Pregnancy Calendar: Week 11 Pregnancy Symptoms
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Exercise for energy and rest for recovery are your best friends at this stage. Exercise can give you that boost to get through your day and will make sleep more restorative at night. Your body is definitely feeling different by now, and it's imperative to listen to the signals your body is giving you. Staying well-fed, well-hydrated, and being sure to turn in early each night will help you feel more like yourself.
What the Doctor Will Tell You
Your baby is now somewhere between an inch and a half to about two inches long. She's beginning to look just slightly more human, now that's she's completely ditched the webbing between her fingers and toes. She is sprouting hair follicles on her head, tooth buds under her gums, fingernails, and ovaries if female.
If you're feeling dizzy, be sure to stay hydrated, regardless of your frequent urges to urinate. Your circulatory system is expanding, but your body hasn't caught up with blood production, which can lead you to feel faint. Water helps, as does small, frequent snacks to keep your blood sugar stable.
Exercise will increase blood flow to your baby, which means more oxygen and nutrients available to your growing little one. Also, moms who exercise regularly during pregnancy tend to have smaller babies. This helps out mom during delivery, and it may even help prevent obesity in your baby later in life.
What Your Girlfriends Will Tell You
When I was in my eleventh week, I was feeling like I had been hit by a truck. Pregnancy compromises the immune system, and I was picking up every little bug and illness to cross my path.
I was still dealing with some hefty all-day morning sickness. I had tons of food aversions for my old favorites; I couldn't look a vegetable in the eye, and both chicken and coffee sounded hideous. I was mostly interested in eating starchy carbs - an unusual craving for me. However, pregnancy is different for everyone, and some women who suffer from morning sickness start to feel less nauseated by this point.
Is your partner zooming in for a bear hug? Give a friendly warning about boob soreness before that crushing grip comes to pass.
If you haven't spread the word about your pregnancy yet, you might find it hard to hide - not because of your belly, but because of the overwhelming exhaustion. You might find yourself needing more sleep and naps at this stage. Give in to those sleep cravings as much as you can now. As your pregnancy progresses and you grow larger, discomfort will make a full night's sleep close to impossible in the later months. So get it while you can.
Now is a great time to continue your exercise routine, or to start a gentle habit of taking easy walks if you aren't usually active. You're still small enough to be easily mobile, so go for it. Exercise will give you more energy by day and help you sleep better at night.
Need to get caught up on your pregnancy knowledge? Start at the beginning with Week 1, or go directly to the full Parentables week-by-week Pregnancy Calendar.
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