You are 6 weeks and 1 day

You may spend a lot of time in front of the mirror looking for a bump, but it could be weeks before you show.

237 days until your due date

Like most newly pregnant women, you're probably watching for a rounded belly, but it's unlikely to appear just yet. On average, the fourth month brings the biggest growth spurt, when your pregnancy definitely shows as a rounded abdomen.

If this isn't your first pregnancy, you may show earlier, possibly at 8–10 weeks, because your abdominal muscles are more relaxed. Women with firm abdominal muscles may show later, and if you're expecting twins or triplets, you'll show even earlier.

Good to know

Strengthen your abdominals

It's safe to do abdominal exercises lying on your back in the first trimester. Toward the end of the first trimester, or once you start to show, stop doing them on your back and switch to other exercises.

Breathe correctly: breathe in to start and out on each effort.

Abdominal exercises strengthen your core. The deep transverse abdominis muscle, running horizontally across your body, is vital for core stability and strength as your baby grows. The rectus abdominis, running vertically down your body, stretches and weakens in pregnancy, so keeping the transverse muscle strong helps your posture and supports your spine.

The sooner you start strengthening the transverse abdominis, the better.

Try this first-trimester exercise: lie on your back with knees bent, feet flat on the floor, and arms by your sides. Breathe in, then as you slowly breathe out, press your lower back flat into the floor, feeling your abdominal muscles tighten. Hold for 3–5 seconds and repeat.

Ask a Doctor

Can having sex in pregnancy harm the baby?

Unless your doctor has told you to avoid sex because of a specific problem, such as a history of miscarriage or unexplained bleeding, sex is safe at any stage, and intimacy is good for your relationship.

Your baby is cushioned by fluid in the amniotic sac and protected by a plug of mucus in the cervix. Even deep penetration isn't harmful.

This is general information based on NHS guidance, not medical advice, and every pregnancy is different. Talk to your midwife or GP about anything that worries you. If your baby's movements slow down or change, or you have bleeding, severe pain or leaking fluid, call your maternity unit straight away. In an emergency, call 999.