11 Weeks Pregnant: What to Expect?
Baby’s Growth During Pregnancy – Week 11
By around eleven weeks your baby officially becomes a foetus from an embryo. Distinct facial features and gender-related organs are developing in your baby, and the eleven-week scan gives an exciting preview to the way your baby is growing inside you. The scan performed at eleven weeks is also medically significant for ruling out many anomalies, syndromes or malformations.
What is the Baby’s Size?
Your baby is now as big as a lime. Your 11-week fetus is about 1.6 inches long now and weighs in at about 0.25 ounces. They’ve got about a 1:1 head-to-body ratio (which will change rapidly with time).
11-week Symptoms of Pregnancy
It’s probably tough to feel calm right now since your hormones are still raging and you may still feel nauseous at times. But know there’s light at the end of the tunnel—just a couple more weeks left in the first trimester, which is notoriously the worst for pregnancy symptoms! Here’s more about what you’re likely feeling at 11 weeks pregnant:
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Fatigue
Your sleep might have been disrupted or some weird dreams reoccurring are also common during pregnancy. You are highly exhausted but you must know that your body is working really hard to grow your baby.
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Nausea
You are obviously getting tired of being sick and exhausted all the time. This feeling will stop soon.
[Read: Morning Sickness during Pregnancy]
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Gas
It is normal to have more than normal gas formation during pregnancy. To help relieve yourself, you should avoid eating gas producing foods like cabbage or beans. You must not take any OTC anti-gas medications. Do not worry about this or feel embarrassed since its understandable as your body goes through changes.
The mood swings, as we all know are the result of constant changes in your hormones. The hormones in your body is rapidly changing and it may go like this for a while. Try meditation and healthier food for some relaxation. You can even watch movies or series that may help you keep calm.
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Leg cramps
These tight and painful muscles can strike at any time and may even interrupt with your sleep in the middle of the night. Drink plenty of water to prevent leg cramps. You can try stretching during the day time. (Be careful and have someone near you for support). At the end, make sure your diet is giving you enough potassium and magnesium.
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Skin darkening
You might find a dark line down the center of your belly all of a sudden. There is nothing to panic as it is perfectly normal. It’s one of the pregnancy symptoms and is called the linea nigra. It is a linear hyperpigmentation that commonly appears on the abdomen. This is caused due to hormonal changes and is not permanent. Although, you can expect it to stay after pregnancy until you breastfeed.
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Vaginal discharge
The increased blood flow to your vagina combined with an increase in estrogen production could cause more of a clear, odourless discharge called leukorrhea. It might seem a little gross, but this substance is simply nature’s way of getting rid of bacteria. In case, it is colored, tinged with blood, has a foul odour, or causes discomfort in any way, you must call your doctor.
Note: Women who are 11 weeks pregnant with twins often have elevated hormone levels, which may mean double the symptoms and higher weight gain. Both are normal, and you too should experience increased energy and decreased nausea in the coming weeks.
11 weeks pregnant belly
Your 11 weeks pregnant belly is starting to develop a full-on baby bump but chances are (especially if it’s your first pregnancy) you might not be showing so much at 11 weeks. Women pregnant with their second babies and those who are 11 weeks pregnant with twins tend to start showing earlier than first-time mothers-to-be.
While your belly may or may not be visibly changing, you may be surprised to notice the drastic change in your breast size. It is recommended to shop for some new, comfortable and stretchy bras at this stage as your breasts will feel tender than ever. If you’re planning on breastfeeding your baby after birth, a nursing bra can be worn now as well and will come in handy after baby’s birth too.
At 11 weeks, mothers-to-be are often stressed with the chance of miscarriage. But know now that you’ve seen baby’s heartbeat, your miscarriage risk is down to just 3 percent. It will drop even lower over the next month or so.
11 Weeks Ultrasound
You must be anxious about this 11-week ultrasound but don’t be. However, it is a very crucial scan that rules out any abnormalities in the foetus. It is probably going to be the first time you get to see your moving baby. Just be prepared for a lot of happy tears.
The baby at 11 weeks ultrasound looks more human with well-formed hands and limbs. Although, your baby’s head and bones are well developed at this stage, the body is still disproportionate with a large head and a comparatively small torso. In the scan, you can catch your baby bouncing and kick in the watery amniotic sac. The baby’s genital organs will be beginning to form in this week and may not be clearly visible in the scan. Therefore, your sonographer may not be able to conclude on the gender of the baby at this stage. The foetus at this stage is only an inch or two long but has a rapidly developing organ system.
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During the 11-week scan, the foetus is screened for chromosomal abnormalities like down syndrome.
- The results from the scan are evaluated along with the results of the blood test to arrive at a diagnosis.
- The position and size of the placenta are checked.
- The amount of amniotic fluid is assessed.
- Gestational age of the baby is checked based on the growth of the foetus.
- The nuchal translucency (NT), measured as the translucent space in the tissue beneath the neck of the foetus, is used as a risk assessment factor for the syndrome. (Nuchal translucency is also used as a guideline to rule out any congenital cardiac disease.)
- Multiple pregnancies, if any, are clearly visible during this scan. (11-week ultrasound twins are usually visible at this stage as two clearly separate gestational sacs.)
- General pregnancy health assessment is made.
PREGNANCY CHECKLIST AT 11-WEEKS PREGNANCY
- Moisturize your belly, hips and thighs everyday to avoid dry/itchy skin. (as the skin stretches)
- Avoid hot tubs, steam rooms, intense hot-weather workouts, super-hot baths. (anything that could raise your body temperature to 102 degrees).
- Try to listen to the baby’s heartbeat with a Doppler at your doctor’s appointment.
- PLAN A BABYMOON! (If no one has old you already, this is the best time for a babymoon. Choose your destination and go for it after you consult with your doctor.)
Also read: 10 weeks pregnant: what to expect?
