pregnancy symptoms fading at 11 weeks?

11 weeks pregnant


Your baby is the size of a Brussels sprout
11 Weeks Pregnant: Your Baby's Development

Inside the uterus, when you're 11 weeks pregnant, your little one looks like a teeny-tiny human. From an oversized head to tiny fingers complete with fingernails, this week is full of exciting growth and changes, both big and small!

At the moment, your foetus's head makes up one-third of the total body length, but in the coming weeks the body will race to catch up and straighten out from its curved shape.

The foetus's facial features are also slowly maturing. The bones of the face are now fully formed, the ear buds look more and more like | real' ears, and eyelids are in place and fused shut.

When you're 11 weeks pregnant, your baby is moving a lot but you won't be able to feel this action for several more weeks to come.

To support all this growing, the foetus needs more nutrients and so the placenta has been growing fast and getting ready to provide it. By around this week the placenta will be fully formed and will take over the role that the yolk sac has had in nourishing the foetus and removing waste.

Although it's too early for your doctor to be able to see the gender of your little one during at ultrasound at 11 weeks, it's never too early for you to write a list of your favourite boy and girl names. Go ahead and start brainstorming using our Baby Name Generator.
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The Size of the Foetus at 11 Weeks Pregnant

At 11 weeks, the foetus is about the size of a Brussels sprout this week. From crown to rump, the length is just over 40 mm.

For a more visual look at how things are developing inside your uterus, check out this illustration:
Embryo at 11 weeks pregnant
Mum's Body at 11 Weeks Pregnant

Are you bloated or showing? It can be hard to tell! You might be noticing your waistline thickening at 11 weeks pregnant, but others may not see any change at all yet.

If this isn't your first pregnancy, you may show a little earlier as your muscles have already stretched during your previous pregnancy. You might also show earlier if you're 11 weeks pregnant with twins. When carrying twins, it's not unusual to be bigger for your dates than you would be if you were carrying a single foetus.

Although the size of your baby bump may be starting to grow, at this stage it's also not unusual to be experiencing bloating and other digestive issues like heartburn and indigestion due to hormonal changes.

Mama, whether you're showing or not, know that you've done a fabulous job getting through the worst of the first trimester. It might have been a tough few weeks for you but there's light at the end of the tunnel. The second trimester is almost here, and it may just bring with it increased energy levels. You deserve it!
11 Weeks Pregnant: Your Symptoms

Here are some of the symptoms you may be experiencing at 11 weeks pregnant:

Feeling hot and sweaty. Did you know there is now 50 percent more blood circulating in your body than before you were pregnant? All this extra blood volume is contributing to you feeling hotter and sweatier than usual. Put your feet up and stay hydrated!

Cramping. At 11 weeks pregnant it can be normal to feel some mild cramping which is kind of like period pain. As your uterus expands and your abdominal muscles and ligaments stretch as your foetus and belly grow some cramping and even pain can be expected. Contact your doctor or midwife if you are bleeding or if you're worried. Read more about the aches and pains of pregnancy here.

Headaches. These can be quite common in the first trimester but tend to subside from the second trimester onward. Given you are 11 weeks pregnant, you should ask your doctor before taking a painkiller. Experts say that paracetamol is typically OK, but you should ask your doctor how much to take and for how long. Drinking lots of water, getting plenty of sleep, and trying your best to relax can also help.

Breast changes. Your breasts may be a little larger now. You might love this change or loathe it – especially if your swollen breasts are causing backache. You might also notice the veins on your breasts are darker, and that your breasts feel tender and sore. In the coming weeks or months, you may see yellow liquid leaking from your nipples. This is colostrum and is the first milk you produce. You might like to start using a breast pad to absorb the leaks if it's worrying you.

Increased vaginal discharge. Your body may be releasing extra milky, white discharge now. This is normal but if you notice changes such as a brown discharge, brown watery discharge, itchiness, or a foul odour, contact your doctor to rule out problems.

