06 weeks

What’s happening this week

You...

• need to take special care over what you eat and drink in these early weeks.
• may feel tired.
• may notice some sickness.
• 
  

Your baby....

• • is about the size of a pea
  • is developing tiny buds that will become arms and legs.
  • has all the vital organs (heart, kidneys, liver) now in place, but they need much further development.
  • has a heart the size of a poppy seed.
  
  

  This week we give you some other tips on protecting yourself from infections during pregnancy and run through antenatal tests.
  
  

  Infections

There are several infections that could cause problems for you and your baby. The earlier in pregnancy you are infected, the more likely the baby is to be damaged. Most people will already have been exposed to these before pregnancy and will already be immune, so the baby cannot be harmed. Infections which may cause problems if you are not immune include:

Viral infections

• These can give you mild flu-like symptoms that may make you feel slightly unwell, but which can cause problems for your baby. Rubella (German measles), cytomegalovirus (a mild infection in the same family as cold sores) and parvovirus (Fifth disease) are three common viruses which you may be exposed to.

  • Rubella and cytomegalovirus are caught from other people infected with the virus.
    
  • 
    
  • Parvovirus is mainly caught from children infected with the virus.
    
  
  

  Rubella can be prevented by immunisation before pregnancy, but check with your LMC at once if you come into contact with the illness. A test can find out whether
  you are already immune.

Bacterial infections – such as listeriosis and salmonella.

• • Listeria bacteria may be found in soft-mould ripened cheeses, pâté, pre-cooked chilled foods, ready-to-eat chicken. You may only experience a mild, flu-like illness, but your baby is more at risk.
  • 
    
  • Salmonella bacteria may be found in raw eggs, raw meat and chicken. You may have sickness, diarrhoea, fever and abdominal cramps, which put your unborn baby at risk.
    
  • Parasite infection – such as toxoplasmosis
  • 
    
  • The parasite eggs, which cause the infection, can be found in undercooked meat, cat and garden soil. It’s easy to take steps to avoid it.

Take care with meat and fish

Take extra care with meat, chicken, fish and meat products such as sausages and burgers. Follow these guidelines to be safe:

• when you put raw meat in the fridge, make sure it is well wrapped so it can’t drip onto other foods, and place it in the bottom of the fridge
• if you’ve handled raw meat, wash your hands and any surfaces that it has touched
• cook meat until there are no pink bits left and the juices run clear.
• avoid eating rare or raw meats. Take extra care with grilled or barbecued meat as it may be black on the outside, but still raw on the inside.

Most infections are rare and unlikely to cause you or your baby harm, but it’s not worth taking the risk if you can avoid it.

• • 
    

    Cook wisely
    

    • choose lean cuts of meat and chicken where you can, and grill or bake instead of fry
    • 
      
    • try stir-frying or steaming vegetables to keep their vitamin content high
    • 
      
    • if you are a strict vegetarian, have a medical condition such as diabetes or anaemia, or your previous babies were light in weight, ask your doctor or midwife about any special supplements or diet you might need.
    • • 
        

        Antenatal Tests

        Here are some antenatal tests that may be offered. There will be more information at the key stages through the guide. Ask your LMC for more information.

    
    

    Maternal serum testing (Triple test)

    • • Blood test at 16 weeks approx. Checks levels of alphafetoprotein, human gonadotropin and unconjugated oestrial. If these are found to be in levels above “normal” range, the mother is at increased risk of her baby having Down syndrome or spina bifida .Amniocentesis and/or ultrasound scanning are required to diagnose fetal abnormality.

    
    

    Nuchal scan

    • • A specialized ultrasound scan that screens for Down syndrome at 12-14 weeks

    
    

    CVS (chorionic villus sampling)

    • • A test for genetic disorders that involves taking a sample of the placenta at 8-12 weeks

    
    

    Amniocentesis

    • • A test for Down syndrome and spina bifida and other conditions. It involves taking a sample of the “waters” (amniotic fluid) that surround the baby. 16-18 weeks. The test can be performed with higher risk of miscarrage as early as 11 weeks.

        
        
      
      

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