First trimester
11 weeks pregnant
The fetus is around the size of a fig and now looks recognisably human in outline. This week opens the window for first-trimester combined screening, which is typically offered between weeks 11 and 14.
Size of
fig
Length
41 mm
Weight
7 g
Your baby at 11 weeks
The head still accounts for roughly half of total length, but the body is catching up quickly. Fingers and toes are fully separated and nail beds are forming.
The fetus can open and close its hands, and hiccup-like movements begin as the diaphragm develops. Tooth buds, hair follicles and nipples are all present.
Bones continue hardening, and the fetus has begun swallowing small amounts of amniotic fluid, which helps the digestive system develop.
How you may be feeling
Many people notice a genuine shift in energy around now, though it is far from universal. The placenta is largely running the show hormonally, which tends to take the edge off early symptoms.
Your uterus is growing out of the pelvis and may just be palpable above the pubic bone. Some people begin to show a little, particularly in a second or later pregnancy where abdominal muscles stretch more readily.
Common symptoms around week 11
- Nausea easing for many, though not everyone
- Increased appetite as aversions start to lift
- Visible veins and darkening of the areolae
- Mild cramping as ligaments stretch
- Occasional nosebleeds or bleeding gums from increased blood volume
Appointments and tests around now
Combined screening, which pairs a nuchal translucency measurement on ultrasound with a blood test, is typically offered between weeks 11 and 14. It estimates the likelihood of certain chromosomal conditions; it does not diagnose them.
What is normal, and what varies
Bleeding gums and occasional nosebleeds are common and down to increased blood volume and hormonal changes affecting mucous membranes. Worth mentioning at an appointment, rarely a cause for alarm.
Worth doing this week
Switch to a soft toothbrush
Pregnancy gingivitis is common. Gentle brushing and regular dental care help, and dental checks are safe in pregnancy.
Eat when the window opens
If appetite returns, this is a good moment to re-establish reasonably varied eating after weeks of living on whatever stayed down.
Clarify what screening results mean
A "higher chance" result is not a diagnosis. Ask in advance what the next step would be, so a result does not arrive with no context.
Looking ahead
Next week marks the end of the first trimester for most dating conventions, and reflexes develop further.
Nearby weeks
Not sure which week you are in? The week tracker works it out from the first day of your last period, and the due date calculator gives you an estimated due date.