What's happening when you're 11 weeks pregnant? Ladies and gentleman, mommies and daddies, in this corner, weighing in at a whopping third of an ounce and standing – or rather laying – two inches long is your baby! She’s caterpillar-size right now, though not quite as fuzzy, and certainly more human in appearance.
Sure, her forehead is still high, and her head is still disproportionately larger than her body, but her facial bones are completely formed, she has an obvious jawline, and most of her soon-to-be-adorable facial features are well-defined. The ears are now sculpted into their seashell shape. Hair follicles are sprouting head to toe. Nipples on the chest are visible. Fingernail and toenail beds are developing. Her skin is beginning to thicken, and those diminutive digits are no longer webbed like a froglet’s. And behind those little lips, your baby is trying out her new tongue and palate – yawning, swallowing, chewing – prepping for hours of eating and chatting in years to come.
Your little one’s ticker is ticking faster each week, clocking in at about 120 to 160 beats per minute. And while you probably don’t feel anything yet, there’s plenty of nimble action going on in your uterus. Your tiny athlete is practicing somersaults, stretches, and spins – a big workout for one so wee. Lucky for her, your uterine gym is open 24 hours a day.
Did You Know?
About 50% of pregnant woman are affected by “pregnancy gingivitis”, which is essentially yet another negative response to the increased levels of hormones. The increase in progesterone levels causes your gums to react more to the bacteria in plaque. This, as well as the increased blood supply in your mouth, can lead to increased gum sensitivity and bleeding. Prevention is easy: daily flossing and brushing.
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