Women's Health Specialists: Obstetrics-Pregnancy Timeline

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PREGNANCY TIMELINE: WEEK 11

Well here it is, Week 11, the beginning of your second trimester! With the first trimester successfully cleared now is the time to let your spirits soar with each exciting development of your pregnancy! With so many changes occurring daily it can be difficult to keep track of your baby's progress. Rely on our pregnancy timeline to mark this special journey with useful information and helpful hints for you and your baby.

Week Eleven Overview

Imaging of baby during the 10/11th week has become progressively more informative. By week eleven your little peapod is kicking, swallowing and moving around. The arms and legs are separate from the body and can be seen moving freely within the amniotic fluid.

Ultrasound imaging reveals baby's eyes, orbits and profile clearly. Number of fingers and toes is evident and can be counted. The outline of the spine is visible, and external genitalia are beginning to show. Just about everything is in place. About all that is left now is for things to grow, lengthen, and get larger. By the end of the week, the risk of congenital abnormalities goes down.

By now you may notice your waist is thickening. As you head into the second trimester your uterus has become large enough to fill your pelvis. You might even be able to feel it above the middle of your pelvic bone. Although the baby is moving, you cannot feel the movements.

Are you feeling flushed of late? Light complexioned women may become quite pink during pregnancy because of the added volume of blood in your body.

And speaking of blood, be sure to watch your iron count. Anemia is a fairly common condition among women. Due to physiologic changes seen in pregnancy, anemia is even more common. The most common of these is iron deficiency anemia. This type of anemia often results from poor iron stores prior to pregnancy, or acute blood loss during pregnancy. Treatment for iron deficiency anemia is replacement of iron. Taking prenatal vitamins is a great way to maintain a healthy iron count.

Baby's Physical Development

Crown to rump, your baby measures 1.75 to 2.4 inches long and weighs about 7 grams.
Head is almost half the length of the entire body, the forehead bulges and sits high on head.
Vital organs such as liver, kidneys, brains, lungs and intestines are fully developed.
Organs are fully functioning, pancreas is producing insulin, kidneys produce urine.
The iris begins to develop.
Spinal nerves stretch out from spinal cord.
Tiny fingernails and fine delicate hairs have begun to grow.

Time to Start Thinking About

Now that your well-worn Ultrasound image has made the rounds with family, friends and co-workers, why not preserve that first glimpse of life in a baby book or album?

Now is the perfect time to schedule a dental checkup for sometime after your 12th week of pregnancy. Your nine-month companion draws much-needed nutrients from your body, causing your teeth to lose much needed calcium. Your gum wills bleed more now that you're pregnant so be careful to floss and brush regularly.

Tests

Couples who are at risk or with a family history of birth defects and women 35 or older who don't want to wait for an amniocentesis can have Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS). CVS is performed between 10 to 12 weeks to determine any genetic problems with the baby. CVS test screens for chromosomal abnormalities, such as Down syndrome, and genetics disorders that include sickle-cell amenia, cystic fibrosis, and Tay-Dachs disease.

With the help of an ultrasound, a sample of chorionic villi, placental tissue, is obtained through a catheter inserted into the vagina and cervixor by going through the abdomen using a needle. The sample is sent to a lab to be tested.

Coming Attractions

During your next prenatal visit, prepare to hear the baby's rapid heartbeat.
In the next three weeks, your baby's length will double.
The development of the fetus into a male or a female will be complete in another three weeks.
And much, much more...

Tips For Mom

Now is the time to begin Kegal exercises, at least twenty-five a day. Kegals strengthen the pelvic floor and tone the vaginal and perineal area. To do a Kegal, tighten the muscles around the vagina and anus and hold for 8 to 10 seconds. Unsure if you're doing Kegals correctly? Practice stopping urine when you're on the toilet.

As your waist starts thickening now is the time to focus on nutrition instead of weight. Make everything you eat count! You only need an extra 300-500 calories a day while pregnant.

Tips For Dad

The time has come to start planning your fathering strategy and putting it into place. Use this time to define fatherhood for yourself and your little one. Mom is probably way ahead of you when it comes to reading about her pregnancy. Spend a few minutes on the sight reading and learning together with Mom.

Prenatal Care Checklist

Lying on your left side with a firm pillow under your head will usually be the most comfortable position for sleeping.
Try a body pillow.
Bath water should not exceed 100 degrees F. Saunas and hot tubs are off limits.
Do not douche or use tampons. Take a warm bath or use pads instead.
You should not be changing the kitty litter because harmful parasites may be present.
Travel is okay as long as you don't travel far from home during the last month of pregnancy. Check with your doctor first if a travel emergency arises.
Seatbelts will not harm your fetus.
Use both shoulder and lap belts and make sure to place the lap belt under your belly, across the hips and thighs.
Avoid contact with any harmful chemicals or fumes.