11 Weeks Pregnant

As you enter the week 11 of your pregnancy, you are standing at a curve in this journey and your first trimester is nearing its end. You have crossed an important phase and so has your baby. A 11 week fetus is growing each day and at this stage is of the size of a fig. At 11 weeks pregnant, your 11 week baby measures 1.5-2 inches in length and weighs about approximately 7 grams. Your supermarket visits are going to make you pick up figs (thinking about the size of your baby), but you have to ensure that you feel good and stay happy, especially thinking about your little angel.

How Your Baby is Growing This Week?

Your baby at 11 weeks is beginning to look more like a little human. The external ears have completely formed and have reached the sides of the face. Little nostrils are opening up. The eyelids are formed but remain shut. The tongue and roof of the mouth have formed.

Hair follicles are starting to form on the scalp which will grow into those beautiful baby locks.

The hands are growing and the webbing between the fingers is almost gone. Believe it or not, 11 weeks may not seem to be a very long time, but your baby’s little fingers already have nail beds on which nails will grow in the coming weeks.

Although you can’t determine the sex of fetus at 11 weeks, ovaries are beginning to form in a female fetus and testosterone productions begins at this stage in a male fetus.

Overall your little baby is working hard and the small body is gradually straightening up. Your little acrobat can now twist, turn and may be even due a somersault inside the amniotic fluid. Although there’s still a little time before you start feeling them.

Changes in Your Body at 11 Weeks Pregnant

As you near the end of the first trimester, you may actually start feeling better. For most women nausea and vomiting are already getting better and their appetite is improving. If the nausea has made you lose a few pounds in the early weeks, you are all set to start the upward climb as far as weight gain is concerned.

Constipation and bloating are still here to stay a while. Food cravings and aversions will change the way you eat but remember to stick to a basic well balanced healthy diet. As you are still in your first trimester, miscarriage rate is moderately high, so take utmost care especially of what you eat. Avoid raw or under-cooked meat and eggs, unpasteurized cheese and milk, canned food or any such product which may have preservatives (turn those cans and read all the ingredients before you put it in the cart). Keep your caffeine intake low, you may instead have boiled milk, homemade vegetables juices or soup.

You will begin to show around this time especially if this is your second pregnancy or you are carrying twins. The uterus is growing and fully occupies the pelvic cavity. The examiner may be able to feel the top of the uterus on abdominal examination.

You will notice that your nails and hair are growing at a faster rate than usual. Be prepared to have a lot of good hair days. Your skin is looking healthier with that pregnancy glow.

Week 11 Pregnancy Signs and Symptoms

Improving appetite with few cravings and aversions
Fatigue
Frequency of urination
Occasional headaches
Engorgement of breasts
Tender and sore nipples
Occasional nausea vomiting
Constipation
Acidity
Gas and bloating
Mood changes
Frequent urination
Visible baby bump
Stretching pains

You may feel occasional cramping pains in the abdomen which may be mostly due to excessive gas formation. Your 11 weeks pregnant belly is now a little rounded and tight in appearance. However sudden onset of pain associated with dizziness, bleeding or spotting are warning signs and you should see the doctor right away.

Diagnostic Tests and Ultrasound Results in Week 11 of Pregnancy

At your 11 week ultrasound, you may see your little acrobat in motion, flexing hands and little feet moving or it may look more like swimming in the amniotic fluid around it.

Between weeks 11-14, you will have a NT- nuchal translucency scan. This is a very important scan. There is a small fluid collection at the back of the baby’s neck. This fluid will be measured in terms of thickness. Also the nasal bone will be checked. Both these factors together will give a fair risk assessment of genetic abnormalities like Down’s syndrome.

Also around this time of your 11 weeks pregnant ultrasound, you may undergo certain genetic screening tests like Quadruple Test or Triple Marker, depending on what you care giver decides is best in your case. They are non invasive tests where a blood sample will be drawn and given for laboratory testing. Generally the results of these along with those of NT (Nuchal Translucency) scan are very definitive for genetic anomaly risk analysis.

Other checks during the ultrasound scan will include baby’s heart rate, cervix, placenta etc to assess an overall well-being.

Pregnancy Health Tips

Be cautious of what you eat. Avoid seafood and raw eggs and foods with preservatives.
Going to an ante natal class will help you interact with other expectant mothers and sharing tips and experiences will help drive away lot of fears and will uplift your mood too.
Do not take any over-the-counter medications. It’s dangerous to self medicate during pregnancy.
If you are handling meat, wash your hands very nicely to avoid any kind of contamination.
Follow a light to moderate exercise routine. It’s also a good time to start kegel’s (pelvic floor) exercises as they will strengthen the pelvic floor and help in good urinary control.
You are all set to start gaining weight but remember you need only an extra 300 calories to fulfill the requirement of the body during pregnancy. Eat sensibly and do not follow the common advice of eating for two.
Avoid standing for long hours and keep your legs supported up when sitting on a chair. This will help to deal with the engorging veins in your legs.

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