Your Pregnancy at Week 11

Oh no! Have all those pregnancy symptoms been getting you down? Hang in there, for most people by this point, the end is in sight. By 12 to 13-weeks once the placenta takes over, you will start to feel a whole heap better and finally get some energy back.

Finding yourself eating for two? It is worth keeping in mind that you don't require any additional calories for baby in the first trimester, so be kind to yourself but don’t feel a need to overdo it on extra food. If you have been suffering with morning sickness, you may notice that you have likely lost weight, so it's important to try and replenish those lost nutrients - if you can keep it down, that is!

The amount of weight a woman gains in pregnancy can vary, but the average is between 1st 8lbs and 1st 12lbs (9.9kg to 11.7kg). Most of this weight is down to your growing baby, amniotic fluid, increased blood volume, water, and the placenta, even if your baby only ends up being 7lbs at full term. In preparation for breastfeeding your body is also storing fat ready for milk production, so don't be alarmed when you step on the scales - in fact, feel free to avoid them!

Remember to check out our guide on what to eat during pregnancy if you are unsure about nutrition in pregnancy. If you are still feeling tired with all this baby growing, try to have an afternoon nap (if work and your body allows), or catch a few Zzz's when you get home. Just make sure your partner wakes you up after an hour or you will likely be up all night!         

We know how difficult it might be to keep a sense of calm about you right now, with hormones swinging you to and fro amongst strange smells and an unruly urge to dry heave! But as your first trimester comes to an end, so too will the worst of your pregnancy symptoms. This week, you're likely to feel some, or all, of the symptoms listed below.

Darkening Skin: You may notice changes in your skin pigmentation, often referred to as the "mask of pregnancy". This is a common occurrence due to increased melanin production, leading to darker areas on your face.

Leg Cramps: As your body continues to adjust to the demands of pregnancy, you might begin to experience leg cramps. These cramps are often a result of changes in blood circulation and the growing pressure on your leg muscles. Here’s how to ease pregnancy aches and pains.

Swollen, Tender Breasts: Your breasts may continue to undergo changes this week, becoming even more sensitive and swollen. Wearing a supportive bra and practicing gentle breast care can help alleviate discomfort.

Morning Sickness, Nausea, and/or Vomiting: Nausea and morning sickness may persist into the 11th week. While it can be challenging, many find relief through trying to eat small, frequent meals, staying hydrated, and identifying specific triggers. Here are some tips for combatting morning sickness.

Excess saliva: Increased saliva production can be experienced during pregnancy. While the exact cause is unclear, hormonal changes and nausea related to morning sickness can contribute to this symptom.  

Lower back pain: As your uterus expands and your body adjusts to accommodate your growing baby, you might start experience lower back pain. This discomfort is caused by the increased strain on your back muscles and ligaments. Here’s how to ease pregnancy aches and pains.

Visible veins: Hormonal changes and increased blood volume during pregnancy can cause the veins in your breasts, abdomen, and legs to become more prominent. Visible veins, especially in the breasts and abdomen, are a common symptom during this week of pregnancy.

Vaginal discharge: Increased vaginal discharge is a common symptom of pregnancy. Hormonal changes and increased blood flow to the pelvic area can cause the cervix to produce more mucus, resulting in a thin, milky-white discharge. This is considered a normal part of pregnancy and helps protect the birth canal from infection. Here’s everything to know about vaginal discharge.

Heartburn and/or indigestion: Hormonal changes during pregnancy can relax the muscles in your digestive tract, leading to heartburn and indigestion. As your uterus grows, it can also put pressure on your stomach, further exacerbating these symptoms. Heartburn and indigestion are common complaints during week 10 of pregnancy. Here’s more on heartburn during pregnancy.

Remember to take care of yourself and speak to your GP or midwife for any concerns or questions about your symptoms during this exciting time!

You're getting dressed for the day and sliding your favourite fitted jeans over your hips, but when you go to button them, there's a small problem. Those perfect jeans, which have never before failed you, suddenly. don't. fit. Sure, you can try to suck it in for now, hope for the best. And when that fails, use the spare hair bobble you will now and forevermore have on hand to thread through the hole and latch around the button.

If lunch has come and gone, and your slightly too-fitted, yet perfect pants from this morning now feel like they are cutting off your circulation, no spare bobble in sight, don’t panic! You are not hurting the baby. See if you can find a rubber band, or ask a friend for a hair tie, or hurry to your car, get safely buckled in, and then unbutton those pants that will no longer do. We won't tell anyone how you let it all hang out on your drive home. Also, it is time to start thinking about maternity wear. Check out our favourite maternity leggings.

If you are looking to wear your regular clothes for a while longer, consider purchasing a belly band. It’s essentially a stretchy ring of fabric that fits over your stomach and the top of your pants, allowing you to wear your regular pants while holding your unbuttoned trousers in place. 

Keeping In Your Clothes

Feel free to get creative and experiment with your own clothing too. A stretchy cotton tube top may work the same way. You'll also commonly find that friends who aren't currently pregnant, but plan to be be again, are willing to loan their maternity clothes out in the interim. If you borrow from someone, be sure to remember what belongs to them and whether or not they want it back. Keep in mind as you shop that you will get bigger. Don't buy everything early on, because you'll find that the shirts, which seem massive right now, may barely cover your belly a few months from now. Just like your tummy, your wardrobe needs room to grow!

Remember to take your prenatal vitamins, and eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, and protein.

Are you taking pictures of your growing belly? Recording the images, and your weekly experiences, in your pregnancy journal?

If you aren't feeling very sexy, or if sexy time with your partner has taken the back seat, know that this is as normal as it is different for everyone. Some expectant mums find they feel quite sexual at times, compared to other women who find difficult to get into that mood when they're mostly just exhausted. Most women will get that feeling back during the second trimester.