23.08.2020 8191 0
The eleventh week of pregnancy according to the obstetric period is calculated from the first day of the last menstruation and corresponds to the ninth week from conception. During this period, the fetus is actively developing. Almost all organs and systems have formed, the brain is developing, and future bones are becoming denser. During this period, the nutrition of the expectant mother is of particular importance, since the baby receives from her everything he needs for growth.
Body changes and new sensations for women
We have already talked more than once about how breasts change during pregnancy.
Almost from the first days after conception, the mammary glands become engorged, the nipples and the skin around them darken, and a painful reaction to touch appears. And at week 11, colostrum discharge from the nipples is added to this. True, not all pregnant women discover the “prototype” of breast milk so early. Some people don't produce colostrum at all until after birth, which is also normal. It all depends on the functioning of female hormones. If you are already experiencing the appearance of colostrum, there is no need to worry. And even more so, there is no need to squeeze it out of the mammary glands. Just buy special pads at the pharmacy and insert them into your bra. Do your breasts hurt during pregnancy? The phenomenon, again, is completely natural - the muscles “push” the colostrum towards the nipples, which causes itching and painful “tingling” in the breasts. At week 11, a woman may also experience constipation and a tendency to heartburn. A pregnant woman becomes more distracted and forgetful. You can understand the woman’s state - her thoughts are now very far away (probably, at the moment she is more worried about what kind of eyes the unborn child will have, and not at all about debit and credit).
Fetus. Development at 11 weeks
Fetal development in the 11th week of pregnancy
At the 11th week of pregnancy, the fetus is still very small.
The body length of the unborn baby is only 4 - 6 cm, and the weight is from 7 to 15 g.
Being the size of a plum or a chicken egg, the fruit is very similar to a human, but with irregular proportions.
This week the head is still equal in length to the body, but this will soon change. The body will stretch out, become longer, and a baby will be born with the usual proportions of the body and head
The skin at the 11th obstetric week of pregnancy is very thin. The subcutaneous fat layer has not yet formed, and dead cells do not form a keratinized coating.
If you look at the fetus at this stage, you can see through the transparent skin a clear pattern of blood vessels enveloping the entire body.
Despite the apparent fragility, almost all areas of the skin at the current stage of pregnancy feel touch.
If last week the sense of touch was available to the fetus only near the lips, now a network of nerve endings allows it to receive information about touch on a large part of the body.
The 11th obstetric week of pregnancy introduces many innovations into the life of the fetus.
In addition to touch, the sense of smell is activated at the current stage. Now the baby can smell the food that the mother is about to eat, and feel the taste of amniotic fluid with the taste buds on the tongue.
Improvement of the nervous system continues.
The central and peripheral nervous systems have separated in the past week, but the main impulses still pass through the spinal cord.
The baby is already actively moving, although the mother cannot feel it yet. Pushing off the walls of the uterus with its tiny legs, the fetus can make a full revolution around its axis.
It’s interesting, but at the 11th week of pregnancy, the child already knows how to clench his fingers into fists, stretch, yawn, and cover his face with his palms if the mother makes a sudden movement.
All this becomes possible thanks to the constant work of the nervous system to expand the network of nerve endings.
This week they are actively growing to every muscle in the fetal body.
The brain also improves. At the 11th week of pregnancy (according to obstetric calculations), all the main sections have already been formed, and they are actively growing. Every minute the number of nerve cells increases by several thousand.
Hormones necessary for the life of every person are formed in the main glands of the fetus: the pituitary gland, the adrenal glands. Thanks to this, active growth and development of the body of the unborn child occurs.
The fetus's own hematopoietic system expands at the 11th week of pregnancy. Red blood cells, responsible for delivering oxygen to every cell of the body, begin to be actively produced in the spinal cord.
Changes also occur in the arms and legs of the fetus. The membrane between the fingers disappears, connecting them together. Each finger acquires sensitivity. On the outside, nail pits and marigold rudiments are formed. The arms are still longer than the legs, but this will change closer to childbirth.
The spinal column is increasingly overgrown with a network of nerve endings and muscles; the fetus can already straighten it. Muscle-bone connections become stronger, the future baby moves better and better in the uterus. The neck is clearly visible, the fetus can raise or turn its head.
Improvement of important systems continues: the intestines lengthen and begin to contract, the rectum becomes longer, and the formation of the trachea and bronchi is completed.
The circulatory system continues to develop. This week, blood vessels are actively forming in the lungs. The four-chambered heart works at full capacity, beating about 150 times per minute.
Important! At the 11th week of pregnancy (according to obstetric calculations), active tooth formation continues. Mom should carefully monitor her diet, consuming enough foods high in calcium (dairy products, fish, hard cheeses, sesame seeds).
The first teeth of the unborn child will hatch only after birth, by 6 months, but their formation is already happening.
At the 11th week, the development of the reproductive system continues. At the current stage, the genitals are actively forming, but it is still impossible to see who will be born, a boy or a girl.
Of course, external differences between children of different sexes are already appearing now, but not always even experienced ultrasound specialists can accurately recognize them.
Tests and ultrasound
As a rule, at the 11th week of pregnancy, ultrasound screening of the fetus is performed for early detection of congenital malformations (Down syndrome, Edwards syndrome, neural tube defect). A biochemical blood test is also done the day before.
If the fetus does not develop properly, the doctor may suggest that the mother terminate the pregnancy. But you need to keep in mind that in 9% of cases screening gives a false positive result. So do not panic or make hasty decisions, and if you find any anomalies, be sure to consult with other specialists. Most likely, you will be prescribed additional tests.
