11 Weeks Pregnant: Baby Development, Symptoms and Tips
Short Answer: At 11 weeks pregnant, your baby is about 4 cm long, roughly the size of a fig or a lime, and weighs about 7 grams. The head is more upright, the fingers and toes are separate, the fingernails are starting to form and the baby moves around in the womb, though you cannot feel it yet. You may still feel tired, sick and bloated, but many people start to feel better soon. This week or next is when the nuchal translucency scan is usually done. Eat small meals often, take folic acid, rest when you can and call a doctor for heavy bleeding, severe pain or vomiting you cannot control.
Pregnancy weeks are counted from the first day of your last period, not from conception. Eleven weeks pregnant means about nine weeks since conception. You are in your third month and close to the end of the first trimester, with about 29 weeks to go.
For the week before, read our guide to 10 weeks pregnant, for the next, 12 weeks pregnant, and to follow the whole journey see our pregnancy guidelines week by week.
Week 11 at a glance
| Detail | At 11 weeks |
|---|---|
| Trimester | First, ending around week 13 |
| Months | About 2.5 to 3 |
| Baby’s length | About 4 cm (1.6 inches) |
| Baby’s weight | About 7 grams |
| Heart rate | About 150 to 170 beats per minute |
| Weeks to go | About 29 |
| Size comparison | A fig or a lime |
Your baby at 11 weeks
Growth. Your baby is growing fast. The length nearly doubled between weeks 9 and 11. The head is still about a third of the body length, but the body is catching up and the neck is longer.
Face. The eyelids are closed and fused, and they stay shut until later in pregnancy. The nose, lips and mouth are clearly formed. The ears are moving into their final position on the sides of the head. Tooth buds are forming in the gums.
Hands and feet. Fingers and toes are fully separate and the first nail beds are appearing. Your baby can open and close the fists and bend the wrists and elbows.
Movement. Your baby stretches, kicks and sometimes hiccups. You will not feel any of it for another 8 to 10 weeks, but an ultrasound can show the movement clearly.
Organs. The heart has four chambers and beats fast. The kidneys are making urine, which passes into the amniotic fluid. The liver, gut and brain are growing. The bones are hardening from soft cartilage. The intestines, which grew partly outside the belly earlier, are moving back into the abdomen this week or next.
Genitals. The external genitals are forming, but a routine scan usually cannot show the sex yet. A routine ultrasound at 18 to 22 weeks is when most parents find out.
Placenta. The placenta is taking over hormone production and feeding the baby, between about weeks 10 and 12. This is why early symptoms often start to ease.
Your body at 11 weeks
Womb. Your womb is about the size of a grapefruit and is starting to rise out of the pelvis. Many people notice a firmer, rounder lower belly. Some start to show a small bump this week, especially in a second or later pregnancy. Others do not show until week 14 or later.
Hormones. hCG has peaked and starts to fall around now. Estrogen and progesterone stay high. These shifts explain why some people feel suddenly better, and others notice no change for a few more weeks.
Blood and heart. Your blood volume is rising and your heart works harder. You may feel dizzy when you stand up quickly, get short of breath on stairs or notice visible veins on your breasts.
Weight. Total weight gain in the first trimester is usually small, around 0.5 to 2 kg. Some people lose weight because of nausea. Both are common. Your appetite may grow now as nausea eases.
Skin and hair. Hormones and blood flow can cause a glow, acne, dry skin or darker patches on the face. Hair often looks thicker. These changes are normal.
Mind. Forgetfulness and a foggy head are common. Mood swings, anxiety and tears can come and go. They usually ease in the second trimester.
