11 Weeks Pregnant
Hey there, pregnant moms and dads-to-be, and welcome to the 11th week of pregnancy! Last night, I woke up around midnight to a crazy bout of raging hunger. Has anyone else had this happen? I ravaged the pantry and settled down for a wonderful midnight snack. When seized by hunger, EAT, my friend! If insomnia is driving you up the wall, read a book until your eyes begin to droop, put on a sleep mask and try to get back to sleep. Your body is going through so much change. Try to take these obstacles in stride and stay positive. Anyway, let’s get down to business and I’ll take you through Week 11 of your pregnancy.
11 Weeks Pregnant: Recurring Symptoms
11 Weeks Pregnant: Common Symptoms
Skin Changes During Pregnancy
Before you run off to the dermatologist because you have a new mark on your skin, be assured small changes to your skin during pregnancy are normal. Due to the powerful hormones moving through your body, your skin will be going through some changes over the next six months. Some areas of your skin may become increasingly sensitive, others may look blotchy or darken, and you may develop skin tags. Keep track of these changes and talk to your doctor about how to protect and treat your skin. Find a broad hat and wear a ton of sun block. Stretch marks, chloasma and hyperpigmentation are a natural part of pregnancy.
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Tooth/Gum Sensitivity During Pregnancy
Pregnancy leaves no part of your body untouched and the mouth is no exception. More than 75% of women experience swelling or bleeding in their gums during some point in pregnancy. As is the case with other parts of the body, increased blood flow and pregnancy hormones render the gums more sensitive. This sensitivity makes your gyms vulnerable to gingivitis. Toothaches during pregnancy due to these changes are actually fairly common. Make regular dentist appointments, and call your dentist if you experience soreness or bleeding.
Increased Appetite During Pregnancy
As you progress toward the second trimester, some of your morning sickness and nausea will give away to an increased appetite. You truly are eating for two. Make sure that you are eating healthy when you’re quenching this hunger. As described above, I’ve found myself waking up in the middle of the night with a raging hunger and have had to eat an entire breakfast by myself in the dark hours of the night. It’s been pretty nice, actually. Just roll with it, mamas. When your body calls, answer and eat, giving your body the healthy foods it needs.
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Stages of Fetal Development: Baby Growth & Size at 11 Weeks
At week 11, your baby weighs .25 ounces and is 1.61 inches long, about the size of a fig. Your baby has reached the next stage of development: this week, your little embryo has finally become a fetus.
If you’ve thought your baby was growing a lot these past weeks and months, you’re about to be blown away by the next two months. From now up until week 20, your baby will increase in length by three times and increase in weight up to nine times its current size. Talk about an expert bodybuilder, amiright?
It’s getting to be a hairy situation in your uterus, as your baby begins to sprout hair follicles. Note that it is entirely normal for you baby to be born hairless or extremely hairy. My babies at birth were nowhere near as hairy as I expected them to be!
Reflexes are also developing at this point, as your baby begins practicing yawning, swallowing, and eating. If your morning sickness has subsided, I guarantee that you, like me, will also be practicing these movements, as well. Other exciting changes include the complete formation of facial bones, the lengthening of your baby’s body, and the beginnings of external genitalia.
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Fun Fact About Pregnancy Foals — or young horses — can stand up only 40 to 60 minutes after being born! What would you do if your baby did the same? |
My Pregnant Belly Progression
Check out my 3 months pregnant belly! My bump is peeking out this week! Based on my prior five pregnancies, I feel like I’m going to really start rounding out over the next couple of weeks.
Body Image Issues During Pregnancy
As your belly continues to grow, you may feel uncomfortable in your body and less like yourself. Your weight will increase significantly, and you might (as I have) worry about going back to your prior body after baby. This is not a shocker, as we as a culture place skinniness up on a pedestal. If you find yourself decreasing your caloric intake and having feelings of anxiety when it comes to eating during your pregnancy, you must get professional help so as to ensure the safety of yourself and your baby.
What helps me cope with these feelings is confiding in others. Having a trusted friend or loved one that you can express these feelings to is remarkably important. It will bring you closer as an added benefit. I also find it easier to manage my body image by changing the way I view my new form. Instead of feeling upset at what is happening to my body, or focusing on the number I see on the scale, I try to remind myself that my body is undergoing these changes for a wonderful purpose: to perform the miracle of life. You are strong and you are beautiful! As someone who has struggled with body image issues during college and my younger years, I want to share that pregnancy has actually helped me to get over these issues and to feel more confident and better about myself.
Your Pregnancy at 11 Weeks: Prenatal Appointments
The following prenatal tests are available at 11 weeks of pregnancy:
Cell-free DNA screening (cfDNA)
Chorionic villus sampling (CVS)
First Trimester Combined Screening
First trimester combined screening, also called the first trimester combined test, has two parts: a blood test taken between weeks 9 and 13 of pregnancy, and an ultrasound (also called the nuchal translucency test) administered between weeks 11 and 13 of pregnancy.
- The blood test measures the levels of two pregnancy-specific substances in the mother’s blood (pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A or PAPP-A, and human chorionic gonadotropin or HCG).
- Conducted several weeks later in conduction with the earlier blood test, the nuchal translucency test measures the size of the clear space in the tissue at the back of the baby’s head.
Together, these tests screen for chromosomal abnormalities, such as Down syndrome (trisomy 21) and Edward syndrome (trisomy 18). Doctors tend to advise this screening exam since it can be taken so early in pregnancy and since it is safe, posing no threat to your baby’s health. Keep in mind that the first trimester combined screening does not provide a diagnosis but rather indicates your risk of carrying a baby with Down syndrome or trisomy 18. If results show that your risk is moderate or high, your doctor might recommend a diagnostic test such as the CVS or an amniocentesis.
Week by Week Pregnancy Food Guide: Healthy Foods For You & Baby
Eating healthy during pregnancy requires a lot more than just taking a prenatal vitamin every day. Be sure to check out Week 4 and Week 5 for a pregnancy food and nutrition guide. Take a look below and check back in each week for a healthy pregnancy recipe.
Quick, Healthy Meal Tip
No bake vegan PB oatmeal Cookies: Whisk 1 cup of creamy peanut butter with ½ cup of pure maple syrup. Heat in increments of 20 seconds until warm (approximately 4-7 rounds). Add oats to the mixture and stir. Roll into balls onto a baking sheet and freeze for 15-25 minutes. (Tasty)
Why Maple Syrup? Maple syrup is created from the sap of sugar maple trees. Maple syrup contains many antioxidants and minerals, including calcium, potassium, iron, zinc, and 165% of your daily recommended manganese. Scientists have discovered that maple syrup contains at least 24 different antioxidants. However, despite these benefits, maple syrup is incredibly high in sugar, so make it a sweet treat, instead of a common practice.
How Many Months Is 11 Weeks?
11 weeks in months corresponds to being around 3 months pregnant. This is just an approximation because months have a different number of days and weeks (which is why doctors don’t measure your pregnancy based on months but rather based on weeks).
Week 11 Pregnancy Checklist
- Plan a vacation — the second trimester is the best time to get away
- Go on a shopping spree for some maternity clothing
- Treat yourself with some prenatal yoga or a massage (you deserve it!)
- Get some exercise
- Continue taking your prenatal vitamins regularly
Resources
- What to Expect & What to Expect When You’re Expecting – 5th Edition (2016)
- The Bump
- Baby List
- Parents.com
- Healthline.com
- WebMD
- The Mama Natural Week to Week Guide to Pregnancy & Childbirth (2017)
- Mayo Clinic’s Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy – Second Edition (2018)
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
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