11 weeks pregnant: the placenta takes over and the first scan nears
Behind the scenes, a whole new organ is taking charge of feeding your baby. In front of you: probably your first look on a screen.
Updated October 13, 2026 · sources checked October 13, 2026
In short
At 11 weeks you are two weeks from the second trimester in the NHS guide. Your baby is about 41 mm from head to bottom, with fingers and toes separating, and the placenta is about to take over from the yolk sac. The one thing to do this week: check your dating scan is booked, and whether you need a full bladder for it.
Where you are at 11 weeks
You are in month three. The NHS week-by-week guide says you have only two weeks until its second trimester (ACOG starts the second trimester at 14 weeks). Many people begin to feel their energy return around now. Your exact dates: pregnancy week calculator.
Your baby this week
The NHS gives a length of around 41 mm from head to bottom and compares your baby to a fig.
- Fingers and toes are separating out; there are tiny fingernails and miniature ears (NHS).
- The head is still large, but the body is catching up quickly.
- Cleveland Clinic describes a baby opening and closing its fists and mouth, with knees, elbows and ankles working, bones hardening and skin still see-through.
- Your baby has been fed by a yolk sac. The NHS says a new organ, the placenta, is about to take over feeding and removing waste.
Your body: hot, dizzy, stretching
- More blood, more heat. Your body pumps up to 50% more blood than usual (NHS), which can make you hot, sweaty and dizzy. Get up slowly and rest when you need to.
- Stretching aches. As your bump starts, muscles and ligaments stretch and can cause pains around the tummy. The NHS says to see your midwife or doctor as soon as possible if it hurts a lot.
- Tired and emotional. The hormone shifts of the placenta switchover can leave you drained. Gentle exercise such as walking often helps.
Is this normal? When to call
Mild stretching aches are common. Call your early pregnancy unit, maternity unit or NHS 111 (UK), or your OB-GYN or midwife (US), for strong or one-sided tummy pain, any bleeding, fainting, a temperature of 38C (100.4F) or more, or vomiting that stops you keeping fluids down. Call 999 or 911 for bleeding with severe pain, shoulder pain or if you collapse.
Some people only learn at a scan that a pregnancy has stopped developing, which the NHS calls a missed miscarriage. It is hard news, and ACOG is clear it is usually random and not caused by anything you did. If that happens to you, Miscarriage UK (0303 003 6464) and Share Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support in the US can help.
Your first scan
UK. Hospitals in England usually offer two scans: the dating scan and the 20-week scan. The NHS gives slightly different windows for the dating scan on different pages (8 to 14 weeks in the week-by-week guide, 10 to 14 weeks on the 12-week scan page, 11 to 14 weeks on the appointments page), so go by the date you are given. It takes about 20 minutes. If you have agreed to screening and the scan falls between 10 and 14 weeks, the nuchal translucency measurement can be taken at the same time as part of the combined test. Around now you will also be offered blood, urine and blood pressure checks.
US. ACOG explains that a first-trimester ultrasound is not standard for everyone, but may be used to date the pregnancy, check the heartbeat or see how many babies there are; the standard exam comes at 18 to 22 weeks.
Why dating matters. A Cochrane review (Whitworth 2015) (11 trials, over 37,000 women) found that routine early ultrasound makes it far less likely that twins go undetected and improves the early detection of major abnormalities. It was also linked to fewer inductions for pregnancies thought to be overdue, though that evidence was of low quality. Scans did not appear to harm children's later development.
Your week 11 checklist
For your partner
Clear your diary for the scan: it is often the moment the pregnancy feels real for both of you.
Previous and next week
Week 10: fingers, toes and bloating · Week 12: the end of the first trimester · The first trimester · All weeks · Due date calculator
Questions parents ask
What happens at the dating scan?
The NHS says the scan checks how many weeks pregnant you are and your due date, whether you are expecting more than one baby, that the baby is growing in the right place, and the baby's development. It usually takes about 20 minutes and you may be asked to have a full bladder.
Why do I feel hot and dizzy at 11 weeks?
The NHS explains that your body is now pumping up to 50% more blood than usual to feed the womb, which can make you feel hot, sweaty and dizzy. Sit or lie down, drink, and rest. Tell your midwife or doctor if you faint.
When will I feel my baby move?
Not yet. Your baby is kicking, but the NHS says you probably will not feel anything for several weeks; its movements page says between 16 and 24 weeks, often after 20 weeks in a first pregnancy.
Sources
- NHS — Week-by-week guide: week 11 checked October 13, 2026
- NHS — 12-week scan checked October 13, 2026
- Cleveland Clinic — Fetal development: week-by-week stages of pregnancy checked October 13, 2026
- ACOG — Ultrasound Exams checked October 13, 2026
- ACOG — Early Pregnancy Loss checked October 13, 2026
- Whitworth M et al. (2015), Cochrane — Ultrasound for fetal assessment in early pregnancy (PMID 26171896) checked October 13, 2026
Mamavela explains; it does not replace your midwife, doctor or pediatrician, who know your situation. If something worries you, call them. In an emergency, call 911 (US), 999 (UK) or 112.