At 11 weeks pregnant, your baby — now the size of a fig and weighing around 7 grams — is developing fingernails, hair follicles, ovaries, and a distinct palate, with the head accounting for nearly half of total body length. A Doppler device can now detect the baby's heartbeat, and an early pregnancy scan remains a viable option at this stage. Common maternal symptoms this week include intensified morning sickness, fatigue, food cravings, nausea, frequent urination, and breast tenderness. Spinach is highlighted as a particularly valuable food at this point in pregnancy, delivering folate, iron, Vitamin K, Vitamin C, and a range of B vitamins that support fetal growth and maternal health.
- At week 11 of pregnancy, a baby's head accounts for almost half of its entire body size.
- By pregnancy week 11, the baby weighs around 7 grams.
- At week 11, a baby's heartbeat can be detected using a Doppler device.
- By week 11, fetal development includes the formation of fingernails, ovaries, hair follicles, tongue, nipples, palate, and distinct fingers and toes.
- Three cups of spinach per day can supply the required amount of folic acid for pregnant women.
- Spinach contains Vitamin K, which plays a role in strengthening bones and is linked to helping prevent the development of Alzheimer's disease.
- Spinach's zeaxanthin component is useful in preventing the onset of macular degeneration in the elderly.
Pregnancy Diary Week 11
Discover your pregnancy journey
Pregnancy Diary Week 11
Imagine that right now your baby’s head measures about half his body. There’s lots happening during pregnancy week 11 for you and baby. Also why not check out the benefits of eating spinach at this time
Discover
How your baby is growing
What you can expect at this time
A beneficial food for your pregnancy nutrition
Pregnancy Diary Week 11: How Is Your Baby Growing?
As time passes by, your baby continues to grow and develop in such a rapid and impressive rate. By this week, the fingernails, ovaries and hair follicles are developing. Ears are nearly on their final shape, with feet and hands on their distinct shapes.
The baby’s tongue, nipples and palate as well as the fingers and toes are now becoming visible. This means that the webbed fingers and toes have now disappeared. Your baby is the size of a fig.
This week, the size of your baby’s head is not in proportion with his body. The head actually takes almost half of the entire body size. The blood begins to circulate in the body and the baby weighs around 7 grams. Using a Doppler device, your baby’s heartbeat can now be detected.
If you haven’t already been you can still go for an early pregnancy scan at this stage.
What you can expect
By this time, you should expect morning sickness to be more intense. You tend to get hungry most of the time because you’re actually eating for two. Since your body is working very hard in supplying your baby’s needs, fatigue and extreme tiredness are most likely to be experienced.
Pregnancy symptoms which have been manifesting for several weeks continue to show this week. These pregnancy symptoms include food cravings, food aversions, excessive saliva, nausea, vomiting, frequent urination and breast tenderness. Other symptoms include bloating and occasional faintness, dizziness and headaches.
Spinach For Pregnancy Nutrition
According to research, spinach is one of the best foods to eat during pregnancy. This vegetable is fortified with essential nutrients that are beneficial in enhancing the baby’s growth and development. Three cups of spinach everyday can supply the required amount of folic acid for pregnant women every day. Spinach is also said to contain high levels of nutrients that are beneficial for lactating mothers as they help improve the quality of milk.
Spinach is beneficial to the body as it serves as the powerhouse of nutrients such as beta carotene, folate, potassium, zinc, copper and manganese. Its potassium content is beneficial in regulating the level of blood pressure and heart rate. Zinc regulates the growth and development of humans and controls sperm generation, nucleic acid synthesis and digestion. Spinach is also a good source of iron which plays an essential role in the production of red blood cells.
This green vegetable also contains Vitamin K which plays a vital role in strengthening the bones by enhancing its bone-building activity. It even helps in preventing the development of Alzheimer’s disease. In fact, spinach is considered as one of the richest sources of Vitamin K. Meanwhile, spinach is a good source of Vitamin C which is a powerful antioxidant. Vitamin C is beneficial in increasing the body’s resistance against diseases.
