Welcome to your week 11 pregnancy update where we outline the changes you and your baby are experiencing.

Your Baby

Week 11 is a milestone for your baby as he is now at less risk of developing any congenital abnormalities or being affected by any drugs or infections.

Beneath those fused eyelids, baby’s eyes are developing irises which will later protect his precious vision from too much light. Baby could be spending his days sucking, wrinkling his forehead and turning his head as he moves around his your uterus – but you won’t feel it yet. Fetal growth is rapid now – he’s probably between 4.5 and 6cm long (although the head will still be taking up the greatest proportion of his body. The crown to rump length of your baby doubles in the next three weeks. External genitalia are beginning to show distinguishing features. Development of the fetus into a male or female is complete in another three weeks.

Downy hair starts to grow on the baby’s skin. Some babies will lose the body hair before they are born, while others may enter the world with patches of hair still on their shoulders and other parts of their body. Fingernails are also starting to sprout.

He possibly has a newly acquired swallow reflex, and the beginnings of a sense of smell, which when combined with their maturing taste buds, will provide your baby with their first experiences of taste and smell inside you.

Just like adults, all babies are different and develop at varying rates in the womb. This information gives a general idea of your baby’s development and progress.

The Mum Update

While your body is slowly changing, you may now be seeing the physical signs of pregnancy. Bloating, swelling and being just plain old tired are not uncommon, even at this early stage.

Your body is having a surge of hormones while it develops your baby, and while that is great for him, it is the cause of most of any unpleasant pregnancy symptoms. The hormone progesterone slows down your digestion so you are able to absorb more nutrients and this can cause you to feel uncomfortably full after eating. Constipation can also occur – drink plenty of water and eat fresh fruit and veges and if it persists chat to your LMC.

With all of the work going on, you may be extremely tired and fatigued throughout the day, even when you have had a good night’s sleep. Nap as often as you can and look forward to more energy in the middle months of your pregnancy.