You are almost at the end of your first trimester! You have done a commendable job for the past 2 months and 2 weeks and you’ll be happy to know that your second trimester will kick off in another 3 weeks’ time!
Your baby is the size of a large strawberry now and weighs about 9 grams already. Your baby has been undergoing innumerable and rapid changes for the fast-few weeks and by this time your baby’s head is almost half the size of the body. But there is nothing to worry about as with time your baby will start looking like a human being and less like an alien.
11th Week of Pregnancy: Baby Changes, Symptoms, Foods & Care
You have been having frequent mood swings and random food cravings and you don’t know how to control them. So, here we are with some tips and ideas about how to tackle your pregnancy symptoms this week!
What can you expect in the 11th week?
- The baby bump will finally be visible.
- Morning sickness and fatigue might still be there.
- You can feel cramps in the lower abdominal region.
- The soreness of the breast continues.
- You can feel hungrier than ever.
Changes in your body
You are going to start experiencing all the significant changes in your body from this week onwards.
- By this week you might start sporting a ‘baby bump’ now and feel more like a Mother!
- Say goodbye to your acne breakouts for a while as you have this beautiful glow in your face that says a lot about you.
- You will have stronger nails and fuller hair now. Thank your prenatal vitamins and pregnancy hormones for that!
- You have a broader waistline.
- Amidst all the good things, you’ll have to deal with blemishes and unwanted hair growth, especially facial hair.
Your Baby’s Development
–Heartbeat is detected
A heartbeat can usually be detected as early as 6 weeks but by this week, your little champ’s heart is racing twice as fast as yours. The normal heartbeat of your baby right now should be between 120 to 140 beats per minute. Undergoing a Handheld Doppler Ultrasound now will confirm the heartbeat of the baby.
–Skin starts to form
A fine layer starts to appear over your baby’s skeleton. A special layer which will, later on, be the fingernails and toenails also start to form this week.
–Head larger than the body
Your baby looks a bit like an alien now with his/her head covering the major portion of the body. Nothing to worry, in the coming weeks your baby will have a proportionate body
–Facial feature
Your baby has started to form distinctive facial features now- broad face, eyes are separated and the eyelids are shut, the ears are developing and have started to pop out and there are changes still going on for the jaw structure to form.
–Formation of Red Blood Cells
The liver is starting to produce red blood cells. However, with time once the bone marrow starts to form, it will begin to produce the red blood cells.
–Genitals form
The external genitalia of your baby starts to form after this week and it will gradually develop either into a penis or a clitoris and labia majora.
–Backbone develops
The backbone of your baby has been developing and can bend now.
Symptoms
–Brighter Skin
You’ll have the lovely pregnancy glow on your face, which will make you feel special and your near and dear ones might just be able to guess it if you have been hiding it from them!
–Fuller Hair and Stronger Nails
Your hair growth will increase and just bless your hormones and the vitamins for your fuller hair and stronger nails. The nutrients are doing wonders for your body!
–Blemishes
Known as the “Mask of pregnancy” might cause pigmentation in certain areas on your body due to the sudden hormonal changes. Nothing to worry about, these blemishes will begin to disappear post-pregnancy. Consult your doctor if you have excessive pigmentation. Meanwhile, you can try having oatmeal and washing your face with cold water to treat your blemishes.
–Unwanted hair growth
You might be happy with your hCG doing wonders to your skin but in no time, you will feel like cursing your hormones for the unwanted hair growth, especially on your face!
–Frequent urination
You have been suffering from this ever since you got tested positive with pregnancy. The blood flow to your pelvic area is increasing and so is the urge to pee. Your visit to the washroom will increase with each passing week, but that doesn’t mean you’ll cut down on your liquid diet. Keeping yourself hydrated throughout your pregnancy period is very necessary.
–Breast changes and soreness
Your enlarged breasts might seem attractive to your partner but you are regretting having such large breasts. Blood flow to your breasts is increasing and preparing them for breastfeeding. Invest in a good maternity bra to provide some support to your growing breasts.
