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11 Weeks Pregnant: Symptoms, Baby Development, And Tips

11 Weeks Pregnant: Symptoms, Baby Development, And Tips

23 Sep 2022 | 8 min Read

Sudeshna Chakravarti

Author | 799 Articles

If you are 11 weeks pregnant, you will be happy to know that by now your baby has developed distinct features and characteristics, including their fingers and toes.

Regarding pregnancy symptoms, some mums-to-be may find that their morning sickness has started to ease as they approach the end of their first trimester. However, some may still experience food aversion, bloating, and nausea around this time.

Read on to know more about your baby’s size and developmental progress and the common pregnancy symptoms that you may experience in the 11th week.

How Many Months Is 11 Weeks Pregnant?

At 11 weeks, you are two-and-a-half months pregnant and are just a few weeks away from entering the second trimester. During this stage, your baby develops human characteristics, and you will also be able to hear their heartbeat for the first time using a special stethoscope.

How Big Is Your Baby At 11 Weeks Pregnant?

Your baby is about the size of a Brussels sprout now. They measure 4.1 cm in length and weigh around 7 gm. During this week, your baby will achieve some major developmental milestones. We discuss each of them in the next section.

Your Baby’s Development At 11 Weeks

We have created a table to help you understand your baby’s developmental progress at 11 weeks pregnant. You will be able to see your baby’s growth with the help of an ultrasound, during your regular prenatal check-up.

Body Parts	Baby’s Development At 11 Weeks Pregnant
Face	Your baby attains human facial features. Their nose and lips are also formed.
Head	Your baby’s head will be large and about half the size of their body
Heart	Their heart is completely formed and starts pumping blood
Eyelids	Your baby’s eyelids remain closed
Hands	Your baby’s hands now open and close into fists
Mouth	Their tooth buds start to develop
Brain and nervous system	Your baby’s brain and nervous system are still developing
Muscles	Their muscles are still developing and working with the nerves to develop jerky movements that are not felt by the mum
Intestine	Your baby’s intestine starts absorbing water and glucose from the swallowed amniotic fluid
Genitals	Female and male genitals are now distinguishable through an ultrasound scan
Nails	Your baby’s fingers and toenails are growing

11 Weeks Pregnant Symptoms

With all the development happening in your womb, you are going to experience quite a lot of pregnancy symptoms during this stage. The most common ones include:

Morning sickness: While this symptom starts to ease this week for some, it may be quite prevalent in others. You may also experience a lack of appetite due to morning sickness and nausea.
Fatigue: As your body is working harder to nurture the growth of your little one, you may start feeling more tired than usual.
Weight gain: It is normal to gain some amount of weight during pregnancy to support your baby’s growth. Just ensure that your weight gain is healthy to avoid difficult pregnancy complications.
Bloating and constipation: The increased production of progesterone hormone during pregnancy relaxes your gastrointestinal tract, which further slows down the digestion process, and causes stomach concerns like constipation and bloating.
Food cravings or aversions: The hormonal fluctuations during this time can make you crave for different food, or even make you averse to certain foods that you preferred eating before.
Heartburn: Due to hormonal changes, the muscles in your digestive tract relax, pushing the gastric acids toward your oesophagus, and causing heartburn.
Frequent urination: The growing uterus applies some amount of pressure on your bladder, which increases your urge to urinate.
Leg cramps: The compression of your blood vessels due to the growing uterus or a magnesium deficiency can cause leg cramps, most commonly at night. You can consider drinking plenty of water and frequently stretching your legs to prevent this condition.
Vaginal discharge: You may experience a small amount of off-white or milky-white discharge during this week. Unless this symptom is accompanied by other signs like fever or pain during urination, vaginal discharge during pregnancy is not a cause for concern.

Bodily Changes At 11 Weeks Pregnant

In the 11th week of pregnancy, your body undergoes several emotional and physical changes. Some of the common changes that you may experience this week include:

Breast tenderness
Skin darkening
Shinier and fuller hair due to hormonal changes
Small belly bump

In addition to physical changes, you may also notice changes in your emotional health, such as increased episodes of anxiety and mood swings.

OB/GYN Visit At 11 Weeks Pregnant

At 11 weeks pregnant, you will have a regular prenatal check-up, where your healthcare provider will check your weight and blood pressure. They will also conduct a combined screening test to determine if your baby has any chromosomal abnormalities.

The combined screening test includes

Ultrasound for nuchal translucency: This test helps evaluate the risk of Down syndrome in your baby by checking the thickness of the skin behind the neck. The thicker the fluid, the higher the risk of Down syndrome.
Gestational age determination: This scan helps visualise the nasal bone and calculates your accurate gestational age.
Blood test: A blood test will also be conducted to determine the levels of pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) hormones in your body. Abnormal levels of either compound can indicate the risk of chromosomal abnormalities in your baby.

When To Call Your Doctor?

If you experience any of these symptoms, you should contact your healthcare provider immediately.

Lower abdominal pain
Fever (100 degrees or higher)
Vaginal bleeding
Dizziness
Vomiting
Difficulty in breathing
Swelling in your hands, legs, and feet
Pain while urinating

Helpful Tips For Mums-To-Be

We have listed some essential self-care tips for the 11th week of pregnancy to keep you comfortable and happy.

Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.
Follow a healthy lifestyle and have home-cooked meals. Avoid raw and undercooked foods.
Make sure to take your prenatal vitamin supplements regularly.
Engage in mild to moderate physical activities after consulting your doctor.
Wear breathable and loose clothes, and switch to nursing bras for extra support.
Indulge in de-stressing activities and spend time with your friends and family.
Start pelvic floor exercises like Kegels to help strengthen your pelvic muscles.

Conclusion

When you are 11 weeks pregnant, your baby is growing quickly, and you will experience a range of pregnancy symptoms, including some emotional changes. Make sure to take good care of yourself during this time, and take plenty of rest to enhance your overall well-being and support your baby’s development.

If you notice any abnormal pregnancy symptoms, do contact your healthcare provider immediately, as it could indicate an underlying pregnancy complication. Early diagnosis can prevent future risks can help ensure that both you and your baby are healthy.

FAQs

What happens to a woman’s body at 11 weeks pregnant?

A mother-to-be goes through certain changes in the body during 11 weeks of pregnancy such as breast growth, increased vaginal discharge, dark abdominal line, leg cramps, fatigue, mood swings, morning sickness, and more.

Can you have a baby bump at 11 weeks pregnant?

Definitely! Every woman’s body is unique, and a bump may begin to emerge when the baby is 11 weeks along (particularly if you are carrying multiples or have previously given birth).

How does an 11-week pregnant belly feel?

Nausea, vomiting, fatigue. Although you may begin to feel more energetic, symptoms like bloating, gas, constipation, or heartburn will be more prevalent.

What are the signs of a healthy pregnancy at 11 weeks?

Aches and pains around your bump, nausea, mood swings, a metallic taste in your mouth, sore breasts, indigestion, headaches, and dizziness.

Can you tell the gender at 11 weeks?

As your pregnancy progresses by weeks and months, it becomes easier to identify the gender of your baby. At 11 weeks, the accuracy can range from 70.3% to 98.7%, and at 12 weeks pregnant symptoms, to 100%. But it is illegal to ask about the gender of the baby to the doctor.