Feeling tired and moody. A little earlier in this article we mentioned that the placenta is taking over the role of the yolk sac in feeding your foetus. When this happens there are some hormonal changes that take place, and these could leave you feeling tired and moody. Adding a little gentle exercise to your day could help with both your fatigue and mood swings. What about trying some swimming or prenatal yoga? Before you launch into a new exercise regime, read up on how to get moving during pregnancy and consult your doctor.

Morning sickness. You might still be experiencing queasiness and even vomiting but it often subsides by the time you reach 16 to 20 weeks, so hang in there!

Light spotting. These symptoms can be normal during pregnancy but contact your midwife if you notice bleeding even if there's no cramping to accompany it.

Cravings. Some mums-to-be experience food cravings during pregnancy. These are thought to be caused by hormonal changes, which affect your sense of smell and taste. As long as your food choices are part of a healthy pregnancy diet, go ahead and indulge! One warning though: If you crave non-food items like clay or dirt, contact your doctor as this signals a iron-deficiency called pica.

No symptoms. If you're 11 weeks pregnant and your symptoms seem to have gone or your symptoms come and go, it could be because you're slowly entering the second trimester when symptoms often ease. If you're worried about your lack of symptoms, go ahead and chat with your midwife.

11 Weeks Pregnant: Things to Consider

You'll be offered a screening test for Down's, Edwards' and Patau's syndromes by around the time you're 11 weeks pregnant. The ultrasound and blood test used to check for these often happens at the same time as the dating scan. Keep in mind, these tests don't give you a definite answer. In some cases, your doctor may recommend further testing but the choice about whether to have these tests is yours.

As part of your antenatal care you will also be offered a blood test to check whether your blood is rhesus negative or positive. This test is done to determine whether your blood is compatible with the foetus's. If your blood is rhesus negative, it can develop antibodies that attack the foetus's blood cells, leading to the baby developing anaemia or jaundice. If you do end up being rhesus negative, your doctor will know what to do! Treatment involves injections to prevent your body from producing these antibodies.

During your pregnancy, your doctor or midwife will let you know if you need to take extra prenatal vitamins and supplements. Vitamin C is one of these, as it contributes to cell health. Eating fruits and vegetables like oranges, strawberries, potato, and broccoli should give you all you need, but if you're in any doubt ask your doctor for a check.

Consider where you will give birth. You don't have to make a decision just yet, but you might want to start researching your options and looking around. One in 50 women give birth at home, the rest give birth in a hospital or birthing centre. Ask your doctor or midwife for their advice, and ask other mums in your area for their opinion, too.

If you are a working parent-to-be, find out about how to claim maternity leave and what paternity leave may be available. You should also chat with your midwife about how to ensure you keep safe and healthy at work while pregnant.

If you | re planning on revealing the news of your pregnancy to friends, family and colleagues in the coming weeks, you might like to check out these fun pregnancy announcement card ideas.

Wondering how much weight it | s healthy to gain during pregnancy? Our Pregnancy Weight Gain Calculator can help. Keep in mind, every mum-to-be is unique and your doctor or midwife is the expert who can give you personalised advice on how to stay on track.

Don | t plan your gender reveal party around it, but for a bit of fun play around with our Chinese Gender Predictor. Only time will tell if it got it right!

11 Weeks Pregnant: Ask Your Doctor

Will your dating scan take place at 11 weeks?

Will you get pictures or video of your little one to take home from the ultrasound scan?

What is the chance of miscarriage at 11 weeks pregnant? When does the doctor think it's OK for you to announce your pregnancy more publically (if you haven't already)?

11 Weeks Pregnant: Your Checklist

Think about whether the screening tests your doctor offers are right for you.

If you | ve had a dating scan and discovered you | re pregnant with twins or more, find out how your multiple pregnancy can be different.

Check what medical services are available to you where you live. Your midwife can help you get oriented, but this page can also help you find options: https://www.nhs.uk/service-search.

Make an appointment to visit your local hospitals and birthing centres.

Get started on your baby registry. Even though plans for your baby shower might not be underway yet, and you may not have even shared news of your pregnancy, you can still start creating a wish list so that you | ll have one less thing to worry about later on.