Common symptoms and what helps
| Symptom | Why it happens | What helps |
|---|---|---|
| Nausea and vomiting | High hCG and estrogen | Small meals every 2 to 3 hours, dry biscuits before getting up, ginger tea, cold fluids in sips |
| Tiredness | Progesterone, extra blood volume | Early bedtime, a short afternoon rest, shared chores |
| Bloating and gas | Slower digestion | Smaller meals, avoid fizzy drinks, short walks |
| Constipation | Slow gut, iron tablets | Fibre, water, daily movement |
| Heartburn | Relaxed valve at the top of the stomach | Smaller meals, avoid spicy and oily food, stay upright after eating |
| Frequent urination | Womb pressing on the bladder | Drink water by day, less before bed, never hold urine |
| Sore breasts | Hormones, growing milk ducts | A soft, supportive cotton bra |
| Headaches | Hormones, tiredness, dehydration | Rest, fluids, ask your doctor before taking medicine |
| Dizziness | Blood pressure changes, low blood sugar | Eat regularly, stand up slowly |
| Mild cramps or pulling | Womb and ligaments stretching | Rest, change position, warm bath |
| Food cravings and aversions | Hormones, heightened smell | Eat what you tolerate and add protein and fruit where you can |
| Mood swings | Hormones and stress | Talk to someone you trust, regular meals and sleep |
| Bleeding gums | More blood flow to the gums | Soft brush, gentle flossing, dental check |
Many people feel their worst around weeks 9 and 10, and nausea often eases between weeks 12 and 14. It lasts longer for some. Do not start vitamin B6, anti-nausea medicine or herbal remedies without your doctor’s advice.
When to call a doctor
| Usually normal | Call a doctor soon |
|---|---|
| Mild period-like cramps | Severe or one-sided abdominal pain |
| Light spotting that stops | Bleeding that soaks a pad in an hour, or with clots |
| Nausea with some vomiting | Cannot keep water down for 24 hours, dark urine or fast weight loss |
| Tiredness, mood swings | Fainting, severe dizziness or shoulder-tip pain |
| Milky white discharge | Fever, burning urination or foul discharge |
| Breast tenderness | Passing tissue or fluid |
Report any bleeding to your doctor, even if it is light. Sudden severe pain on one side with dizziness or shoulder pain can be an ectopic pregnancy, though this is much less likely after a normal scan. Severe vomiting that stops you eating or drinking can be hyperemesis gravidarum, which is treatable.
If you feel sad, anxious or hopeless for more than two weeks, or you cannot sleep or eat, tell your doctor. Mental health is part of prenatal care. If you ever have thoughts of harming yourself, seek help right away.
The nuchal translucency scan and other tests
This is the week many people have their first-trimester screening. Which tests you can choose depends on where you live and what your doctor offers.
| Test | When | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Dating ultrasound | 8 to 10 weeks | Confirms due date, heartbeat and number of babies |
| NIPT (blood test) | From 10 weeks | Screens for Down syndrome and some other chromosome conditions |
| CVS (chorionic villus sampling) | 10 to 13 weeks | Diagnostic test offered when risk is high |
| Nuchal translucency scan | 11 to 13 weeks and 6 days | Measures the fluid at the back of the baby’s neck |
| Combined screening blood test | 11 to 13 weeks and 6 days | Checks pregnancy hormones, used with the scan |
| Anomaly scan | 18 to 22 weeks | Checks organs, growth and often the sex |
What happens at the nuchal translucency scan. A sonographer measures the length of your baby and a small fold of fluid at the back of the neck. Together with your age and blood test results, this gives an estimate of the chance of conditions such as Down syndrome, Edwards syndrome and Patau syndrome. The scan also confirms your due date and heartbeat, counts the number of babies and shows the early shape of the baby. You do not need to prepare in a special way, but drink water before the scan if it is a transabdominal scan, and ask the clinic whether you need a full bladder.
What the results mean. A screening result is a chance, not a diagnosis. A “low chance” result is reassuring, but it does not guarantee a baby without any condition. A “higher chance” result means you can talk to your doctor about further tests such as CVS or amniocentesis, and these give a firm answer. Most people with a higher chance result still have a healthy baby. Ask your doctor what to expect and what each option costs.
Also ask about tetanus vaccination, which is usually given in pregnancy in Bangladesh, and about hemoglobin, blood sugar and other tests your doctor recommends.
What to eat and what to avoid
Eat more of:
- Protein: eggs, well-cooked fish, chicken, lentils (dal), beans and milk
- Iron-rich foods: leafy greens (shak), lean meat and lentils, with lemon or guava for vitamin C
- Fruit and vegetables: a variety of colours every day
- Whole grains and fibre: brown rice, whole wheat roti and oats
- Calcium: milk, yogurt and small fish eaten with the bones
- Water: about 8 to 10 glasses across the day
Take as advised: folic acid, usually 400 micrograms a day, and the iron and calcium your doctor prescribes. Do not add extra supplements on your own.
