In the life of every woman, there comes a period when she begins to be especially reverent about her health and listen carefully to the changes taking place in her body. We think you already guessed that we were talking about pregnancy - a special time that brings the fair sex a lot of joyful moments, but also a lot of worries. Every week in the woman’s body, global changes occur that affect her mood, well-being and physical condition.
Today we’ll talk about the 11th week of pregnancy, which refers to the end of the first trimester and marks a certain border, when the fetal health can not be worried as much as before. After all, it is precisely at these periods that the risks of spontaneous miscarriage and missed pregnancy are significantly reduced. In the article, we will talk about how the fetus looks at the 11th week of pregnancy, what exactly women feel and what symptoms should become the reason for going to the doctor.
Eleven Week General Information
So, you came to the reception in the antenatal clinic and you were given a period of 11 weeks of pregnancy. How many months this is, far from all women understand, so they begin to search for information about this period on the Internet. In fact, it is quite easy to determine the gestational age, focusing on obstetric weeks, namely they will be voiced by the pregnant woman at each visit to the doctor.
The fact is that doctors count the moment of conception from the first day of the last menstrual cycle. However, in reality, fertilization does not occur during this period, so it would be more correct to consider that eleven obstetric weeks is approximately nine weeks from the moment of conception of the baby in your body.
But if you know exactly the date when fertilization occurred, and you yourself consider the gestational age from it, then in this case thirteen obstetric weeks will correspond to the real 11 weeks of pregnancy.
This is how many months, you may ask, because many women prefer to count the time in months rather than weeks. If you also consider yourself one of them, then keep in mind that you have approximately two and a half months of pregnancy. Soon the first trimester will come to an end, accompanied by a powerful restructuring of the body, and you will enter a more relaxed period of pregnancy, when you can fully enjoy your condition.
On average, by the 11th week of pregnancy, it takes about seventy-seven days from the moment of conception and by this moment the mother should be ready for the first serious examinations that will show the health status of the future crumbs and are considered one of the most important for the entire period of gestation.
Fetus at 11 weeks of gestation
Congratulations, now no one will call your baby a fetus. Starting from the eleventh week, it becomes a fetus, which indicates that you have practically stepped over the most dangerous stage of pregnancy, when the baby in the womb was constantly in danger.
Now your baby is already completely similar to a person and despite the fact that he is not larger than the lime fruit in size, he has almost formed all internal organs, and in some cases it is even possible to determine the sex of the crumbs during ultrasound examination. At the 11th obstetric week of pregnancy, the fetal head remains quite large, its size is approximately two thirds of the body. However, he already confidently moves it, can stretch his limbs and even train his grasping reflex, which will help him in later life.
In general, the baby weighs no more than seven grams, and its size does not exceed fifty millimeters. He is trying to actively move and sometimes he manages to make several somersaults, but this will not affect his mother’s sensations at the 11th week of pregnancy. A very small percentage of women are able to feel the baby moving in the abdomen at such an early stage.
What can a future baby do?
The baby in his mother’s tummy doesn’t just spend time, literally every second he develops and learns something new. The eleventh week can be marked by the appearance of taste sensations, the development of the olfactory system and the ability to respond to external stimuli. The kid perfectly feels what his mother thinks and feels and actively empathizes with her. He realizes exactly what she eats, and he even has his own eating habits.
The baby begins to suck his fingers, and the rudiments of future teeth appear on his gums. Sometimes doctors call them "kidneys." Despite the fact that the skin of the crumbs is still very thin and almost completely transparent, it already perfectly protects it. And in the future it will only thicken until it becomes similar to the skin of an adult.
At 11 weeks of gestation, the fetus begins to urinate, and its intestines make movements resembling peristalsis. The liver continues to develop, at this stage it has a fairly significant size. Important for the baby can be considered and the launch of the production of lymphocytes. Now he is not so defenseless against colds and infections that can enter a woman's body. Of course, this does not mean that a pregnant woman should neglect all the rules of safety and hygiene. However, the crumb's immune system will be able to withstand the simplest viruses and infections that are constantly in the air.
How does the expectant mother feel?
