11 Weeks Pregnant

11 weeks pregnant: baby development, ultrasound and screening

At 11 weeks pregnant, your baby is growing quickly and the first trimester is moving toward its final weeks. You may still have strong symptoms, or you may start to notice nausea and fatigue easing a little.

This is also a common time to think about screening. Depending on where you live and your healthcare provider, you may be offered blood tests, NIPT or cell-free DNA screening, a dating scan, or nuchal translucency measurement between about 11 and 13 weeks.

Week 11 follows 10 weeks pregnant and belongs to the first trimester. Next, read about 12 weeks pregnant, when dating scan and screening questions are often especially relevant.

Your baby at 11 weeks pregnant

The fetus is often compared with a fig and may measure around 4 cm from crown to rump, though exact size varies. The head is still large, but body proportions are gradually changing.

Major organs have formed and are beginning to function. The kidneys can produce urine, the pancreas can produce insulin, and the liver helps make blood cells at this stage. The mouth, tongue, early facial features, fingers and toes continue to develop.

Your baby may move, stretch, open the mouth and bring hands toward the face, but you cannot feel movement yet. On ultrasound, cardiac activity and movement may be visible, and your clinician may confirm dates, check the number of fetuses and assess early anatomy where possible.

Your body and symptoms

Your blood volume is increasing, and you may feel warmer, thirstier or sweat more than usual. Some people notice more saliva, stronger appetite, bloating, constipation, sleep problems or mood changes.

Nausea may begin to ease around 11-12 weeks, but it can also continue. Small regular meals, fluids and rest may help. If vomiting prevents you from keeping fluids down, ask your healthcare professional for advice.

Call your provider promptly for heavy bleeding, severe abdominal or pelvic pain, one-sided pain, shoulder-tip pain, dizziness, fainting, fever or symptoms that worry you.

Ideas

• Ask which screening tests are offered, when they need to happen and what the results can and cannot tell you.
• Write down your last menstrual period date, positive test date, medications and questions before your appointment.
• Drink regularly, especially if you feel hot, sweat more or have nausea.
• Choose gentle movement such as walking or swimming if your clinician has not advised you to avoid exercise.
• Use the pregnancy calculator if you want to check your estimated due date before your scan confirms dating.

Frequently asked questions about 11 weeks pregnant