The Playbook

11 Weeks Pregnant: The Nuchal Scan Window and Family Traditions

By the Guide to Fatherhood editorial team. Last reviewed . 2 min read.

Checked against guidance from organizations like the AAP, CDC, ACOG and NHS (linked below). This is general information, not medical advice. Read our medical disclaimer.

Trimester1
Sizea fig
Lengthabout 1.6 in (4.1 cm)

The baby's head is still about half its length, but the body is catching up. Bones are hardening, and the baby can move, stretch, and even hiccup.

Your to-do list this week

  • If you're doing first-trimester screening, book the nuchal translucency scan (usually 11 to 14 weeks) at a time you can attend.
  • Start a pregnancy journal or a shared photo album. Your future kid will love it, and so will you.
  • Ask your parents what they remember about your birth and your first year. Some stories are useful; some are hilarious.
  • Protect her sleep: take the early morning dog walk or the first alarm.
A conversation to have this week

"Which traditions from our families do we want to keep, and which do we want to drop?" Holidays, religion, names, food, how you discipline. Early is easier.

The baby this week

About the size of a fig, the baby is moving a lot (stretching, kicking, even hiccuping), though it’s far too small for your partner to feel. The head is still about half the body’s length, but the body is starting to catch up, and the bones are hardening (Cleveland Clinic; NHS).

How she may be feeling

The end of the first trimester is close. For some people, energy starts to return this week; for others, nausea hangs on into the second trimester. She may also be dealing with headaches, a stuffy nose (yes, that’s a pregnancy thing), and needing to pee constantly.

The nuchal translucency scan

If you’ve chosen first-trimester screening, the ACOG window for the nuchal translucency (NT) ultrasound is roughly 11 to 14 weeks. The sonographer measures the fluid at the back of the baby’s neck, and that measurement, combined with a blood test and her age, estimates the chance of certain chromosomal conditions.

It’s also, frankly, a great ultrasound to see. The baby looks like a baby now: a profile, arms, legs, and a lot of wriggling. Take the morning off if you can.

Expect waiting. Results may take days. Agree in advance how you’ll get them (a call, the patient portal) and try to be together when they come in.

Start building your family story

Two small things this week that dads often regret skipping:

  • A record. A shared photo album, a notes file, a weekly bump photo against the same wall. Ten minutes a week is plenty.
  • Your history. Ask your parents about your birth, your first year, what they wish they’d known. You’ll learn about medical history, family patterns, and how they coped, all useful in a few months.

Then have the traditions conversation. Not to settle everything, just to find out where you differ before a grandparent finds out for you.

Frequently asked questions

What is a nuchal translucency scan?

An ultrasound, usually done between about 11 and 14 weeks, that measures the fluid at the back of the baby's neck. Combined with a blood test, it estimates the chance of certain chromosomal conditions. It's optional.

Sources

  1. Prenatal Genetic Screening Tests, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
  2. Week 11: Your baby and your body, NHS
  3. Fetal development: Stages of Growth, Cleveland Clinic

We link to the original source for every medical and safety claim. Guidance changes; if a source has been updated since our last review, the source wins. How we research.