At 11 weeks pregnant, your baby is big enough to hold in the palm of your hand! He or she is about 1.6 inches long from crown to rump – approximately the length of a beetroot. Your baby weighs almost 0.25 of an ounce.
Up until this week, you could see right through your baby's skin, which remains paper-thin. As your pregnancy weeks pass, your little one's skin will soon become a multi-layered membrane, losing much of its transparency.
By 11 weeks pregnant, your baby's fingers and toes have lost their amphibian-like resemblance. They are now separated instead of being webbed. Your little one may be able to open and close his or her fists at this point, as well.
In the next three weeks, your baby will go through a tremendous growth spurt, almost doubling in size! At no other time in your baby's life will he or she undergo as many rapid changes as are occurring during pregnancy.
Your baby has a huge head at 11 weeks pregnant. The head makes up 50 percent of your baby's total size. Not to worry – the body will catch up, and your newborn baby will be born proportional.
By now, your baby's heart has beat more than 9,000,000 times. The average fetal heart rate is now 168 beats per minute.
All of your baby's essential organs (the liver, heart, and lungs) have formed by pregnancy week 11, and they are all functioning. The diaphragm has also developed by this pregnancy week, and your baby might be having his or her first fetal hiccups. Unfortunately, you won't feel your baby's hiccups until the second trimester.
Your baby's (ovaries in girls and testes in boys) are developing at 11 weeks pregnant. In roughly 9 or 10 weeks, your OB/GYN or healthcare provider can distinguish whether your baby is a boy or a girl with an ultrasound.
At 11 weeks pregnant, you may be starting to show just a little bit (but not very much unless you have already had a baby.) Although you are almost at the end of your first trimester, but you still may not look pregnant to onlookers, which some women find frustrating.
Take comfort knowing that your uterus is now just about big enough to fill your pelvis, and it is probably poking up above the middle of your pubic bone. Be patient; it won't be long before you start to "pop" out and you'll need to wear maternity clothes.
If you are a tall woman, you may find that it takes longer before you have a "bump" and look pregnant. Although this may be disappointing, especially if you're looking forward to the day you finally look pregnant, you should look on the bright side of things. At least, you can wear your regular clothes for a few more weeks.
Women who are pregnant with twins and multiples may already look pregnant. You'll also look further along if you've been pregnant before.
At 11 weeks pregnant, you're probably feeing quite pregnant, even if you don't have a noticeable bump yet. You may still be struggling with morning sickness and fatigue, but take heart in knowing that in only two or three weeks, you will start to feel remarkably better.
Faster growing hair and nails are common experiences at 11 weeks pregnant. Many pregnant women won't notice the growth of their hair and nails until closer to the third trimester, but you may notice this as early as 11 weeks of gestation. When you're pregnant, the higher levels of hormones in your body prolongs the growth phase of your hair – so you shed fewer hairs, giving your hair a fuller look. You may also notice that their hair is shiner, while others find that their hair is more unruly than normal.
Gas and constipation are two other normal pregnancy symptoms to expect at 11 weeks pregnant. The increase in the hormone progesterone slows down your digestion, so you'll want to pay careful attention to your diet. To avoid gas and constipation, you should eat smaller meals throughout the day, exercise regularly, and eat a high fiber diet.
Helpful Tip: Avoid crossing your legs while pregnant. This can help blood pool in your lower extremities and legs. It can result in varicose veins, spider veins and leg cramps.
Tension headaches and migraines may plague you at 11 weeks pregnant. If you have a history of headaches or migraines, being pregnant can make this issue worse. Researchers don't understand why headaches are so common in pregnancy, but all those raging hormones, caffeine withdrawal, stress, and fatigue can all play a role. Fortunately, many women get relief from headaches once the second trimester starts – in only three weeks!
You might continue to have mixed emotions about your pregnancy at 11 weeks pregnant. Many women find themselves tuning into parenting and health channels that talk about pregnancy. Keep your spirits up as much as possible as you follow your pregnancy week by week, and remember that shedding an occasional tear is perfectly normal and healthy.
