11 weeks of pregnancy

11 weeks of gestation means near completion of the first trimester. Everything that happens to the baby and his mother is of great importance.

How to count weeks?

11 obstetric weeks of pregnancy mean 9 from conception. For more information on the methods of calculating the term, see here. If for some reason it is impossible to calculate the period on the first day of the last menstruation, before the twelfth week doctors will still have time to calculate the period by alternative methods.

Fetal development

The whole kid is now the size of lime. The body length is 44-60 mm, and weight is about 8 g.

All organs and systems of the child are already formed. They are in a different condition. For example, a tiny heart beats for a long time and fully. But there is no skeleton yet, bone tissue remains in the cartilaginous stage. So far, only red blood cells (red blood cells) are contained in the blood, and white blood cells are formed later. But the vocal cords have almost developed, although the baby will not need it soon.

At the 11th week they are actively developing:

• intestinal tract;
• liver (it “occupies” 10% of the weight of the entire fetus);
• muscles of the neck and chest;
• irises of the eyes;
• blood vessels;
• lungs, bronchi and trachea;
• tendons;
• membranes disappear on the toes;
• an individual skin pattern appears on the fingertips;
• a grasping reflex begins its development;
• the formation of the rudiments of primary teeth continues.

Right now, the baby usually begins to move his head.

This is how the fetus looks at week 11 (clickable):

An ultrasound at 11 weeks will show the clearly visible outlines of the little man. On high-class equipment with a particularly good location of the baby, you can already determine his gender. However, the data may be inaccurate.

With a twin (or triple) pregnancy, the development of each child is approximately the same as with a singleton pregnancy. At the same time, little men can noticeably (by several millimeters) differ in growth. It's quite normal.

Ultrasound photo:

Signs and feelings of the future mother

The main and brightest experience in the 11th week is the weakening of toxicosis (if he was) Nausea gradually weakens or stops completely. Many dishes and products cease to be disgusted by their appearance. Emotions are gradually returning to normal. Not so often there is a desire to cry or throw out aggression. However, most often toxicosis lasts another one to two weeks.

What sensations and manifestations of pregnancy can remain the same:

• heartburn, constipation;
• breast tenderness;
• darkening of the skin around the nipples;
• small growth of the mammary glands;
• colostrum (if they were not there before, they may appear);
• headaches, migraines;
• distraction and carelessness.

At the 11th week, the hormones of the expectant mother usually come in a special condition. The fear of losing the baby gradually passes. A woman begins to fully realize her motherhood and his joys.

A new physical sensation may appear - a feeling of heat. Doctors explain it by an increase in blood volume and an increase in its current. The body begins to produce more heat, so sweating and increased thirst may appear along with fever. No need to worry. If the temperature does not rise when you feel the heat, then this is not a cold.

At a gestational age of 11 weeks, a growing uterus occupies almost the entire space between the bones of the pelvis. Its volume is about ten times less than before delivery. Most recently, the tummy was barely visible, now it can grow noticeably. But if you do not wear tight-fitting clothes, others will not notice anything yet.

Photo of tummies at week 11 (clickable):

Intimate life

If an intimate life is a pleasure, there is no reason to refuse it. In some cases, a grown tummy interferes a bit. In this case, you can experiment a little. Then there will certainly be positions in which sex will only be a joy. Contraindications to sexual activity are:

• polyhydramnios;
• multiple pregnancy;
• established threat of miscarriage.

In the first trimester, sex is sometimes accompanied by a feeling of fear or pain in the genitals (during or after intercourse). No problems need to be kept and / or hidden from the father of the child. With any sexual problems, only frankness and mutual understanding will help.

Discharge, pain and complications

At the 11th obstetric week, the internal organs around the uterus usually already changed their location in the abdominal cavity. Therefore, pain in the lower abdomen and lower back should stop. The stomach can also be sick with intestinal disorders. Only a doctor will help here, he will prescribe a special diet. Pain may occur during urination. Usually they indicate cystitis (inflammation of the urinary tract), which requires medical attention.

If a uniform white or clear mucus is secreted from the vagina, this is normal. The following are considered a cause for alarm:

• similar to cottage cheese;
• yellow;
• brown;
• with an unpleasant odor.

If there are bright spotting or real bleeding, a doctor is urgently needed. These alarming symptoms indicate a threat of miscarriage, that is, death and rejection of the fetus.

Another complication is a frozen pregnancy. The development of the fetus stops, but it remains in the uterus. The main symptom of such a pathology is a sharp and sudden disappearance of all manifestations of pregnancy. Removal of a dead fetus is done by doctors in a hospital.

If a pregnant woman has not had rubella before, it is necessary to avoid contact with such patients by all means. This contagious disease causes multiple pathologies of the fetus.

Recommendations

Now many unpleasant sensations recede. The future mother has time to make plans and engage in herself. The main thing is not to forget about the basic rules.

Nutrition

At the 11th obstetric week, the mom's diet should be thought out and balanced. Now and then the baby will need a lot of calcium, magnesium and phosphorus. These trace elements are necessary for the proper growth of the rudiments of milk teeth, bones and good work of the heart of the fetus. How to get the right substances in food?

• Phosphorus is rich in fish, especially red. In small quantities, this trace element contains onions and carrots.
• Calcium suppliers are dairy products.
• Magnesium is found in cereals, berries, fresh fruits.

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To fully absorb calcium, the body needs vitamin D (found in the liver). It is also produced naturally when the sun is shining on our skin (it doesn’t matter if it’s direct light or diffused).That is why pregnant women are recommended mandatory walks.

Dishes should still be baked, cooked or steamed. It is advisable to add onion and garlic to food - these are the natural enemies of germs and infections.

The bans remain the same:

• alcohol and nicotine (including second-hand smoke);
• cakes, pastries, buns and sweets;
• canned food;
• spicy dishes and smoked meats;
• multi-colored soda;
• fried foods.

Proper nutrition means good metabolism and normal weight. Now the norm is considered if the scales "plus" no more than 0.5 kg per week.

Doctor's supervision

If you have not registered with the antenatal clinic, it’s time to do it. A gynecologist will collect basic data (height, weight, size of the pelvis), conduct a survey (marital status, are there any seriously ill household members or relatives in the patient’s environment). In addition, you will need to take tests for various diseases (HIV, syphilis, hepatitis, genital infections).

Based on the results of the tests, the doctor will prescribe vitamins for pregnant women and other auxiliary medicines. For example, iron or folic acid preparations.

It is advisable to visit the dentist more often, since various gum diseases can occur during pregnancy.

Lifestyle

There are several other important recommendations that you should follow.

1. Gymnastics for pregnant women, yoga, swimming. Physical activity will help to establish a metabolism, will not allow overweight to appear.
2. Positive emotions. Refuse to watch too serious or scary films, do not read books of frightening content. Visit exhibitions and museums (not anatomical).
3. Comfortable low-heeled shoes. Edema and varicose veins literally haunt many pregnant women.
4. No overwork and lack of sleep.
5. Make plans. Think about what you want to do in time or find out before giving birth. Perhaps this is embroidery with ribbons or scrapbooking. Or a foreign language? After giving birth, many hobbies will have to be postponed for a long time.

Attentive mothers will definitely notice how gradually pregnancy becomes a real joy.

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Video guide: 11th week of pregnancy, what happens at this time with the woman and the fetus