Pregnancy Guide – Week 6
Now would be a good time to get in contact with an Obstetrician. Not every Gynecologist is an obstetrician, but they should be able to refer/recommend you to one. In general, most OBs don’t want to start your pregnancy care until the 7-8th week, but it is important to set up that appointment now, as it often involves a “declaration ultrasound” which requires two appointments – one with the ultrasound technician and one with the doctor (depending on the office). This is where they determine (in addition to a blood test) that you are in fact pregnant. They will take a number of measurement, that will all seem totally arbitrary to you, but a trained ultrasound tech will know what to look for, and will likely be able to give a estimated due date (with in a few days). This is also usually a required step to insure maternity benefits from most health insurance companies. You will also want to call the insurance company yourself to make sure that you follow all of their steps. Some require to parttake in a healthy pregnancy program which may invovle phone counseling, as well as report submitting and a workbook throughout your pregnancy. It may seem like a hassle but it is a small concession to make if you are able to get the full benefits of your plan. 
You might experience some minor spotting this week. Do not panic, this is known as implantation bleeding and is simply the result of the zygote burrowing its way into the wall of your uterus. Not all woman actually see this, some will only have a slight pink tinge to the toilet paper when they wipe after urination. However, if you have significant – like full flow menstruation – or see actual clots (chunks) you may want to contact your OB/GYN as it could indicate ectopic implantation or miscarriage. Ectopic implantation is something that happens when the sperm joined the egg in the fallopian tube instead of the uterus and implants within the tube. This can be a life-threatening occurrence as the zygote grows and possibly ruptures the tube, causing copious amounts of blood loss. If at any point in the first 8 weeks of pregnancy you experience significant and excruciating (usually with rapid onset) pain in your lower abdomen, seek immediate medical attention.
Your pregnancy vertigo may have progressed into full on “morning sickness” which is probably the biggest misnomer in all of medicine; because you will soon learn that it should be called “maternity sickness”.
Work of the Week:
zygote noun Biology . the cell produced by the union of two gametes, before it undergoes cleavage. (www.dictionary.com)
