6 Weeks Pregnant: What to Do This Week
At six weeks pregnant, many women are starting to feel the full force of first trimester symptoms — nausea, extreme tiredness, sore breasts, and heightened emotions can all hit around now. It can be a strange week: you may look completely unchanged on the outside while feeling absolutely floored on the inside. Here is what to focus on this week.
Chase Up Your Midwife Referral
If you contacted your GP last week to register your pregnancy, your referral to the midwifery team should be on its way. If you have not yet contacted your GP, do so now. The booking appointment is usually offered at around 8 to 10 weeks, and some NHS trusts are busy — getting in the queue promptly means you will not miss the ideal window.
When you make contact, mention any ongoing health conditions, any medications you take, and whether this is your first pregnancy or you have had complications in previous pregnancies. This information helps the team allocate the right level of care from the start.
Manage Morning Sickness Practically
Nausea is extremely common at six weeks and can range from a constant low-level queasiness to severe vomiting that makes it difficult to eat or drink. "Morning sickness" is a misleading name — for many women it lasts all day, or hits worst in the evening.
Practical strategies that many women find helpful:
- Eat little and often. An empty stomach can make nausea worse. Keep plain crackers or dry toast within reach, even on your bedside table for before you get up in the morning.
- Stay hydrated. Sip water steadily throughout the day rather than drinking large amounts at once. Cold or sparkling water can be easier to keep down than room-temperature tap water.
- Avoid triggers where you can. Strong smells — cooking meat, perfumes, cleaning products — are a common trigger. Opening windows and eating cold foods can help.
- Try ginger. There is some evidence that ginger can reduce nausea in pregnancy. Ginger biscuits, ginger tea, or ginger capsules are all options worth trying.
- Rest more. Tiredness makes nausea worse. Prioritise sleep whenever you can.
If you are vomiting so frequently that you cannot keep fluids down for more than 24 hours, are losing weight, or feel dizzy and faint, contact your GP or midwife. Severe nausea and vomiting in pregnancy (hyperemesis gravidarum) is a recognised medical condition that can be treated — you do not have to simply endure it.
Keep Taking Your Supplements
Continue taking 400mcg of folic acid daily until at least 12 weeks. The NHS also recommends 10mcg of vitamin D throughout pregnancy and while breastfeeding. If you have not yet started a pregnancy supplement, this is a good week to do so.
If nausea makes swallowing tablets difficult, try taking them with a small amount of food, switching to a liquid or gummy formulation (checking it contains the correct doses), or taking them at a time of day when nausea tends to be less severe — often mid-morning after a light snack.
Think About Lifestyle Adjustments at Work
Six weeks is often when women start to feel that pregnancy is affecting their working life. Fatigue, nausea, and frequent toilet trips can make a full working day more challenging. You are not legally required to tell your employer you are pregnant at this stage, but you do have legal rights from the moment your pregnancy begins.
If your job involves physical demands, exposure to chemicals, heavy lifting, or long shifts, it may be worth speaking to your GP about a fitness-to-work note, or discussing a risk assessment with your employer informally without necessarily revealing your news. Your safety comes first.
Emotional Wellbeing This Week
The early weeks of pregnancy can carry a heavy emotional weight alongside the physical symptoms. Anxiety about whether the pregnancy will progress, the effort of keeping significant news private, and the sheer upheaval of adjusting to a new reality can all take their toll.
Check in with yourself this week. If anxiety is making it difficult to sleep, eat, or function day-to-day, speak to your GP — support is available through perinatal mental health services and does not require you to be in crisis. Early support is always better than waiting.
When to Seek Urgent Help
Contact your Early Pregnancy Unit, call 111, or go to A&E if you experience heavy bleeding, severe one-sided abdominal pain, shoulder tip pain, or feel faint or collapse. These symptoms can occasionally indicate an ectopic pregnancy or other complication that needs prompt assessment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I prioritise at 6 weeks pregnant?
The most important practical task is confirming your GP referral to a midwife is in progress and your booking appointment is on track. Continue your folic acid and vitamin D supplements, follow the NHS food safety guidance, and work out strategies for managing nausea if it is affecting you. Rest as much as you reasonably can — the fatigue at six weeks is real and your body is working very hard even though you cannot see the results yet.
Is it normal to feel so exhausted at 6 weeks?
Yes. First trimester fatigue is one of the most commonly reported pregnancy symptoms and is largely driven by rising progesterone levels, along with the enormous amount of work your body is doing to establish the placenta and support early fetal development. The exhaustion often eases noticeably in the second trimester. In the meantime, rest whenever you can, delegate where possible, and do not feel guilty about going to bed early.
When should I tell people I'm pregnant?
Most women choose to wait until after the 12-week scan, when the risk of miscarriage falls substantially. However, telling a small number of trusted people earlier — your partner, a close friend, or a family member — means you have support around you during the often difficult early weeks. There is no rule that says you must keep it secret. Do what feels right for your circumstances.
Speak to your midwife or GP for personalised advice about your pregnancy.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.
Related articles: