11 weeks pregnant: signs, symptoms and your baby’s development

You’re now 11 weeks pregnant, which means you’re almost at the end of your first trimester. Time flies! If you’ve been experiencing some of the more unpleasant early pregnancy symptoms (tiredness, morning sickness - we’re looking at you), you might be more than ready for your second trimester to begin, as this is the time when many mums-to-be report feeling that famous pregnancy ‘glow’. 

So, what can you expect for you and your baby at 11 weeks pregnant? From common symptoms and the role of the placenta, to your first scan and keeping your eyes peeled for your 11-week pregnant bump, we’ve got you covered.

Reviewed by Deborah, an experienced midwife and public health specialist (MPH). Dedicated to evidence-based care, Deborah draws on her clinical expertise to advocate for women and families across the UK maternity system.

Your baby is growing fast at 11 weeks pregnant. Whilst you won’t be able to feel it yet, they’re busy rolling, tumbling, and kicking as they move around in your womb¹.

You might be wondering when you’ll start to feel your little one move for the first time, but you still have a few weeks to wait. Most pregnant women start feeling those flutters between weeks 16 and 24 of pregnancy².

At 11 weeks pregnant, your baby (or foetus) is around 41mm from their head to their bottom - that’s about the size of a fig¹. And they’ve got no intention of slowing down, growing as much in the coming week as they have in the 11 weeks just gone!

Your baby’s head is still out of proportion with the rest of their tiny body, but things will very soon even out as your baby grows¹.

Even though you can’t yet hear it, your little one’s heart is now fully developed and beating away³. Though very small, their brain, lungs, liver, and kidneys are all formed and functioning, and will continue to develop as your pregnancy progresses. Your baby can also ‘swallow’ amniotic fluid and urinate. 

What were once groves on your baby’s hands and feet are now separating to form ten tiny fingers and ten tiny toes, and their fingernails are in place⁴. Very soon, they’ll be able to open and close their fists and grasp things in the womb. By now, your baby can suck their hands and fingers, and even yawn.

Your little one’s ears are now visible, and their facial features are starting to become clearer. The bones in their face are fully formed, and your baby has eyelids. However, they won’t be opening them up to take a peek for a few months⁴.

It’s not just your baby growing and changing at 11 weeks pregnant; there’s a lot going on for you and your body, too.

Whilst your little one has been busy getting bigger, you’ve been growing an entirely new organ called the placenta. 

Up to this point, your baby has been getting what they need from the yolk sac. By week 12, the placenta will be fully developed, ready to take over the very important job of feeding your baby the nutrients they need and removing waste¹.

If you start to feel more tired and emotional around about now, this could be down to the hormones that are produced as the placenta takes over¹.

As you head into your second trimester, you might find that some of your pregnancy symptoms start to ease off. However, it’s also possible that some new ones will add themselves into the mix.

Heartburn can happen at any point in your pregnancy, but it’s more common at around 12 weeks. It can cause a pain or burning sensation in your chest, as well as feelings of nausea, sickness, and bloating⁵. Try to avoid spicy and fatty foods, cut down on caffeine, and eat smaller amounts more often. It’s also a good idea to avoid eating too soon before you head to bed at night⁵.

Other common pregnancy symptoms at 11 weeks pregnant include¹:

• Morning sickness
• Tiredness and fatigue - rest when you can and take any opportunity to put your feet up
• Dizziness and feeling hot. This is down to the fact that even in these early days of pregnancy, your body is pumping around 50% more blood than usual 
• Mood swings
• Chloasma or the ‘mask of pregnancy’ - brown patches or darkened skin on your face
• Pregnancy discharge that’s milky white in colour
• Bloating
• Round ligament pain, often in the back and sometimes in the abdomen. This can feel like a cramp or a sharp pain, and happens as your ligaments stretch to support your baby bump as it grows⁶.
• Headaches. These are common in pregnancy, but always seek medical advice if your headache is severe, not going away after using paracetamol or accompanied by problems with your vision, vomiting or sudden swelling in your ankles, feet, face or hands. This could be a sign of high blood pressure (pre-eclampsia)⁷.
• Thicker, shinier hair. Finally, a pregnancy symptom you can get on board with! This is thought to be because some of your hair follicles remain in the active stage of hair growth for longer during pregnancy, reducing the amount of hair you shed⁸.

At 11 weeks pregnant, you might not be ‘showing’ just yet, especially if this is your first pregnancy. If this isn’t your first baby, however, you may start to notice the beginnings of an 11-week pregnant bump. This is because previous pregnancies may have stretched the muscles in your stomach and womb⁹.

It’s the moment you’ve been waiting for! At 11 weeks pregnant, if you haven’t already, you’ll soon be getting an appointment for your very first pregnancy scan. Seeing your baby kicking about on screen is one of the most exciting moments of your pregnancy. If your hospital has the facilities, you may even be able to get a picture of your little one in the womb to mark the occasion. 

The 12-week scan, also known as the dating scan, is usually offered anywhere between 10 and 14 week of pregnancy¹⁰. It’s completely up to you whether you have a scan or not. However rest assured that it won’t cause any harm to you or your baby, and it will check¹⁰:

• How your baby’s developing in the womb, and whether there are any health ocnditions (for example, spina bifida)
• That your baby is growing in the right place
• Whether you’re expecting 1 baby or 2 (or 3…)
• Your estimated due date

During your antenatal appointments, your midwife will have discussed the combined screening test available for Down’s syndrome, Edwards’ syndrome, and Patau’s syndrome, and whether you wish to have it. 

If you do choose to have the combined test, it will take place at your 12-week scan. Your sonographer will give you a blood test, and do what’s known as a nuchal translucency scan to measure the the amount of fluid at the back of your baby’s neck¹⁰. 

The NHS has lots of helpful information about screening tests, and you can always talk to your midwife for more guidance if you need it.

Get top tips and guidance to help you have a healthy week 11 and a healthy start to your second trimester. 

To help your baby’s nervous system, and to help prevent conditions like spina bifida, you’re advised to take 400mcg of folic acid¹. You should also take 10mcg of vitamin D¹¹. 

You should avoid taking a vitamin A supplement, cod liver or fish liver oil during pregnancy, as too much vitamin A can damage your little one’s developing nervous system¹². You should also put foods that are high in vitamin A, such as liver and liver pate, on your list of foods to avoid when pregnant.

If you’re taking a multivitamin, check with your midwife that it’s safe to continue doing so. Read more about pregnancy vitamins and supplements.

Enjoy a healthy, balanced diet packed with lots of fruits and vegetables as well as a variety of other nutritious foods. Even if you’re feeling hungrier than usual, you don’t need to eat for 2, so opt for healthy snacks to keep hunger at bay!¹.

If you’re feeling up to it, try doing some light exercise. Head out for a leisurely walk or a gentle swim. This has lots of benefits for you and your baby, as long as you feel comfortable and listen to your body. 

If you’re employed, you’re entitled to paid time off for your antenatal appointments and antenatal classes¹³. Around about now, you might be considering letting your employer know that you’ve got a baby on the way, and starting to plan for your maternity leave. Read more about maternity pay and leave, and what your rights are.