Canada's Largest & Oldest Cord Blood Bank
Just 3 more weeks left until your second trimester! If you are considering a ‘babymoon’ or a last hurrah before the baby comes, the second trimester is the best time to plan for one.
This Week’s Highlights
Your baby is now fully formed
Your baby’s bones are starting to harden
You may experience unusual cravings
Your Baby at 11 Weeks
Your baby is the size of a Brussels sprout, measuring about 1.6 inches (4.1 centimeters) from head to rump and weighing in at about 0.25 ounces (7 grams).
Baby Development at Week 11
Your baby is now fully formed and in the next couple of weeks will complete most of his or her critical development. In the remaining 6 months, your little one will continue to grow in size and strength, getting ready for arriving in the outside world.
Your baby’s features are getting more and more refined now: the hands and feet have individual digits, the ears are taking their final shape, hair follicles are forming all over the body and even the nail beds are starting to develop.
There is also a thin, translucent layer of skin, under which blood vessels are developing. These blood vessels are quite visible and gives your baby’s skin a pink hue.
Even though the eyes remain closed until 27 weeks, your baby is far from sleeping. Right now he or she us busy kicking, stretching and flexing.
First Trimester Genetic Testing
If you have opted for one, you will be doing your first trimester genetic tests either this week, or in the coming weeks.
This involves a blood test that will look at circulating fetal DNA in maternal blood and a nuchal translucency screening (NT scan) where ultrasound will be used to measure the thickness of the fluid around the skin at the back of the baby’s neck (nuchal fold).
These tests are optional, but are recommended as they will provide early indications of genetic abnormalities.
Pregancy Tip
Most maternity hospitals offer prenatal classes, but they tend to fill up fast. If you are considering one, book it in the next couple of weeks.
Your Bump at 11 Weeks
Has your bump ‘popped’ yet? If this is your first pregnancy, your bump may not show yet. You may see of feel a difference, but it won’t be noticeable to an outsider.
How Your Body is Changing
At 11 weeks, there is light at the end of the tunnel, because pregnancy hormones start to level off by the end of the first trimester (13 weeks). You may still be experiencing fatigue, morning sickness, nausea, mood swings and increased vaginal discharge.
Your breasts will continue to change, as the milk glands grow in preparation for breast-feeding. Some moms gain up to 3 pounds of breast tissue over the course of their pregnancy.
Pregnancy hormone can also induce changes in skin pigmentation. You can prevent discoloration on your face by wearing sunscreen and making sure you wear a hat with a large brim. You may also notice the development of the linea nigra, a drak line that runs vertically down the center of your belly, this week. This pregnancy line only appears in some moms and will fade after the baby is born.
The Use of Stem Cells as a Potential Therapeutic Option for Immune-mediated Diseases
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive brain disorder that gradually destroys memory and other important mental functions. Anyone who has experienced this degradation in a loved one can attest to the grief and confusion it causes.
More than 90% of AD cases are the late-onset form, with symptoms not appearing until after 65 years of age. Two abnormal structures, plaques and tangles, are detected in affected brains. These are the prime suspects for increasing cell death and tissue loss.
Several clinical trials are currently exploring the use of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells to treat AD. We are very hopeful that future treatments will be widely available as research deepens.
Expecting parents can maximize their child’s future health outcomes by banking their cord blood and cord blood stem cells using our services. Should your child one day show signs of early or even late-onset AD, their banked cord blood could rescue them from a sad fate. https://www.healthcord.com/cord-blood-usage-overview/cord-blood-clinical-trials/
How Far Along are You?
11 weeks in, 29 weeks to go! You are almost at the end of your first trimester pregnancy. Even though pregnancy is measured in weeks this means you are in your third month of pregnancy.
Diet and Exercise at Week 11
Your fully formed baby will continue to grow in the next 6 months. If there isn’t enough calcium in your diet, your little one will tap into your own calcium deposits, making your bones weaker. High protein snacks like nuts are also full of minerals including calcium, copper, zinc, potassium and magnesium your baby needs.
How are you keeping up with your exercise routine? Did you know physical activity can help relieve anxiety and depression experienced by expectant moms? Exercise also has the added benefits of reducing back pain and easing your labour.
Pregnancy Symptoms at Week 11
Morning sickness – About 85% of expectant moms feel some degree of morning sickness. The severity of nausea vary from one moms-to-be to the other. Most moms find relief from morning sickness as they head onto their second trimester at 13 weeks. You may be just 2 weeks away from finding relief.
Fatigue – Exhaustion is one of the most common symptoms associated with this stage of pregnancy. Remember, your body is going through massive changes at this stage to make sure that tiny ball of cells will survive and continue to grow into your precious baby.
Tender breasts – Hormonal changes and the increase in blood supply to your breast will make then tender and swollen.
Frequent visits to the bathroom– Frequent urination is a symptom that is present in both your first and third trimesters. Unfortunately, even if you drink absolutely no liquids, you will still need to visit the bathroom more often. This is quite normal.
Food aversions and cravings – Food aversions and cravings are caused by hormones and changes to your sense of taste and smell. It is natural to want a very particular flavour of ice cream or a specific brand of spicy noodle at some point during your pregnancy.
Cord Blood vs Cord Tissue Stem Cells
