Pregnancy week 11
8 Jan. 2026
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Pregnant in week 11? At this stage, a new phase begins for many expectant parents: the fetus is growing rapidly, vital organs are forming, and your body is changing significantly. Here you can read all about your baby’s development, common symptoms, and medical topics such as the Rh factor.
The body and head are now the same size (!), but as a newborn the length of the head will be about a quarter of the length of the body.
This week sees an intensive development of the nerve cells: most of the foetus’s organs are actually formed this week, but continue to grow and develop their functions all the way until birth.
The intestines that were previously in the umbilical cord now begin to migrate into the foetus’s stomach. The rapid growth of the intestines means that they did not fully fit in the stomach of the foetus, but were also partially in the inner part of the umbilical cord. Gradually, the intestines move inwards and will then be located inside the attachment point at the umbilical cord, an absolutely incredible process !
The eyes begin to find their place and the two buds that the outer ear has consisted of until now have grown together and started to form the shape of the outer ear. On the legs of the foetus, small, tiny knees and ankles begin to form.
Nails and small hairs begin to develop and the foetus can now yawn, swallow and suck! These are the things the foetus occupies itself with while it is awake during the day. Generally, the foetus has short periods of being awake, although this differs between all foetuses. It may be awake for 20-60 minutes, and then alternate between periods of sleep or rest. Exactly what the mini baby is doing in there, or how long it sleeps or is awake, is difficult to know. However, one can see that the sleep/wake intervals are relatively short and vary between individuals.
In weeks 11-12, the focus is on organ and uterine development. Can you feel the top of your uterus level with your pubic bone now? Some pregnant women can already feel it at this point!
Depending on your blood type and Rhesus factor (RhD factor), it may be appropriate to analyze your baby’s Rh factor. This is done by taking the blood group of the pregnant woman, and if she is RhD Negative, an offer of Foetal DNA Sampling may be suggested. Most hospital trusts and private clinics offer to check the blood of a rhesus negative mother between 11 – 16 weeks of pregnancy for foetal DNA to confirm baby’s rhesus status. If your baby is RhD negative, they are not at risk of rhesus incompatability and no extra monitoring or treatment will be necessary. If they are found to be RhD positive, the pregnancy will be monitored more closely and Anti D will be offered at 28 weeks, after the birth or following any sensitising event, like a road traffic accident or significant blood loss.
Remember that the healthcare journey for pregnancies differs from trust to trust, talk to your midwife about what it looks like where you live.
The hormones in your body cause the lining of the mouth to become more swollen and fragile than before. It usually results in the gums starting to bleed more easily when brushing your teeth, something you may have already noticed? As a pregnant woman, you also run a greater risk of getting cavities in your teeth, and the properties of saliva can change during this period. It is therefore especially important to be careful with oral hygiene during pregnancy! In addition to changes in the oral mucosa and saliva, snacking can also contribute to poor dental hygiene. So take care of your mouth as much as you can!
During pregnancy, your blood volume increases by approximately 40%. Many can see their blood vessels on the body a little more prominent now along with new lines on the skin. It is a side effect of the increased blood supply in the body that occurs to give the foetus the nutrition it needs. However, there is nothing to worry about, as most blood vessels will return to their normal appearance after delivery.
Around this week, many pregnant women experience the abdomen being more visible and that the breasts have become bigger (but not all, because the changes in the body are individual, something that is important to always remember!). Since the foetus is still barely 4 cm, it is swollen intestines that are usually the cause of the pouting stomach. The muscle wall in the intestines moves more slowly and the activity in the intestines is slower. There is also a widening of the intestines during pregnancy, which is a cause of swelling above the stomach. There may also be more gas in the gut, which increases the feeling of swelling. This feeling may decrease somewhat in a week or two, and then come back later but then because the uterus has grown and takes up more space.
For you as a partner, this time can go by incredibly slowly, and it can actually even feel a bit boring… Or the days just feel normal! For the pregnant woman, this can be all the more difficult as a lot is going on in her body right now. Remember to talk about everything that is going on and don’t be afraid to ask your partner lots of questions about how her body feels and how she’s doing mentally. You also shouldn’t be afraid to explain how you feel and what’s going through your mind. You may well feel better just by talking and sharing your thoughts and feelings with each other.
If you haven’t already started telling loved ones about the new addition to the family, maybe it’s time to start thinking about how you want to tell them? Talk to each other about how and when you want to tell your family and friends! It could be; in a fun way, an emotional way or as a surprise. If you don’t feel ready to share your pregnancy yet, there’s no shame in waiting. You’ll tell them when you’re ready!
