Pregnancy Week 11

Your Baby's Growth and Development

As your pregnancy continues during pregnancy week 11, your baby is almost large enough for you to nestle in your palm. Most babies are just under 1 ½ inches long by now and may weigh as much as .3 ounces. Your baby probably resembles a large lime (in size, not shape)!

Your baby's skin is still transparent by pregnancy week 11. For much of your pregnancy in fact, your baby's skin will remain paper thin. Once your baby reaches full term he will start to fill out, and you will no longer be able to see your baby's blood vessels peeking out through his skin. Most baby's can make tiny fists by pregnancy week 11. During week 11 pregnancy your baby's fingers and toes lose their web like appearance and resemble actual digits! In the upcoming weeks your baby is planning on growing quite a bit. Most babies will double their size during the next three weeks alone!

Changes In Your Body

Hip, hip hooray! By about pregnancy week 11 you will finally start showing just a bit, though you still won't be showing a lot (especially if this is your first baby). You are rapidly approaching the end of your first trimester.

During each of my pregnancies by about 11 weeks pregnant, I always started relaxing a bit more, knowing my risk of miscarriage drops significantly in the next two weeks. My morning sickness would always also completely disappear by about 11 weeks pregnancy.

By about this time your uterus is just thinking about popping up above your pubic bone. Once this happens you will start showing a bit more. You are probably feeling quite pregnant at this point even if you don't look huge to the outside world. Many women start noticing physical changes including rapidly growing hair and nails. This varies from woman to woman however. I always noticed that my hair didn't start growing much faster than normal until about my third trimester. My nails however, always grow quite rapidly regardless of what stage of pregnancy I was in.

Don't count on thick locks just because you are pregnant however, While most women have thicker hair than normal, some will experience other changes. I know a woman for example whose hair turned curly during pregnancy. It seems strange, but under the influence of pregnancy hormones, nothing is impossible.

Varicose Veins In Pregnancy

One of the things I hated about pregnancy was the varicose veins developing in my legs. Varicose veins are common among pregnant women. Some women develop them early on for the first time during pregnancy. If you already had varicose veins prior to pregnancy, they might get worse during your pregnancy.

Varicose veins often results as your uterus places more pressure on the lower half of your body. This can cause swelling in your blood vessels causing the veins to bulge slightly or alarmingly. Some women even develop varicose veins in their vulva. These can be quite painful and irritating.

Fortunately, varicose veins often resolve themselves shortly after pregnancy. While my veins never did disappear, they were always a lot better after pregnancy. They may have disappeared completely if I hadn't had them before becoming pregnant.

The good news is you can take steps to help prevent or reduce the severity of varicose veins during pregnancy. For one, you should invest in a good pair of maternity support hose. If you prefer not to have something around your belly, there are plenty of retailers that offer thigh high versions, even toeless ones. While sometimes hot and uncomfortable, support hose do help prevent excessive swelling and can keep the pain associated with varicose veins at bay.

Make sure you also get some exercise during pregnancy to help promote circulation, and elevate your legs whenever you can. This will also help reduce swelling and reduce the pain and discomfort of varicose veins during pregnancy.

One other tool you can use to help reduce swelling in your legs and pain associated with varicose veins is a pregnancy pillow. These handy tools help provide comfort and support for all areas of your body during pregnancy, including your neck, lower back, abdomen, legs and feet.

Most doctors recommend pregnant women elevate their feet when sitting or reclining. Snoozer Full Body Pregnancy Pillows make this ßtask easy. According to the manufacturer, these pillows not only provide support, they also enhance circulation in the legs and the rest of your body. This, combined with the use of maternity support hose, may be all you need to prevent the appearance or reduce the severity of varicose veins you experience during pregnancy.

You can even use full body pregnancy pillows long after you deliver your baby, not just to nurse, but to elevate your legs and promote circulation. The more you do this, the less likely you are to suffer pain and inflammation associated with varicose veins in the legs and other areas of the body. Pregnancy pillows can help alleviate neck and back pain, which sometimes trigger migraine headaches. You can even buy a pillow made of natural goose down if you to add a little extra support and comfort throughout your pregnancy.

If you find you do suffer migraines, make sure you invest in a comfortable full body pregnancy pillow. You can wrap yourself and your baby around it, lie down and rest until you feel ready to take on the challenges of the rest of the day. Pregnancy pillows can also prove comforting to women that suffer migraines even after they deliver their precious newborn baby.

Common triggers for migraines include stress or anxiety, too little sleep, chocolate and certain aged cheeses, wine and coffee and strong odors at times. Some women find placing an ice pack on their head helps them feel better, while others find acupuncture helps during pregnancy. If I catch a migraine early, I always try some acupuncture to help relieve my symptoms.

If your headaches prove extra debilitating, be sure to contact your healthcare provider for more advice about treating them. In certain circumstances, your doctor may be able to prescribe something to help alleviate your discomfort temporarily.

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Pregnancy Week - 11 Weeks Pregnant