The heartbeat becomes real
By this month, the embryo's heart has started beating, often visible on an early ultrasound as a small flicker. Tiny limb buds appear, sketching out where arms and legs will grow, and facial features like eyes and ears begin forming as faint folds. Morning sickness, fatigue, and breast changes tend to peak now as hormone levels climb, even though the baby itself is still smaller than a fingernail.
Baby this month: about 3 cm — crown to rump, roughly the size of a raspberry · about 2 g
≈ 3 cm — about the size of a raspberry
Illustration enlarged for clarity — the amber marker shows true relative size
What's developing right now
Begins beating around week 6, often the first thing visible on an early ultrasound.
Small buds appear that will grow into arms and legs over the coming weeks.
Grows rapidly, and by the end of the month accounts for a large share of body size.
Eye and ear structures start as shallow folds and pits on the sides of the head.
A simple tube begins forming that will later divide into stomach and intestines.
What your body is doing
- Nausea, sometimes called morning sickness, often peaks during this month and isn't limited to mornings.
- Fatigue can be significant as the body adjusts to rising hormone levels.
- Breasts may feel tender, heavier, or more sensitive.
- Frequent urination can start even though the uterus is still small.
Eating for this month
Steady, small meals matter more than perfect ones this month, especially if nausea makes eating unpredictable. Folate remains important as neural development continues, and staying hydrated helps with both nausea and fatigue. It's fine if variety takes a back seat for a few weeks — consistency matters more than perfection.
Checkups commonly done this month
- A dating ultrasound to confirm how far along the pregnancy is — commonly done in this window, schedules vary by country and doctor
- Initial blood tests to check blood type, iron levels, and immunity to certain infections
- A review of personal and family medical history with a doctor or midwife
Contact your doctor promptly if…
Heavy bleeding, especially with cramping
Severe or persistent vomiting that prevents keeping any food or fluids down
Fever along with pelvic pain
Sudden, severe abdominal pain on one side
Questions people ask
Why can't I see much on an ultrasound yet?
At this stage the embryo is only a few centimeters long, so an ultrasound mainly confirms the pregnancy's location, checks for a heartbeat, and estimates dating. Detailed anatomy isn't visible until the baby is larger, usually a couple of months from now.
Is it normal for nausea to come and go throughout the day?
Yes, despite the name, morning sickness can strike at any hour and fluctuate unpredictably. It's driven by rising pregnancy hormones and tends to ease for most people by the end of the first trimester, though the timeline varies quite a bit from person to person.
Sizes and milestones are typical ranges — every pregnancy runs on its own clock. Educational content; your prenatal care team's guidance always comes first.