What you need to know about normal 11 week ultrasound, pregnancy ultrasounds.

Hi there , I hope you all have an amazing Christmas, as you can see on the title I will be explaining all about one of the most important ultrasounds on your baby, the 11 week one, in which we will be talking about the Nuchal Translucency as well, if you want to learn how your baby is developing at 11 weeks stay with me, as usual, all ultrasound images regarding this topic will be on the middle of the post…

At 11 weeks your baby is as big as a Lime, measuring about 4.1 to 5.2 cm long and weighing about 0.25 ounces.

Some of the most common 11 Weeks Pregnant Symptoms are:

Fatigue: Even though you are still under the effects of many hormones you are feeling some of your energy coming back slowly. Until then, give yourself permission to kick back and get some extra rest.

Skin darkening.: Well is about time for you to start noticing a dark line down the center your belly, this is a totally normal pregnancy symptom called the linea nigra. This dark line is caused by hormonal changes and is not permanent, even though you might notice that it stays for a while after you give birth, especially if you breastfeed.

Mood swings: Girl try anything and everything that keeps you calm and happy you really need it right now and remember if is possible, avoid stressful situations.

Leg cramps: The cause of leg cramps are not fully known, however, they can be caused by reduced levels of calcium or increased levels of phosphorus in the blood, leg cramps are painful involuntary muscle contractions that typically affects the calf, foot or both and  are more common at night in the second and third trimester. Drinking plenty of water can prevent leg cramps, and so can stretching your legs during the day. You also want to take a look at your diet to be sure you’re getting enough potassium and magnesium.

Nausea. Should be getting better by now but you still feeling some here and there, be patient, some moms to find relieve taking natural remedies like ginger tea.

Vaginal discharge:  Remember this substance is simply nature’s way of getting rid of bacteria. If it’s colored, tinged with blood, has a foul odor, or causes discomfort to call your doctor for a check-up.

Links for my previous posts are down below in case you want to check them out to see more about other weeks ultrasounds or symptoms.

What you need to know about the normal 10 week ultrasound.

What you need to know about the normal 9 week ultrasound.

What to expect on your 11 week ultrasound scan:

As usual, we start with the maternal organs first then the baby…
Remember the 11 weeks scan is still done transvaginally.

At 11 weeks your baby should look more like a human being, legs are clearly seen, the amnion is clearly seen, and the placenta is almost developed completely.

Another view of how your baby should look like, the ultrasound image shows the fetal head, arms, abdomen, and legs.

Can we take a moment to appreciate the most cutest thing you are going to see today, this is how your baby’s legs should look like.

Ultrasound image of the Doppler of the fetal heart.

Normal Nuchal Translucency.

And now let’s talk about nuchal translucency ultrasound shall we?

Nuchal translucency (NT) is the sonographic appearance of a collection of fluid under the skin behind the fetal neck in the first trimester of pregnancy. In fetuses with chromosomal abnormalities, cardiac defects, and many genetic syndromes the NT thickness is increased.

How is the nuchal translucency measurement done:

*The gestational period must be 11 weeks to 13 weeks and 6 days.
*The fetal crown-rump length should be between 45 mm to 84 mm.
*The magnification of the image should be as follow, the fetal head and thorax occupy the whole screen.
*The presence of the nasal bone, the rectangular shape of the palate anteriorly, the translucent diencephalon in the Centre and the nuchal membrane posteriorly are crucial to take an accurate measurement of the NT.

*Fetal head should not be extended or flexed.
*The fetus should be in a neutral position, with the head in line with the spine. A deviation of this position can lead to false positive or negative of the test.
*Is important to distinguish between fetal skin and amnion to avoid errors.
*The widest part of translucency must always be measured.
*During the scan more than one measurement must be taken and the maximum one that meets all the above criteria should be recorded in the database.

*A value of less than 2.2-2.8 mm is considered normal which means not associated with high risk.

      Normal NT.

The blood tests that are combined with the NT on the first trimester screening to rule out genetic and chromosomal diseases are:
*Free BhCG (beta human chorionic gonadotrophin)
*PAPP-A (pregnancy-associated plasma protein A).
The level of these proteins is known to change with certain conditions including chromosome abnormalities.

How the abnormal NT looks on Ultrasound??

Ultrasound image of an Abnormal NT measurement, as you can see on this image the NT was measuring 5.9 mm.

What’s next if you have an abnormal NT??

If your risk is increased then further testing (such as CVS or amniocentesis) should be considered.

Chorionic villus sampling (CVS) is a prenatal test that is used to detect birth defects, genetic diseases, and other problems during pregnancy. During the test, a small sample of cells (called chorionic villi) is taken from the placenta where it attaches to the wall of the uterus.

Amniocentesis is a prenatal test in which a small amount of amniotic fluid is removed from the sac surrounding the fetus for testing. The sample of amniotic fluid (less than one ounce) is removed through a fine needle inserted into the uterus through the abdomen, under ultrasound guidance. The fluid is then sent to a laboratory for analysis. Different tests can be performed on a sample of amniotic fluid, depending on the genetic risk and indication for the test.

Both of these tests have risks you should talk to your doctor if you have any concerns.

OK, guys so this is the shortest way to get you the most important things happening at 11 weeks, with all of this testing you probably need a Baby Moon right now lol, you deserve it…

On my next post, we will continue with the weekly Pregnancy Ultrasounds, I see you there, as usual, thanks for staying till the end.

Zadi XO