–Heartburn
Your ability to have spicy and oily foods are decreasing as your digestive system isn’t favoring it. Cutting down on oily foods is recommended now as it will lower the risk of acidity and heartburn.
–Nausea
The morning sickness will be at the peak this week but the good news is that it will soon subside once you reach week 12 or 14.
–Bloating
The progesterone is causing the bloating. It is slowing down digestion by relaxing the gastrointestinal tract.
–Food cravings
Your food cravings will be changing rapidly until the fourth month and then gradually decrease. The smell of your favorite food might seem irritating now and it is natural. Eat whatever suits your taste.
–Fatigue
You’ll be fatigued for the rest of your pregnancy because of the intense changes that are going through within you. Try and take power naps whenever you can and take a backseat from your daily chores now.
Tips to follow this week for a healthy pregnancy
- Have a nutritious breakfast.
- Eat six small meals rather than having 3 big ones.
- Consult your doctor and start doing your pregnancy exercises.
- Keep everything in the kitchen properly sanitized and wash your hands properly with soap before eating. Your immune system isn’t that act like it used to be, so taking utmost care is necessary now.
- Have nuts as they are rich in Vitamin E and minerals like calcium, copper, potassium, etc. It will help in nourishing your baby’s brain.
- Have oranges juice and fruits like mango and strawberries and vegetables like broccoli and collard greens; all of which are rich in Vitamin C. Vitamin C is necessary for developing and strengthening the baby’s cartilages, muscles, and blood vessels.
- If you are suffering from dry skin, switch to having short showers and bathing in hot water. Talk with your doctor to prescribe you a moisturizer to deal with your dry skin.
- Having a healthy mouth is important for a healthy pregnancy. Brush your teeth twice a day and also floss regularly. Have sugarless gums to reduce plaque development. Poor dental care can lead to premature birth.
Emergency cases to call the doctor
- Vaginal Bleeding or discharge of fluids.
- Fever
- Severe headache
- Intolerable stomach pain.
Takeaway
You may have started to sport a ‘belly bum’ now and that makes you feel special. Your little one is growing rapidly now and will be needing the utmost care from you. Tackling heartburn and blemishes might be hard now but having a healthy diet and keeping yourself hydrated now is very important. There is no room for smoking and alcohol consumption now.
This week and the next trimester will determine your baby’s health, so taking utmost care is necessary. Get adequate sleep and do not stress your pregnancy much. Keep a lookout for vaginal discharges and spotting. Call the doctor immediately if you see any of these. Relax and move ahead according to the flow.
FAQs
When will I feel the baby move?
Baby’s movements are usually visible during your 7th or 8th week. But, the fluttering sensation which is also known as ‘Quickening’ can be usually felt in the 16th week.
How to ease my pregnancy constipation?
Keeping yourself hydrated throughout is the mantra. Maintain a high fiber diet too which will increase your metabolism rate. Ask your doctor if you can have some laxatives for relief.
When will I start to show?
It varies from women to women. If this is your first pregnancy, you are ideally to sport a ‘baby bump’ between 12 and 16 weeks.
When is the right time to break the news of my pregnancy?
It is the patient’s discretion when to tell everyone about her pregnancy. But, if you ask for an expert’s opinion, it is wise enough to wait till the 12th week before you blurt out the news, as the risk of miscarriage is less by then.
What are the remedies for pregnancy heartburn?
Have 6 small meals instead of having 3 ones. Eat less but frequently. Cut down on your caffeine intake. Do not go to bed immediately after having a meal. Have fruit juices and maintaining a healthy liquid diet is required. Chewing sugarless gum also burns down acid production in the stomach.
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Mother of Two children. I’m a former teacher with a background in child development and a passion for Good parenting. I understand child development and know how to develop activities to help children learn and grow. Spare time, I enjoy spending time with my family, reading, and volunteering in my community.