Nutrition at 11 weeks of pregnancy
To prevent constipation, a woman should drink at least two liters of water per day. Doctors do not recommend expectant mothers to drink coffee, strong tea, carbonated drinks - replace them with clean plain water, fruit drinks, and freshly squeezed juices from seasonal vegetables and fruits. As for alcohol, it is strictly prohibited!
In order not to further increase the discomfort of heartburn, exclude spicy foods, pickled foods, sour vegetables, citrus fruits, chocolate, various sauces and mayonnaise from your diet.
Overeating is also not recommended now. It is better to eat small portions 5-6 times a day. The future mother's diet should contain the following products: meat (preferably dietary), fish, cereals, dairy products, berries, vegetables, fruits and herbs. Avoid spicy, fried, fatty foods, pickled foods and processed foods.
Mother. Changes in the body's condition at 11 weeks
At the 11th obstetric week of pregnancy, the uterus increases in size to 50-60 mm, looks like a ball, and gradually begins to move into the abdominal cavity. Due to this, most pregnant women experience a decrease in the intensity of toxicosis.
I feel better and feel like writing less often.
The strength and frequency of nausea and vomiting gradually decreases. The expectant mother begins to feel an improvement in her appetite. It seems that the woman is ready to eat “for two.”
Important! A pregnant woman should not be led by an increased appetite. You should try to comply with quantitative food standards and not exceed the usual portion. This is especially true for high-calorie dishes that should be eaten carefully, little by little.
Weakness and drowsiness remain constant companions of a pregnant woman. The body has not yet had time to completely rebuild itself and spends a lot of energy providing the fetus with all the necessary conditions.
The expectant mother should get enough sleep (at least 10 hours a night) and avoid excessive physical activity.
Most women note that at the 11th obstetric week of pregnancy, stabilization of the psycho-emotional state is noticeable. The expectant mother is in a state of calm most of the time.
But you shouldn’t relax, a woman’s hormonal levels are still unstable, and any stress can easily disturb the state of rest. You should continue to adhere to a measured lifestyle, avoid mental stress, and train your ability to control emotions.
The active growth of the uterus and fetus makes adjustments to a woman’s body. The amount of blood in the expectant mother gradually increases. As a result, some pregnant women may experience unpleasant signs of their period: increased sweating and constant thirst.
Sometimes acne appears, pores become wider, and the skin looks oily. It is necessary to combat these manifestations only under the supervision of a gynecologist, using means that he approves.
To provide the fetus with everything necessary, metabolism (metabolism) increases in the female body.
As a result, if the diet lacks certain substances, the expectant mother may experience bleeding gums, brittle hair and nails.
If these signs appear, you should consult a gynecologist to adjust your diet and assess the need to take additional vitamins.
One of the frequently asked questions by expectant mothers is a change in the appearance of the nipples, the appearance of discharge from them and the appearance of lumps in the breast. These are normal phenomena.
A woman’s breasts are preparing for lactation; the processes of expansion of the milk ducts, formation of colostrum, and preparation for feeding take place in it.
The dark color of the areolas and nipples is the result of hormones. The color will return to normal after delivery.
The appearance of colostrum is an activation of lactation processes, evidence of the proper functioning of the mammary glands.
If the amount of liquid released is confusing, or stains remain on the underwear, then you can buy special breast pads: round devices made of cotton wool that absorb excess liquid (they are placed in the bra).
For most women, by the 11th week of pregnancy, their breasts have increased by more than one size.
It is recommended to wear special nursing underwear. Made of cotton fabric, it provides a good microclimate for the skin of the breast, properly supports it, eliminating pressure.
Lifestyle
By the 11th week, a woman’s priorities change - now everything is subordinated to caring for the child. But this does not mean that life has stopped! Expectant mothers still work, they communicate with their colleagues, visit sports clubs, go to concerts... However, every time they must mentally ask themselves the question: “How will what I am doing at the moment affect the development of my son or daughter? ? Therefore, there is no need now to get involved in a serious argument with your boss (better remain silent!), lift weights in the gym or get a new tattoo. Sleep more, walk in the fresh air, listen to calm music. Don't take risks and don't worry about trifles!
Recommendations
- It is believed that the more variety in the menu of the expectant mother at 10-11 weeks of pregnancy, the fewer allergies the baby will have. But this does not mean that you need to eat everything. Eat a balanced diet. Eat natural foods, seasonal fruits and vegetables. Give preference to home-cooked food, as you can be sure of its quality. Do not forget about the vitamins recommended by a specialist;
- If you decide to play sports in the 10th – 11th week of pregnancy, consider some nuances. Those who were not familiar with physical education before pregnancy need to be especially careful. If you feel unwell (especially when there is a threat of miscarriage and the doctor has prescribed bed rest), physical activity should be kept to a minimum. Pregnant women are not recommended to engage in extreme sports. It is necessary to exclude hard physical work and tedious training in the gym. The optimal type of exercise is swimming: it helps relieve stress, enriches the body with oxygen, develops the rhythm and depth of breathing and brings a lot of positive emotions;
- Sexual intercourse in the 11th week of pregnancy is not contraindicated, provided that you do not have bleeding or other signs of a threatened miscarriage. But from the end of this period, partners are advised to choose positions that will not put excessive pressure on the growing belly;
- Try to avoid psycho-emotional overload at home, in transport, at work, etc. Remember that your condition and the health of your baby directly depend not only on the lifestyle you lead, but also on your thoughts, so you should always be positive.