Limit: caffeine to about 200 mg a day, which is one or two cups of tea or a single small coffee, and sugary and fried snacks.
Avoid:
- Alcohol and all tobacco, including second-hand smoke and products like zarda and jorda
- Raw or undercooked meat, fish and eggs
- Unpasteurized milk and cheese
- Unwashed fruit and vegetables
- Large predatory fish that can be high in mercury, such as shark and swordfish
- High-dose vitamin A supplements, and large amounts of liver
- Herbal tonics and remedies your doctor has not approved
Calorie needs do not rise much in the first trimester. As nausea fades and your appetite returns, choose quality over quantity. Wash your hands and produce, and cook everything through.
Everyday tips for week 11
Rest. Go to bed early and nap when you can. A pillow between your knees helps side-sleeping.
Move. A daily walk helps nausea, constipation, sleep and mood. Prenatal yoga and pelvic floor exercises are fine for most people. Avoid heavy lifting and anything with a risk of falls. Stop and call your doctor if you have pain, bleeding or dizziness.
Work. Most people can keep working. Take breaks to eat and drink. Tell your doctor about night shifts, chemicals, heavy lifting or long standing. Check your maternity leave policy.
Medicines. Do not take any medicine, including painkillers and herbal products, without asking a doctor or pharmacist. Do not stop prescribed medicine on your own.
Heat. Avoid saunas, steam rooms and very hot baths.
Dental care. Hormones can make gums bleed. Brush gently, floss and see a dentist if you have pain.
Clothes. Switch to loose, comfortable clothes and a supportive bra. You may need larger sizes soon.
Travel. Short trips are usually fine. Carry water, snacks and a bag in case of nausea. Check with your doctor before any long trip.
Sex. It is safe for most healthy pregnancies unless your doctor advises otherwise.
Partners. Come to the scan if you can. Take over cooking smells that cause nausea, help with chores and ask how she feels, then listen.
Sharing the news
Many people wait until after the first-trimester scan or 12 weeks to share the news, because the chance of miscarriage falls. It is your choice. You might tell your closest family first, or tell your employer when you need adjustments. You do not owe anyone an explanation if you prefer to wait.
Checklist for this week
- Book or confirm your nuchal translucency scan and any screening blood tests
- Ask about NIPT, CVS and the costs
- Take folic acid and any prescribed supplements
- Ask about tetanus vaccination
- Keep a list of your medicines and share it with your doctor
- Stock simple snacks for nausea, such as biscuits, bananas and nuts
- Cut caffeine, alcohol and tobacco
- Save your doctor’s number and the nearest hospital’s emergency number
- Check your work and maternity leave plans
- Tell one trusted person how you are feeling
FAQ
How big is the baby at 11 weeks?
About 4 cm long and 7 grams, roughly the size of a fig or a lime. Sizes vary a little between babies.
Can I feel the baby move at 11 weeks?
No. Your baby moves, but you will usually not feel it until around 16 to 22 weeks. First-time mothers often feel it later.
Should I have a bump at 11 weeks?
Not necessarily. Many people do not show until week 14 or later, and some show a small bump now. Both are normal.
What is the nuchal translucency scan?
A first-trimester ultrasound that measures the fluid at the back of the baby’s neck. Together with a blood test and your age, it estimates the chance of some chromosome conditions. It is a screening test, not a diagnosis.
Can I find out the baby’s sex at 11 weeks?
A routine ultrasound usually cannot show it yet. The anomaly scan at 18 to 22 weeks is when most parents find out.
Is it normal to have less nausea at 11 weeks?
Yes. Many people feel better between weeks 11 and 14, but some feel sick for longer. A sudden loss of symptoms with bleeding or pain should be checked.
Is light spotting at 11 weeks normal?
Light spotting is common and often harmless, but report it to your doctor. Go to a hospital for heavy bleeding or severe pain.
What should I avoid at 11 weeks pregnant?
Alcohol, tobacco, raw or undercooked meat, fish and eggs, unpasteurized dairy, high-mercury fish and any medicine your doctor has not approved. Limit caffeine to about 200 mg a day.
Note: This article gives general information and does not replace advice from your doctor or midwife. Every pregnancy is different. Call your doctor or go to a hospital if you have bleeding, severe pain, fainting or any symptom that worries you.
