11th Week of Pregnancy
What changes are occurring with your body?
While your baby is rapidly growing as he/she lies tucked inside your uterus, noticeable changes in your physical appearance may still be slow to come. Some women do notice changes in their hair, fingernails, and toenails, such as increased nail and hair growth. Both of these scenarios are considered normal during pregnancy. Health care providers are not exactly sure why these occur but feel it is due to either the increase in circulation or hormone changes.*
What is happening with your baby?
Your baby’s head accounts for almost half of his/her entire length. Both the fingers and the toes have separated by week 11. The baby’s skin is still very transparent, but his/her bones are beginning to harden. The external genitalia have almost completely formed, and in several weeks you might be able to know if you are having a boy or a girl. Even though you cannot feel your baby moving around, he/she is very active.*
How big is your baby?
Your baby is about 2 ½ inches long and weighs about half an ounce.*
What should you plan for this week?
If you have been suffering from morning sickness during these first several weeks of pregnancy, you may have actually lost weight instead of gaining weight. Try not to worry; most women only gain 3 to 4 pounds during the first trimester. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends a weight gain of 25 to 35 pounds during pregnancy. Find out more about weight gain to learn how much you should gain.
Tips for making your pregnancy better:
Most pregnant women have many questions regarding travel during pregnancy. As long as there are no identified complications or concerns with your pregnancy, it is generally safe to travel at all times during your pregnancy. The ideal time to travel during pregnancy is during the second trimester. This is because in most cases you are past the morning sickness from the first trimester, and it is prior to the later stages of pregnancy when it is hard to get around.
Tips for mom’s partner:
Take time to read a pregnancy book together on a regular basis. This allows your partner to know that you are interested in the pregnancy. This also provides an opportunity for the two of you to discuss fears and excitements with one another.
* The information that the American Pregnancy Association provides is used as a general guide for healthy pregnancy development, although development may vary due to the mother’s health or a miscalculation of ovulation. Each woman and pregnancy is unique and may be experienced differently. Remember that babies develop at different rates, even before they are born. The purpose of this developmental information is to give you a general idea of how your baby is growing, and you must remember that your baby’s growth may vary from that which is outlined.