11 Weeks Pregnant - Pregnancy - Bounty

Pregnancy week by week

This week, we go through some of the changes you may be going through, physically and mentally, at this stage of your pregnancy.
We look at

• Hair and skin care
• Mood swings
• How to boost your energy levels through exercise
• Exercising safely
• What to expect at your dating ultrasound scan

Looking good

• As soon as you become pregnant, your skin starts to get extra blood flow. This can give you that lovely pregnancy ‘glow’… or your skin may get blotchy and dry on your face or body. If that’s the case, try a richer moisturiser than normal on your face, and use a bath oil or body oil to help your skin retain moisture.
• Your hair may get greasy, dry, shiny or dull – there’s no rhyme or reason! Perms and colourings may affect it differently, so tell your hairdresser you’re pregnant before trying a complete change of look.
• It’s not unusual to develop an allergy to beauty products, as your skin is more sensitive than usual. Many women find they need to switch to gentle or hypoallergenic brands of make-up and deodorants.

Mood swings
You may be overjoyed at the thought of having a baby one day, and the next you’re down in the dumps, even when your baby is very much wanted – blame it on the hormones. But some of your moodiness is simply due to the fact that pregnancy is a time of tremendous change. Just knowing this may make you feel better. You’ll feel happier, too, as you sort things out and as your body adapts. If you get really down, tell your midwife – there are ways to help.

Get up and go
Believe it or not, one of the best ways to recover your lost energy is to take some regular exercise. It can also strengthen your muscles to help you carry the extra weight, improve your joints, and make it easier for you to give birth to your baby. If you’ve been keeping fit, then you can continue doing the exercise you usually do as long as you’re comfortable. Don’t suddenly start vigorous activities if you weren’t doing any before – now is not the time to take up rugby! If you go to a class, tell the teacher you’re pregnant. Swimming, yoga and walking are all good pregnancy exercises.

Stay safe exercise checklist

• Warm up slowly and cool down gradually.
• Wear loose-fitting clothing and supportive shoes.
• Watch your back – the levels of a hormone called relaxin increase during pregnancy. Relaxin loosens your joints, so it’s easier than usual to hurt yourself. ?Avoid exercising while flat on your back after the first three months as it cuts down the blood flow to the baby.
• Drink plenty of water so you don’t get dehydrated.
• Stop if you feel uncomfortable, or if muscles are hurting.
• Avoid using a Jacuzzi, steam room or sauna.
• Stay cool and don’t overdo it.

Ultrasound: the ‘dating’ scan
You will be offered a scan in the next couple of weeks. It can give a pretty accurate estimate of how far your pregnancy has progressed and when your baby’s due, and show how your baby’s developing. This scan also detects the number of babies you’re carrying, so if it’s twins, this could be when you find out! Take your partner with you if you can, for this first chance to say hello to your baby. You will need to have a full bladder for this scan, and you’ll have cold gel put on your stomach. The radiographer will press the scanner quite hard against your abdomen... which can be a bit uncomfortable.
The dating scan may be combined with the nuchal translucency screening scan in some areas.

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