This vegetable is also a good source of lutein, zeaxanthin, vitamin C, flavonoids and antioxidants which are known for their abilities to protect the body against diseases. Its zeaxanthin component is useful in preventing the onset of macular degeneration in the elderly. This leafy vegetable also offers B vitamins which include pyridoxine, riboflavin, thiamine and niacin which are very useful to the body. It’s beta carotene and zeaxanthin contents eliminates free radicals which when left unchecked can trigger the development of certain types of cancer.
Folate is exceptionally important during this crucial stage. Research reveals that spinach is packed with folate or folic acid. Insufficient level of folic acid in the body increases the baby’s risk for neural tube defects including spina bifida, cleft palate and cleft lip. Lack of folate in the body also increases the mother’s risk to suffer from megaloblastic anaemia, diarrhoea, tiredness, weight loss and shortness of breath.
Spinach is actually an excellent source of beta carotene which the body converts into Vitamin A. This vitamin is essential for the development of the foetus and in breastfeeding. It also aids in optimizing the development of the foetus, maturation as well as in lung development. Aside from its manganese and potassium content which are essential in promoting heart health, spinach also contains anti-inflammatory properties which help in preventing the onset of asthma, osteoporosis, migraines, headaches and arthritis.
Spinach is also important even after birth. This vegetable makes an excellent source of phytonutrients, vitamins, minerals and amino acids which are exceptionally important for the child’s development.
Pregnancy Diary Week 11
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DISCLAIMER
All articles on the blog and website are intended as information only. Please do not consider any of the information provided here as a substitute for medical advice. At all times seek medical advice directly with your own doctor and medical team.
ANNOUNCEMENT
This website was formerly Merrion Fetal Health. The clinic has undergone a rebrand and is now known as Merrion Ultrasound.
How big is a baby at 11 weeks pregnant?
At 11 weeks, the baby is approximately the size of a fig and weighs around 7 grams. The head makes up almost half of the entire body size at this stage.
What is developing on a baby at 11 weeks?
At 11 weeks, the baby's fingernails, ovaries, hair follicles, tongue, nipples, palate, fingers, and toes are becoming visible. The ears are nearly in their final shape, the webbed fingers and toes have disappeared, and blood has begun circulating through the body.
Can a baby's heartbeat be detected at 11 weeks?
Yes, at 11 weeks a baby's heartbeat can be detected using a Doppler device. An early pregnancy scan is also still possible at this stage.
What symptoms should you expect at 11 weeks pregnant?
At 11 weeks, morning sickness is likely to be more intense, and symptoms such as food cravings, food aversions, nausea, vomiting, frequent urination, breast tenderness, bloating, dizziness, headaches, and fatigue are common. Excessive saliva and occasional faintness may also occur.
Why is spinach recommended during pregnancy?
Spinach is recommended during pregnancy because it is rich in essential nutrients including folate, iron, potassium, zinc, beta carotene, and vitamins C and K, all of which support the baby's growth and development. Three cups of spinach per day can supply the required amount of folic acid for pregnant women.
What role does folic acid play during pregnancy at week 11?
Folic acid is considered exceptionally important during pregnancy, and insufficient levels increase health risks for the developing baby. Spinach is packed with folate and is cited by research as one of the best dietary sources for pregnant women.
What does Vitamin K in spinach do during pregnancy?
Vitamin K in spinach plays a vital role in strengthening bones by enhancing bone-building activity and is also associated with helping to prevent the development of Alzheimer's disease. Spinach is considered one of the richest dietary sources of Vitamin K.
How does spinach support iron levels during pregnancy?
Spinach is a good source of iron, which plays an essential role in the production of red blood cells. Maintaining adequate iron levels is particularly important during pregnancy when the body works harder to meet both the mother's and baby's needs.