’s important to start taking one immediately. During this week, Baby Mac’s neural tube is beginning to close,  so it’s especially important to be getting folic acid — from prenatal vitamins, as well as from the rest of your diet — as it can help prevent neural tube defects.

What’s new with you?

A lot of changes are happening!

One big change you might already notice is feeling tired. But not just normal tired. Even though your body hasn’t grown in size much yet, it’s doing a lot of work that can leave you fatigued. Your body is producing significantly more blood than it’s used to in order to get nutrients to Baby Mac, which is an energy expense that may leave you with lower blood pressure and lower blood sugar. The added progesterone coursing around your body could also be tiring you out. If you feel like you can manage, going for a walk, doing some gentle yoga, or engaging in another physical activity that you enjoy might help a bit: the endorphins you release may make you feel less sluggish. And you should listen to what your body needs and rest, nap, or tuck in for bed early as needed.

Your breasts are also likely to be sore at this time, and your nipples may stick out more than normal. This tenderness will probably last through your first trimester, as your breasts continue to grow. This change is completely normal, and is simply a product of increased blood flow to your chest as your body primes itself for breastfeeding.

And if you’re feeling sick to your stomach right now, you aren’t alone — over 70% of pregnant folks experience nausea in the first trimester. During the sixth week of pregnancy over 80% of pregnant folks experience nausea, which often starts in the morning (hence the term “morning sickness”) before dissipating in the early afternoon. However, this term can sometimes be misleading, because nausea during the first trimester is not exclusive to mornings, and that awful feeling could hit you at any point during the day or night. A few things that may help?

Try eating several small snacks throughout the day, avoiding triggering smells, taking your prenatal vitamins with a meal, having food or drinks with ginger, keeping hydrated, and getting plenty of rest. And if you can’t seem to find much relief, be sure to speak with your healthcare provider. And for serious morning sickness or concern for dehydration, you should definitely speak with your healthcare provider.