Pregnancy Week 11
From ChildWiki.com
During this week, major fetal changes can be observed. Even if there is no significant growth in dimensions, as this will mostly happen during the second and third trimester, the fetus continues to develop and the mother continues to experience the unpleasant pregnancy signs and symptoms.
[edit] What Happens to the Fetus During Week 11
In week 11, the fetus measures between 4.5 and 5.5 centimeters in length and weights just around 10 grams. It is very busy the entire day swimming around in the amniotic liquid.
As the days pass, the fetus becomes more and more active, and it also develops new details, like the small finger nails and also a sort of peach like covering that covers the entire body. The vital organs (the liver, the kidney, the intestines, the brain and the lungs) are fully formed, even if the head measures half of the entire body. Its forehead is still very high, but it will later turn into a human face.
If you could peak inside, you could distinguish clearly the spinal cord line. The spinal nerves already spread from the spinal cord. The baby is growing very rapidly. During this week its weight will be doubled and it will grow with almost one centimeter. It keeps this growing rhythm until Pregnancy Week 16.
[edit] Changes in the Woman's Life During Week 11
Your uterus is now the size of a grapefruit. With a Doppler stethoscope, you will be able to hear the rapid heartbeats of the fetus. A future mother would describe this sound as the fast trap of little horses.
Many women start at this point the Kegel Exercises (which are contractions of the pelvic area and of the vagina) and do at least 25 a day. This type of exercises can be done anywhere and you don't have to go to the gym for them. Even if you are stuck in traffic, washing the dishes or in a boring meeting, the time is perfect to start doing them. They will strengthen the muscles in the pelvic area and those in the vaginal area. To do Kegel Exercises, you have to try to contract the muscles in the vaginal and anal area for 8 to 10 seconds.
Women with very fair skin might discover that their skin becomes pinker than usual. This happens because the amount of blood in the body raises.
During this period, you should pay attention to the iron levels . If you haven't started on prenatal vitamins yet, it's high time that you did, as they will offer the necessary [[iron supplement in case it isn't provided by your diet.
