By the 11th week, your baby has undergone lots of changes. In fact, all their organs are in place and most of them are already functioning as they would for the rest of their life! Your little one is slightly more than 3.8cm tall from head to bottom, weighing about seven grams and will have grown to the size of a fig by this stage.
Your baby at 11 weeks
Their body has largely taken shape by now, and they’re starting to look like a ‘real’ baby. Also, not only are the baby’s fingers and toes separating and looking like real baby parts, but the fingernail and toenail beds are also beginning to develop. All their vital organs are in place, and most of them are already functional.
By the end of the week, the genitals will be almost fully developed and you should be able to tell if it’s a boy or girl in a few weeks. If she is a girl, her ovaries are already developing.
Plus, tooth buds are also starting to develop under the gums, regardless of the fact that their first tooth won’t begin to show until about four to seven months after birth.
Your body at 11 weeks pregnant
You might have a little bump, but it will go unnoticed by a lot of people. Your muscles will have stretched out a bit and you may, therefore, experience a bit of pain. Also, your waist will start to thicken slightly.
Here are some other things you may notice:
- Increased vaginal discharge: You may notice that the amount of discharge you produce has increased. As long as it is white and odourless, it is completely normal. If not, or if you notice that it is accompanied by blood, you may need to see a doctor right away.
- Leg cramps: Your legs may feel tight and painful, especially at night. Always stretch your legs regularly as a form of exercise to help with this. You may also need to include Calcium and Magnesium supplements in your diet.
- Breast tenderness: Your breasts may feel very sensitive, especially around the nipples. This is all part of your body’s preparation process for the baby.
- Frequent urination: The hCG hormone is responsible for increasing blood flow to the kidneys and the area around the pelvis. This will make you feel the need to pee often.
- Nausea and vomiting: By the 11th week, you still have about two or three weeks of morning sickness to go. It usually goes away on its own between weeks 12 and 14.
- Cravings and aversions: These might stick with you throughout your pregnancy, or the cravings and aversions could go away on their own in a few weeks. Every pregnancy is different.
- Dizziness: Your body is in overdrive growing a little human. If you are not producing enough blood to circulate throughout your entire system, you may feel weak once in a while. You may notice bouts of dizziness or faintness after standing for a long time or performing some strenuous activities. You should be able to quickly fix this by lying down and raising your feet above your heart level.
- Bloating: Progesterone causes the gastrointestinal tract to relax, making you feel inflated and bloated. It’s all part of the journey.
- Cramping: You may feel a bit of pain in your abdomen and around your bump. This feels a lot like period pains and can be managed in pretty much the same way, for example by using hot-water bottles.
- Various changes on your skin: Your skin may start developing dark patches, called chloasma or pregnancy mask. Your face may also become greasier and spottier than before. This should all go away in a few months.
- Stuffy nose: At around week 11, most women start feeling stuffy, like their noses are blocked. You can manage the stuffiness using plain saline nasal drops. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before using any medicated product.
Taking care of yourself during this time
If you’re dealing with anxiety and depression, yoga is a great potential solution to explore. Prenatal yoga will help you relax, which is exactly what you need when you have a baby growing inside you. However, if the anxiety and depression persist, consult your healthcare provider.
If you’re feeling congested or your nasal passages feel dry, sleeping with a humidifier in your room can help to lessen congestion and rehydrate your nasal passages.
Try to avoid stress-inducing situations as much as you can.
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