11weeks
pregnant

Highlights this week

Your baby is busy kicking and stretching – find out what's going on inside and when you'll feel movements.

Are you starting to show?

Cheese isn't off the menu. Find out which cheeses are safe to eat.

Baby development at 11 weeks

Your baby is now fully formed, from toothbuds to toenails and measures about the length of your thumb. Their fingers and toes have separated and some of their bones are beginning to harden. Over the next six months your baby's main task will be to grow larger and stronger, fit for survival outside the womb. Read more information on your baby's development this week.

The umbilical cord supplies nutrients and removes waste
All your baby's major organs are now in place
Your baby's bones are starting to harden

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Your baby is as big as a fig

length

4.1

head to bottom

weight

Antenatal care

It's worth finding out about your options before you choose your caregiver and where you want to give birth. You may choose to have midwife or obstetrican care through a public hospital, a birth centre if there's one available in your area, the care of a private obstetrician or midwife, or a homebirth. Talk to your GP about what options are available in your area.

One of the most exciting parts of antenatal visits is hearing your baby's rapid heartbeat magnified by the Sonicaid stethoscope, or Doppler, many midwives and doctors use. The moment can be very dramatic and moving as the room fills with a sound like a galloping horse. Don’t be alarmed if your midwife can't find a heartbeat at this stage (some midwives won’t even try to find it this early as they don’t want to cause you unnecessary worry) – it should be easier to find at your next appointment. When your midwife does find the heartbeat she will write in your notes FHH which stands for Fetal Heart Heard – use our guide to understanding your maternity notes to help you decipher other abbreviations.

See how different baby bumps can be in our slideshow of baby bumps at 10 to 12 weeks of pregnancy.

A vertical line may appear on your lower belly later in pregnancy
Pregnancy hormones may be causing heartburn

Parent tip: Booking antenatal classes

"Ask around your friends and caregiver for suggestions about where to take antenatal classes. You want a class that suits how you want to give birth. Then book early!" -- Stella

Things to consider

Find out about doulas and how they support women during birth.

Have you been asked for your and your partner's blood type? Find out why it's important to know if your blood type is Rhesus negative.

You can stop taking folic acid supplements by the end of this week because the baby's neural tube is now fully formed, but it's still important to eat well in the coming weeks.

Sadly, domestic violence can be triggered by pregnancy: what to do if it happens to you .

Megan Rive

Megan Rive is a communication, content strategy and project delivery specialist. She was Babycenter editor for six years.

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