Pregnancy Calendar

Week 11
First Trimester

What happens to me?

Your uterus is now the size of a grapefruit. With the help of a Doppler, a handheld sound wave stethoscope, you can hear the fetus's rapid heartbeat, which sounds like tiny horses galloping.

While you are not really eating for two, be sure to make everything you eat count. You will only need about 300-500 calories extra a day while you are pregnant. Eat a variety of fruits and vegetables and protein. Stay away from junk foods or foods with no nutritional value.

How much will I be showing?

Weight gain is a concern for a lot of women during pregnancy. By this stage of pregnancy most women have gained very little weight. Most women will gain about 1-2 lbs. a month in the first trimester. Some women will actually lose weight and be perfectly fine, particularly if they were sick during the first few months. Some women will gain no weight at all, while others will gain 10 or more pounds in the first trimester. However, your focus should be on nutrition rather than weight.

What happens to baby?

If you could take a peek at the baby this week, you would be able to see the clear outline of their spine. Spinal nerves stretch out from the spinal cord. You would also notice that the head is about 1/2 of the body size. This will change as the baby grows. The iris (colored part of the eye) will begin to develop this week and fingernails will start to appear.

Each day more small details start to appear, such as fingernails and peach fuzz hair. The vital organs such as the liver, kidneys, intestines, brain, and lungs are fully formed and functional. The forehead temporarily bulges and sits high on the head, but later will change into a more human-like one.

How big is the baby?

Though the fetus is only 1 3/4 inches to 3 inches long and weighs about 7 grams, it is busy swallowing and kicking. Fetal growth will become much more rapid now and should double in the next 3 weeks.

Tip of the Week

Be careful to avoid eating alfalfa sprouts as they can cause infections in people with a weakened immune system.

Want to figure out your due date? Click Here

Just found out you're pregnant? Don't forget to check out the previous Weeks!

Pregnancy Calendar Disclaimer