The 11th week of pregnancy from conception is the period when a woman gradually begins to enjoy her condition. First of all, the expectant mother ceases to worry about a possible miscarriage, the thoughts of which haunted her from the moment she found out about her situation. Now that the baby is fully formed, you can relax and listen to your feelings. At 11 weeks of gestation, they change significantly.
Gradually, women cease to feel constant tiredness, drowsiness and irritation. The mood swings do not become so sharp and close ones finally cease to control every word so that they do not inadvertently hurt the pregnant woman. The level of hormones levels out, which significantly reduces the manifestations of toxicosis. At 11 weeks of gestation, in some women, it passes completely, while in others it periodically returns, but with much less symptoms. In most pregnant women, it finally passes by the fourteenth week.
Of course, the expectant mother may still experience rejection of certain smells and products, but this does not cause an acute attack of nausea and vomiting. Many people notice that the appetite has returned and there was an unbearable desire to try this or that product.
Do not forget that at the 11th obstetric week of pregnancy, a woman may encounter new pregnancy companions. These include heartburn, bloating, and constipation. Therefore, already at this time it is worth adjusting your diet so as not to aggravate the condition in the future.
Despite the fact that the belly at 11 weeks of gestation in most expectant mothers is still not particularly noticeable, they may begin to feel a certain bulge. This is due to the rapidly growing uterus, which at this time has not yet left the limits of the small pelvis. However, the uterus at the 11th week of pregnancy is perfectly palpable. At the reception in the antenatal clinic, the midwife can palpate a palpation clearly in the lower abdomen. Soon, it will be even easier to do this, because the baby is constantly increasing in size.
Many women note that at the 11th week of pregnancy, breast pain is already much less. Her increased sensitivity decreases and returns to normal. It becomes larger in size and acquires a pleasant natural roundness, which cannot but please pregnant husbands.
Appearance of a woman
It is by the end of the first trimester that changes in the appearance of the expectant mother become apparent. At the 11th week of pregnancy, women on average gain from one and a half to two and a half kilograms. This increase is considered quite normal, but in the case of more significant indicators, you need to slightly limit yourself in food. Otherwise, in the future, excess weight may adversely affect the health of the expectant mother and fetus.
In some women, at 11 weeks of gestation, the stomach begins to bulge a little. To strangers, this is not always noticeable, but some clothes are getting too tight. Therefore, in this period it is worth making the first shopping and replenishing your wardrobe with free and elastic outfits.
Many pregnant women are faced with the fact that by the end of the first trimester, they sharply increase brittle nails and hair loss. Unfortunately, this is a natural process that cannot be resisted. The baby literally pulls out useful and important vitamins and microelements from the mother’s body, which cannot but affect her appearance. However, the hormonal background of some women contributes to the fact that curls, on the contrary, look more healthy, shiny and thick.
The load on the blood vessels increases by the eleventh week. Therefore, pregnant women can notice unpleasant spider veins, dilated veins and feel unpleasant fatigue in the limbs after a long walk. In this regard, it is best to consult a doctor, because in the future, problems with blood vessels can develop into varicose veins.
It is worth noting that it is at the beginning of the second trimester that some women have a peak in mood swings. In most cases, the condition stabilizes after one to two weeks, but there are cases when pregnant women become depressed. And this condition already requires medical intervention.
Depressed state: what to do
We quite often make ourselves such a diagnosis as “depression”. Usually it turns out to be erroneous, but in the case of pregnant women, their condition should always be treated more carefully. If the expectant mother is constantly sad, lost her appetite and sleep, feels a constant breakdown, is prone to gloomy thoughts and often thinks about the meaninglessness of her existence, then it is likely that she is depressed.
Take this as seriously as possible and take your wife or lover to a therapist. Remember that there is nothing to worry about visiting a specialist, but a woman’s depressed state is very harmful to her unborn baby.
In especially difficult cases, the doctor will prescribe a medical treatment for the pregnant woman, and in the lungs, she will appoint a consultation with a psychologist. Most often, women whose relatives suffered from depression, as well as those who have already experienced a similar problem during a previous pregnancy, are at risk.