By pregnancy 11 weeks, your uterus is just peaking out from the midpoint of your pelvis. You don’t look very pregnant, but it won’t be long before you “pop” and start to show. On average, your weight gain at 11 weeks pregnant may be three or four pounds.
As your pregnancy week by week progresses, you may start to pack on at least one pound or two. When you start to gain your pregnancy weight, you may notice more weight in your buttocks or breasts. On the other hand, some women gain more in their belly and hips. Where you gain the most weight is largely due to genes.
While you won’t be able to control where your pregnancy weight goes, you can control how much weight you actually gain during pregnancy. For the healthiest baby possible, you’ll want to aim for 25 to 35 pounds if you’re a normal sized woman. You’ll need to gain more than this if you’re naturally underweight. For overweight women, you should gain less – roughly 15 to 25 pounds by the time you deliver.
To help you have a healthy weight gain, make sure that you eat a healthy and balanced diet. Keeping a regular exercise regiment may also help you. You don’t have to do any strenuous exercise in pregnancy. A simple brisk walk each afternoon can be greatly beneficial.
Varicose veins plague many women during pregnancy. Some women who have varicose veins prior to pregnancy find that it gets worse during pregnancy, while some women will develop varicose veins for the first time during their pregnancy. Varicose veins are generally the result of increasing levels of blood volume in the body, combined with the pressure your uterus places on veins in the lower half of your body. Pressure from your uterus can actually increase the blood pressure specifically in your legs, leading to swelling in the blood vessels and varicose or bulging veins.
Can you do anything to stop varicose veins from forming? While there are no guarantees, there are several things you can do to minimize the effects of varicose veins and minimize your discomfort. One thing you should consider is investing in a pair of maternity pantyhose support stockings. Medical grade support stockings are a superb method for maintaining adequate circulation in the legs and helping to prevent varicose veins. You may find they also minimize pain associated with pre-existing varicosities, and prevent your condition from worsening. Support hose should be put on first thing in the morning, before you get up out of bed. This will also help prevent excessive edema or swelling in your legs during the day.
Exercise is also critical during pregnancy to help prevent varicose veins. The longer you stand still for periods of time, the more likely blood is to pool in your legs causing problems. If you have a job that requires you to sit or stand a lot, be sure to go for short walks during your breaks to help promote circulation. Try to get some form of exercise each and every day, even if you are sitting at your desk doing stretches. Pumping your toes and calf muscles can help improve your circulation and minimize blood pooling in the legs. You'll also find that exercise boosts your spirits, and for that reason alone, it is invaluable during pregnancy.
Another thing you can do to help minimize varicosities is elevate your legs whenever you are sitting or laying. If you are home, prop your feet up. You should also avoid crossing your legs, which can help blood pool in the legs. When sitting at your desk, be sure to find something to prop your legs up on. Don't forget to get up and walk around periodically to keep the blood circulating in your system.
Most women will realize an improvement in their symptoms a short time after they deliver. There are a number of factors that will influence your susceptibility to varicose veins, including your family history and the amount of weight you gain during pregnancy.
If you find that the varicose veins in your legs do not fade after pregnancy, fortunately there are a number of new varicose vein treatments available to treat them. Some of them are more invasive than others. Less invasive procedures include scleropathy, which may help improve the appearance of small varicosities and spider veins in the leg. The scleropathy procedure involves the injection of a chemical solution into the unwanted blood vessel which causes irritation and sticking together of the vessels walls. This leads to fibrosis of the vessel, making it unable to carry blood and no longer visible in the skin. For larger veins your healthcare provider might recommend a mini-stripping or some form of laser therapy. Be sure you consult with a physician if you have varicose veins that continue to be painful or uncomfortable several weeks after giving birth.
Varicose Vein Complication: Blood Clot in the Leg Most of the time varicose veins during pregnancy are nothing to worry about. Most women simply don't like the appearance of them. However, there are a small number of people who are at risk for developing blood clots in the veins.
