Week 11: Your Baby Starts to Stretch and Move

Your baby's head still makes up about half of total body length, but the body is starting to catch up in proportion. The skin is still thin and translucent, with blood vessels visible beneath it.

Your baby can now make spontaneous movements like stretching, kicking, and even hiccupping, though you're still many weeks away from feeling any of this.

Tiny tooth buds continue forming, and the diaphragm is developing, which will eventually allow for breathing movements (even before birth, as practice for life outside the womb).

Many women start to notice the very first hints of a baby bump around this time, though it's still easily mistaken for bloating. Your uterus is now about the size of a large grapefruit.

Common symptoms include:

• Easing nausea for many women, though not all
• Increased energy levels for some
• Continued frequent urination
• Mild bloating
• Skin changes, including a possible pregnancy glow from increased blood flow

If your appetite is returning as nausea eases, focus on nutrient-dense foods rather than just calories — whole grains, lean proteins, fruits, and vegetables should make up the bulk of your diet.

If you're feeling more energetic, this can be a good time to establish a consistent, moderate exercise routine that you can maintain through much of your pregnancy, with your doctor's approval.

Consider:

• Scheduling your NT (nuchal translucency) scan if you're doing first-trimester screening
• Starting to research childbirth education classes for later in pregnancy
• Continuing healthy habits established so far

The nuchal translucency ultrasound, often combined with blood tests, is typically performed between weeks 11 and 14. This screening assesses risk for certain chromosomal conditions and is optional — discuss with your doctor whether it's right for you.