If help arrives in a timely manner, then in a few days the woman will feel the joy of life and will return to a good mood.
Discharge during pregnancy: safe and requiring immediate hospitalization
Allocations at 11 weeks of gestation should ideally be negligible. If you are healthy and feel good, they have a transparent color and a slight sour smell. Odorless, odorless, off-white whitish discharge is also considered the norm. Keep in mind that during pregnancy they may increase slightly. However, in the absence of a change in smell and color, there is nothing to worry about.
If by the end of the first trimester you notice discharge with a pungent odor, a different consistency and color than usual, then consult a doctor immediately. You may have become a victim of infection and must be identified. Otherwise, it will have a negative effect on the baby, and this should be avoided at all costs.
Spotting is a clear sign of problems in the body. They are often evidence of a miscarriage that begins. In most of these cases, with timely access to medical care, pregnancy can be preserved and in the future the woman gives birth to a baby safely. Sometimes spotting is the result of a frozen pregnancy. The body in this way tries to get rid of the fetus and can not cope without a qualified doctor.
Ultrasound and first screening
Each mother is looking forward to the first ultrasound of the fetus. At the 11th week of pregnancy, it is an integral part of such an important study as screening, and is considered very important for determining the condition of the baby.
Screening includes not only ultrasound, but also a blood test, which can show possible abnormalities in the development of the fetus, including mutations determined by hereditary and other factors. Ultrasound examination is necessary in order to assess the condition of the fetus, the level of its development, as well as the condition of the placenta and uterus. The specialist will look on the screen how the internal organs of the fetus are formed and whether this corresponds to the average indicators. Also, at the first ultrasound, which is done from the tenth to the fourteenth week of pregnancy, you can notice congenital diseases that will be incompatible with life. In this case, the woman is notified of the presence of problems, and she decides to maintain the pregnancy.
Absolutely all pregnant women undergo a screening study, but it is especially important for some categories of expectant mothers. These include women over thirty-five years old who have had infectious diseases, taken various medications, or have children with genetic diseases. These women are at risk, and then they should especially carefully monitor their health.
Diet at the eleventh week of pregnancy
Over the course of all nine months, the nutrition of the expectant mother must be balanced and proper, otherwise the baby will experience an acute shortage of certain components, which are essential for its development.
A feature of food at the end of the first trimester is the appearance of addictions to certain types of foods. Thus, the body tells the woman what exactly he needs. At this time, you need to accustom yourself to fractional meals. Try to eat at least five times a day, but the portions should be extremely small. Also, you can not limit yourself in the liquid. It is best if it is clean water without gas, fruit drinks and fruit drinks without sugar. A lack of fluid will negatively affect the health and development of the fetus.
Make sure you have enough protein, calcium, and iodine in your diet. All of these components are important for brain development and crumbling.
In the eleventh week, try to provide yourself with plenty of vegetables and fruits. Common cabbage, beets, cucumbers and bell peppers are considered very useful for pregnant women. They can be consumed raw and cooked. Of the berries, give preference to black currants and rose hips. If you really want to treat yourself to a melon or a watermelon, then use them as a separate dish. This will help to avoid flatulence and indigestion.
Completely exclude raw eggs and meat, as well as alcohol from the diet. Keep in mind that the baby receives it in the same amount as you.
Twins Pregnancy: Features
Modern medicine reveals a twin pregnancy at 11 weeks in most cases. Therefore, literally from the first trimester, a woman knows that she is different from other pregnant women, and therefore must more carefully monitor her health. Indeed, now the body has to work not even for two, but for three.
After a multiple pregnancy is revealed to you in the eleventh week, doctors will draw up an individual schedule for its management. First of all, specialists will monitor the condition of the placenta and want to exclude the possibility of the birth of Siamese twins.
Usually the expectant mother of twins notices that the stomach becomes noticeable already at the beginning of the second trimester. Also, the pregnant woman experiences constant insatiable hunger, because the amount of nutrients should be enough to form two babies instead of one.
If you expect twins to appear, then in the eleventh week the doctor will most likely prescribe you vitamin supplements. You can’t do without them even in the case of a balanced diet.