Signs of a clot may include a hard, painful or red lump near the surface of your skin, or a swollen leg or calf. If the blood clot is superficial, meaning it is close to the surface of the leg, it is not dangerous. Your physician may just ask you to use support stockings, warm compresses and rest with your feet elevated. If there is suspicion of a blood clot in the large deep veins of the leg your physician will order an ultrasound Doppler study of the leg. If a blood clot is found in the deep veins of your leg, it is called a DVT or deep venous thrombosis.
A blood clot in the deep veins of the leg can become a very serious and life threatening condition. If it breaks away from the vein and travels to the lungs, it is a condition referred to as a pulmonary embolism. This condition is very rare, so don't be overly concerned about this, but talk with your doctor to discuss whether or not you may have any risk factors for this condition. Chances are they will be able to put your mind at ease and offer you practical suggestions to overcome any fear or discomfort you are experiencing.
Spotlight on Hemorrhoids
Some pregnant women may also develop varicose veins in places other than their legs. The increased blood volume during pregnancy and the weight of the growing uterus can increase the pressure in the tiny veins in the vagina or vulva and around the rectum. When the blood vessels in the vulva dilate, they are called vulvar varicosities, and when the blood vessels around the rectum dilate, they are called hemorrhoids.
Hemorrhoids during pregnancy are usually associated with pain, itching and bleeding. The dilated blood vessels associated with hemorrhoids can even stick out of the rectum causing significant discomfort. Fortunately, most over-the-counter creams and suppositories will make the discomfort from hemorrhoids more bearable. Tronolane Anesthetic Hemorrhoid Cream relieves pain and itching.
There is actually a new anti-inflammatory anesthetic available via prescription that may help alleviate much of the hemorrhoid pain you experience during pregnancy. It is from Kenwood therapeutics and is called AnaMantle HC. Many women have found that it provides immediate relief of their pain. One of the reasons for this is it contains Lidocaine which numbs the hemorrhoids on contact. Because this medication is prescription only, you should consult with your physician to see if it might be indicated in your particular situation. Your physician might recommend this or a similar product to provide you with relief from the pain and swelling associated with hemorrhoids.
Hemorrhoids during pregnancy usually will become more bothersome as your pregnancy progresses. With straining during delivery, the hemorrhoids may enlarge and cause significant discomfort. After delivery, sitz baths, tucks pads, Anusol suppositories, and Lidocaine topical anesthetic may offer great relief. The good news is that most hemorrhoids will regress and go away shortly after your baby is born.
Spotlight on Vulvar Varicosities
Vulvar varicosities can be quite painful as the labial lips become swollen and stretched from the engorged blood vessels. The labial tissue may actually swell to the size of a softball. Don't fret, after delivery with the reduced pressure in the pelvis, a good old fashion ice pack will help the swelling and the pain subside.
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At 11 weeks pregnant, you may be starting to show just a little bit (but not very much unless you have already had a baby.) Although you are almost at the end of your first trimester, but you still may not look pregnant to onlookers, which some women find frustrating. 
At 11 weeks pregnant, you're probably feeing quite pregnant, even if you don't have a noticeable bump yet. You may still be struggling with morning sickness and fatigue, but take heart in knowing that in only two or three weeks, you will start to feel remarkably better. 
By pregnancy 11 weeks, your uterus is just peaking out from the midpoint of your pelvis. You don’t look very pregnant, but it won’t be long before you “pop” and start to show. On average, your weight gain at 11 weeks pregnant may be three or four pounds. 
Varicose veins plague many women during pregnancy. Some women who have varicose veins prior to pregnancy find that it gets worse during pregnancy, while some women will develop varicose veins for the first time during their pregnancy. Varicose veins are generally the result of increasing levels of blood volume in the body, combined with the pressure your uterus places on veins in the lower half of your body. Pressure from your uterus can actually increase the blood pressure specifically in your legs, leading to swelling in the blood vessels and varicose or bulging veins. 
Most of the time varicose veins during pregnancy are nothing to worry about. Most women simply don't like the appearance of them. However, there are a small number of people who are at risk for developing blood clots in the veins. 