Pregnancy week 11 - baby's development and your body

Week 11 marks the ninth week after fertilization, and from this point onward, the baby is officially referred to as a fetus rather than an embryo.

This week, the fetus's body begins to grow more in proportion with the head. The eyelids have formed, and by the end of the week, the external genitalia will begin to develop.

Size:

The fetus is about 4.5 cm or 1.77 inches in size, from head to rump.

Weight:

Approximately 7 grams or 0.247 ounces.

Fetal development:

During this week, the fetus's body starts to grow in proportion to the head, which at the beginning of the week is as large as the rest of the body.

The intestines, which have partially been in the umbilical cord, begin to move into the abdomen as space is created for them. The liver, pancreas, and other organs are also growing there.

The head is rounder and has more human features, with eyes now covered by thin eyelids, ears, and a nose. The fetus has arms with hands and fingers without webbing, as well as legs and feet with toes.

Ovaries and testicles were formed back in week 9, but by the end of this week, the external genitalia will also start to develop.

Your body:

Pregnancy is usually not visible this early, but the uterus is growing, and you may feel bloated. Some people also experience it as mild period-like cramps as the uterus expands and takes up more space.

Some may feel the need to urinate more frequently already, as increased kidney blood flow during pregnancy leads to a greater amount of urine. It is also common to feel tired and want to sleep a lot.

It's also common to start experiencing heightened sensitivity to smells and tastes, and more noticeable nausea than in the earlier weeks. If you haven't started feeling nauseous by now, you likely won't.