11th week of pregnancy

Being a mother is a toughest thing in life but rewarding as well. When not even in a speck of seconds you forget all your pains and sickness by a cherubic smile of your own part.

How big is your baby

In the eleventh week the baby is now ready to be called fetus. Now with a length of about 1.5 to 2 inches and weighing about 8 grams, it starts to develop quickly.

Baby’s growth and development

At this stage more or less all the parts are completely formed though they are very small in size. The intestines and lungs are at a developmental stage resulting in the supplementation of oxygen and nutrients by the placenta. The sex organs are developed but aren’t visible externally. The head is equivalent to half the length of the fetus and the ears start heading up from the neck to the head. The baby has a very thin skin and can easily move, kick and punch inside the mother’s womb. The fingers are now separated and the fingernails grow by this time accompanied by the bones getting harder.

MOTHER’S DEVELOPMENT

(a) How you may feel

One of the most common things during pregnancy is that the mothers feel very tired. All they want to do is either sit or sleep. During this time there are high chances for the mother to gain weight and thus the pregnant women should do light exercises which do not affect the baby. These mild exercises would help them reduce their tensions and keep them healthy and fit also.

(b) Body changes

Though you are much relieved from the problem of morning sickness but the eleventh week backs you with a set of some other problems. At this stage there are many physical changes as possibility of weight gain and a slight protuberance in your abdominal region due to the enlargement of uterus and its sink in the pelvis. The hormonal changes also results in a much faster elongation of your nails and hairs. Moreover your breasts are enhanced during this period.

(c) Common problems

Apart from the physical changes there are other common problems associated with the 11th week of pregnancy.
feeling much more warmer
bloating
inordinate saliva
craving for a particular food
infrequent feeling of dizziness
frequent urination
and in least cases nausea feeling.

How Dads can help Mom

The fathers by now should take up the major part of the responsibilities. They should now be the in charge of the cleaning department as the pregnant woman should stay away from toxic chemicals found in cleaning products. Also pregnant woman should stay in a clean environment thus the fathers should see to it that everything is cleaned and maintained.

They should also be supportive and deal with the mood swings quite common during pregnancy. They can also help by doing small house works for their wives which would make her blissfully happy.

Tips

Pregnant women need to take precautions regarding their food habits and cleanliness as it can badly affect the health of the child. Moreover avoid alcohol, smokers and smoking. Work on their looks but avoid excessive use of dyes as it can damage the child’s nervous system and make him more susceptible to cancer by damaging his tissues. Even hair straightening is harmful.

Diet chart

An intake of healthy and balanced diet is must during the growth period of the baby as major organs are formed during the first three months of pregnancy. The three most inevitable components during pregnancy are iron, folic acid, and calcium. Besides this you should consume food which are rich in minerals, fats, carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins etc and avoid junk foods and beverages. Avoid being food specific as well as skipping any meal of the day.

Common test in 11th week of pregnancy

The 10-12th week are the most apt to get the antenatal test to avoid any genetic defect followed by ultrasound and blood test as another way to check for genetic problems as well as hemoglobin level in the blood. All the more pregnant women should take care of dental hygiene to avoid bleeding gums owing to hormonal changes and the increase in the amount of blood.