Your pregnancy: 11 weeks pregnant
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Just two weeks away from the second trimester of your pregnancy, read on to find out what's going on with your baby this week. Plus, find out what else is happening now that you're 11 weeks pregnant already.
What's happening at 11 weeks?
Here are the key things you can expect from your pregnancy at this stage:
- Your baby is sucking and swallowing.
- Indigestion and heartburn can kick in.
- Baby brain: the struggle is real!
- Time to book antenatal classes.
How big is your baby?
Imagine a French macaron – your baby's about that size right now and is growing fast!
The skin is still almost see-through, but just about everything else is in place now. Both sexes have rapidly developing genitals, and a baby boy will start to produce testosterone this week.
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Ribs are visible under your baby’s skin. Your little one can suck, swallow and process the liquid they ingest. They can also kick, punch, flex their fingers, form a fist and arch their body.
Your baby's head is almost fully formed and makes up a third of the total body length. Don't worry though as the body is starting to catch up and straighten up, so it becomes more in proportion over the next few days, weeks and months.
All this and your baby is still only about the same length as your thumb (4cm) and weighing around 7g.
What's going on with your body?
While it may finally be time for morning sickness to ease up a bit, heartburn could now be coming in. Yep, thanks pregnancy hormones! See more on this, below.
It’s fairly normal to find your brain turning to mush these days. There’s little evidence about so-called ‘baby brain’ but many pregnant women swear the brain fog that sets in is very real.
So, it could be a good time to invest in some Post-it notes or start setting reminders on your phone.
Another thing you'll notice is that your skin is stretching. It might be particularly oily or dry and you may even notice stretch marks over your tummy, boobs and sides. It's perfectly normal and although they fade after pregnancy, they're hard to get rid of completely.
Use body oils twice a day to help keep the skin as supple as possible. There's not much evidence that this will help against stretch marks, but it'll at least help you feel more comfortable, so it's definitely worth a go.
If your skin feels itchy, don't ignore it as it could be a sign of a liver condition called ICP (intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy). Find out more about ICP.
What to expect this week: heartburn and indigestion
Unfortunately, just as your energy levels start to return and morning sickness finally begins to fade, heartburn and indigestion can take over.
In the first trimester, this tends to be caused by pregnancy hormones (yes, them again) relaxing the valve between your stomach and your oesophagus (the tube that leads from your stomach to your mouth).
Later on in pregnancy, heartburn and indigestion can be caused by the growing pressure of your baby pressing against your stomach. So, if you don't have it now, you could still get it later on.
According to the NHS, indigestion is common in pregnant women. Symptoms, which usually appear after eating, include:
- feeling uncomfortably full
- feeling sick
- feeling nauseous
- feeling as if something is stuck or uncomfortable at the top of your stomach
- belching or burping
Heartburn is more of a burning pain in the chest that's caused by stomach acid moving up from the stomach into the oesophagus.
Studies estimate that up to 45% of pregnant women might experience heartburn, particularly in the first and third trimesters. It can be pretty uncomfortable, and if it hits at night, can also disturb your sleep.
The good news is that there are plenty of self-help ways to minimise the symptoms of indigestion and heartburn, like:
- eating little and often
- avoiding certain foods
- not eating just before bed
- propping the head end of your bed up
- not smoking or drinking alcohol (these aren't safe for your baby anyway)
See our article on heartburn in pregnancy for more info.
If self-help tips don't work, some heartburn remedies are safe to use while you're pregnant.
See your GP and you can get a prescription, which means it won't even cost you a penny as NHS prescriptions are free during pregnancy and for a year after having a baby.
If you want to take over-the-counter indigestion or heartburn remedies, always check with a pharmacist or doctor first. Some may not be suitable for use during pregnancy.
Some say heartburn is a sign that you're having a hairy baby – although there's no scientific evidence to prove the connection!
What to do this week: book antenatal classes
Many antenatal classes don’t start until the third trimester, but they can get very booked up, so it’s a good idea to start checking them out now. That way you can get an idea of which course or courses you might like to do.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many antenatal classes have had to stop meeting face-to-face these days. However, there are still lots of online classes that you can join to get the same information.
Your hospital may run classes in preparing for birth and looking after a newborn baby, and there are similar courses run by other groups, such as the National Childbirth Trust (NCT) as well as private teachers.
NCT and private classes can cost over £150 for a course but you'll get lots of useful information to prepare you for giving birth. You'll also meet parents who are due around the same time and probably live quite near you, too.
There are lots of other types of classes and groups, too – from pregnancy yoga and fitness, to coffee mornings and bump-and-baby clubs. They're all a great way to meet mums-to-be and start forming the friendships you’ll find invaluable when your baby finally arrives.
Ask at your GP surgery, local Children's Centre (once you have the baby) or check out our list of antenatal classes in your area.
Your 11 week to-do list
1 Think about how you want to announce your baby news next week if you're waiting until then. Get inspiration from these creative pregnancy announcement ideas.
2 Double-check where and when your 12-week dating scan appointment is. Some hospitals may send you to an independent clinic, so don't assume you're heading to the antenatal ward.
3 Check your shoes – if your current footwear is feeling a little uncomfortable then it's probably because your feet have grown. This can happen during pregnancy by as much as one whole shoe size so it may be time to invest in a new pair (choose shoes with support for your arches to counter the extra weight you're carrying).
4 Start collecting change – it will come in handy for hospital car parks and if you want a photo at next week's scan appointment, you may have to pay a few pounds for the privilege.
5 Add some coconut oil or cocoa butter to your shopping list – some women swear this can help minimise stretch marks on your bump. If nothing else, it'll help you feel more comfortable, and rubbing it into your growing bump is a lovely bonding experience.
What to watch this week...
Get expert tips on what to expect at 11 weeks pregnant from our midwife.
What happens next week...
Want to know what happens when you're 12 weeks pregnant? Or remind yourself what you read last week? Click on the numbers above to find out more about what to expect when you're that number of weeks pregnant.
