Your Pregnancy: Week 11

The first trimester can certainly be a doozy, but you’re getting closer and closer to the end! Now that you’re 11 weeks pregnant, you’re probably starting to get used to the idea of becoming a parent in a little over six months… and your baby is getting extra comfy in that womb as they continue to grow and thrive. Baby might still be pretty tiny, but your uterus is now the size of a grapefruit and your baby is the size of a wine cork. Pretty immpressive, no?

As this first leg of pregnancy begins to wrap up, what do you need to know? Here’s what’s going on during your 11th week of pregnancy.

At 11 weeks pregnant, you’re probably at least a little extra tired and a bit nauseous (to say the least), but those aren’t the only symptoms you might be dealing with these days. In fact, you might find that you feel crummy more often than not, and there’s a good reason for that. “During the first trimester of your pregnancy, your body is expending huge amounts of energy forming the placenta and sustaining a growing pregnancy,” Dr. Jenny M. Jaque explained to Mom.com.

While many of these symptoms might start to ease up in just a couple of weeks, here’s what you might be facing this week.

Fatigue
Since your body is so busy, you know, growing human life, fatigue is a big symptom during the first trimester. Make sure to get plenty of sleep at night, and nap during the day if you’re tired.

Mood swings
Pregnancy is a time when your hormones can definitely feel out of control, so don’t be surprised if that comes with a mood swing or two. There’s a lot going on in your body and with your emotions these days!

Nausea
Again, thanks to those hormones, nausea and vomiting may still be pretty prominent during the 11th week. If you’re unable to keep food down or feel that the vomiting is severe, contact your doctor — it could be hyperemesis gravidarum, a more serious form of morning sickness.

Heartburn
The heartburn may start to kick in right around now, even for people who have never experienced heartburn until they were pregnant.

Constipation
Pregnancy can sometimes come with a whole host of GI issues, and constipation is a symptom some pregnant people are feeling around week 11. Be sure to drink plenty of water and include fiber in your diet.

In week 11 of pregnancy, how many months along are you? You’re now three months pregnant!

If you’ve already had an ultrasound to confirm your due date, there’s a very good chance you may not be getting another one until your anatomy scan at 20 weeks. But if you’re feeling bummed about not seeing your little one floating around in there, remember that not being offered another ultrasound is a good thing — it means you’re having a healthy, boring pregnancy.

At 11 weeks, you may notice the beginnings of a bump starting to form as your uterus gets bigger, especially if this isn’t your first pregnancy. If there’s no bump just yet, don’t worry — it’s coming very soon, so you might want to start shopping for that maternity wardrobe!

Now that you’re 11 weeks pregnant, you know the drill — those first trimester symptoms aren’t so surprising anymore, and you’re finally beginning to settle into your pregnancy. That means this is a good idea to take stock of what needs to be done to get yourself and your house ready for a baby, because the second trimester is right around the corner — and that means you’ll probably get a lot of energy back very soon.

Make a list of everything you want to accomplish around the house before baby arrives, and carve out time to get it done during the second trimester — including washing all those brand new tiny clothes and getting the nursery ready. There’s a good chance you’ll be even more uncomfortable in that third trimester, so try to get everything done ahead of time that you can!

There are still 29 weeks to go until you meet your baby-to-be, but this week, it’s a good time to work on things like this:

• Make sure your 12 week appointment is booked, if you’re having one
• Decide whether or not you’d like a nuchal translucency scan — an ultrasound that can help predict potential chromosomal abnormalities at birth defects that happens between 11-13 weeks
• Start a skincare routine! Keeping your skin moisturized is important — pregnancy can certainly take a toll on it, and you might be feeling extra dry these days.
• Read some pregnancy books. The information out there online can certainly be overwhelming, but there are tons of books out there that can help prepare you for the weeks ahead

Growing an actual human being inside your body is hard work, and that means you’re going to need the right fuel to help keep that little one going — and to keep you going, too. There are certain nutrients and vitamins you’ll need, and right now, a great one to focus on is Vitamin C. That means eating and drinking more things like:

• Orange juice
• Strawberries
• Broccoli
• Peppers
• Lemons
• Guava

And of course, remember to keep drinking that water — and taking those prenatal vitamins.

Though bleeding doesn’t necessarily mean something is wrong, if you do notice any abnormal bleeding, it’s a good time to call your doctor and make sure everything is A-OK. Painful urination, cramping, fever, and sudden swelling are also symptoms that warrant a chat with the doc, too. And of course, if you feel like you have a question or need reassurance for any reason, don’t hestitate to reach out to your provider — many OB-GYNs even have nurse lines 24/7 specifically for this purpose. Don’t be shy!

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), pregnant women are at a higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 and death compared to non-pregnant women. Furthermore, pregnant people with COVID-19 are at increased risk of delivering a baby before 37 weeks (preterm birth) and other adverse ramifications.

Note: If you are visiting a medical professional during COVID, make sure to ask about the facility’s safety measures and confirm that they are following COVID protocols as indicated by the CDC.

It’s a bummer, but it’s true: The vast majority of pregnancy books are geared towards straight couples. But those aren’t the only kinds of people having babies, and fortunately, there are also a few good books out there all about queer pregnancy, too. Whether you went through IVF, chose to use a surrogate, or are expecting while trans, there is so much reading material out there that might make you a little more comfortable than the traditional pregnancy resources do.