As you near the end of the first trimester, you may finally be beginning to see a slight change in your body. Though your baby is only a bit over an inch and a half in length and an ounce and a half in weight, your body is also adding a placenta, extra breast weight, and water weight, so you may see a few pounds of weight gain by now.

Meanwhile, your baby is growing bigger and stronger, beginning to prepare for life outside the womb. You’ve likely heard his heartbeat and seen imagery of him by now, waving his little arms around, though it will be weeks before you can feel his movement.

Your Baby’s Development At 11 Weeks

Your baby is about an inch and a half long and weighs about an ounce and a half, but he’s already had an outsized impact on your life, and the journey is still just beginning.

If you have an ultrasound this week, you may be able to see your baby’s toes and earlobes. Out of sight, his heart has developed four chambers and is pumping blood through his little body, and his kidneys, liver, and other organs are beginning to do their work, too.

Your baby may be developing hair follicles, and his or her genitals are beginning to form, although an ultrasound likely won’t be able to tell what they are yet.

The placenta is now growing rapidly as it takes on the work of providing your baby with the nutrients to grow and develop.

Quick Overview: Baby's Development At 11 Weeks Pregnant:

• Baby is about 1.5 inches long and weighs about 1.5 ounces.
• Heart has developed four chambers and is pumping blood.
• Kidneys, liver, and other organs are beginning to function.
• Toes and earlobes may be visible on an ultrasound.
• Hair follicles may be developing.
• Genitals are beginning to form, but gender is not yet visible on ultrasound.
• Placenta is growing rapidly to provide nutrients for development.

Mother’s Symptoms At 11 Weeks

As the first trimester nears an end, you may feel absolutely exhausted and already tired of pregnancy. So many things are going on. Your body may struggle to take in nutrients due to nausea, which may make it hard to hydrate. Meanwhile, it’s working hard to prepare a placenta and your breasts to feed your little one.

Cravings may be driving you up the wall, and then heartburn and indigestion deprive you of sleep. You may even find that your usual sleeping positions are no longer comfortable!

You may notice another symptom: a stuffy nose! Pregnancy rhinitis, congestion that begins during pregnancy and lasts for several weeks, hits nearly a third of pregnant women, and nobody knows exactly why.

Meanwhile, your skin may be a frustration as well — rashes, dryness, oiliness, acne, and even varicose veins may be changing the look and feel of your skin and making you uncomfortable.

The good news is that many of these symptoms may finally give you a break in the next few weeks!

11 Week Pregnancy Symptoms Quick Recap:

• Exhaustion and fatigue
• Nausea making it hard to eat and hydrate
• Breast changes in preparation for feeding
• Food cravings
• Heartburn and indigestion
• Difficulty sleeping due to discomfort
• Stuffy nose (pregnancy rhinitis)
• Skin changes (rashes, dryness, oiliness, acne, varicose veins)

When To Contact Your Doctor

Reach out to your doctor if you see signs of infection, like a grayish or greenish vaginal discharge or any itching or swelling of labia.

Sudden swelling in the face, or any swelling that is more in one leg than the other, also warrants a call, as it can be a sign of pre-eclampsia. Dizziness or fainting can also be a sign of this condition, which can be life-threatening and requires close monitoring.

Check in with your doctor or mental health professional if you have extreme mood swings or severe anxiety or depression. Some medications are considered safe during pregnancy, and your doctor may be able to advise you on other options for alleviating these symptoms as well, including helping you connect with a support group of other pregnant women.

Call your doctor if you have any bleeding or if you have severe cramping or pain that doesn’t go away after taking OTC pain meds and changing position.

Contact your doctor or seek emergency care for severe nausea and vomiting, any vomiting that includes blood, signs of dehydration such as inability to pass urine over more extended periods, or any severe dizziness or fainting.

What Should Mom Be Doing At 11 Weeks?

Remember to keep active, but be cautious when exercising. Do not add new exercise regimes without consulting your doctor. Walking is highly recommended as regular exercise for most pregnant women. You can also look for local classes for pregnant women, like prenatal yoga.

Do your best to eat a nutritious diet, but don’t feel defeated if nausea and a sensitive nose limit what you can eat. Take a multivitamin daily and eat what your body allows. Stay hydrated!

Wear comfortable clothing! By now, you may need to size up or begin purchasing some maternity clothes. Choose comfortable, supportive shoes, but don’t splurge on anything too expensive yet — some women’s feet grow during the second trimester.

Keep up with your prenatal appointments. Though they may seem repetitive, this regular monitoring provides an early alert system if any concerns arise.

Quick Recap Of What Mom Should Be Doing At 11 Weeks Pregnant:

• Stay active but exercise cautiously; consult your doctor before starting new routines.
• Walking is a great exercise; consider prenatal yoga or local pregnancy-friendly classes.
• Eat a nutritious diet, but don’t stress if nausea limits your options; take a daily multivitamin.
• Stay hydrated.
• Wear comfortable clothing and supportive shoes; consider maternity wear if needed.
• Keep up with prenatal appointments to regularly monitor your health and baby’s development.

What To Look Forward To

By now, you’ve likely seen your baby on an ultrasound.

You will probably get another peek when your doctor does the anatomy scan later in pregnancy. This is typically between 18 and 22 weeks, and its purpose is to ensure that everything is developing as it should. The ultrasound tech will likely spend much time marking measurements of all the body parts! The bonus, though, is that you’ll likely get some great images of your baby this time. You may be able to tell the sex of the baby at this scan and/or see your little one sucking his thumb or kicking his little feet!

If you’re taking weekly progression photos, you may be beginning to see changes from one week to the next! If not, you soon will!