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Pregnancy Topics..

You are here : home > Pregnancy > Week-by-Week Fetal Development > Development in Week 21

Week 21: Development in Week 21

Week 21: Development in Week 21

In 21st week of pregnancy, you may gain around 15 pounds and experience some back pains. Read on to know changes expected in your body and baby in this week.

Congratulations you are now half way through your pregnancy. Now that you are in the second trimester, you need to be more careful about what you drink and eat. If you are exercising, you need to be careful about all your moves now. While, you may not notice them, there are changes going on inside as well as outside your body.
If your baby is a girl, her internal reproductive organs, the womb and the vagina will have formed by now. Whatever the child's sex, the legs will have finally grown in proportion to the body and will be moving in graceful coordination. The tongue is also fully formed and the skin is not transparent anymore.
The white blood cells are under production right now, to help fight infections and by increasing the powers of resistance and the skin has now turned opaque.
This week your baby measures about eleven inches or 27.5cm and weighs around one pound or 450g.

What Happens in the 21st Week of Pregnancy?

By this time, you may gain around 15 pounds. You shall gain some more in the coming few weeks. Your tummy is now bulging out and letting the world know that you are pregnant. It is common to experience leg pains and cramps this time. Using a pregnancy pillow can help alleviate some of your pains. Do not worry if you notice swelling in your feet, thighs and ankles. Try to wear comfortable shoes and avoid the heels now.
You may notice your nails and hair growing at a rapid speed. This is the result of the active pregnant hormones. The increased blood circulation is bringing in more nutrients to your nails and hair, causing them to grow at a record speed.
If you are getting too self conscious about the way you look, get yourself engaged in some activities you love. Get some me-time for yourself and do not let the stress take a toll on you. This is the time for you to relax and enjoy and there is no need to feel guilty about it. Your little one too is enjoying these breaks.

Dealing with Appetite and Unusual Cravings

You may find your appetite increasing and have cravings for weird things like ashes, beer, charcoal and cigarettes. While these are strictly prohibited in your pregnancy, you can speak about your new cravings to your doctor. It is very important to stay as relaxed as possible. You never know how many things he or she is picking up from your womb.

Dealing with Backaches

As the centre of gravity shifts in your body, it is natural to experience some back pains now. The Relaxin hormone is stretching your joints and ligaments and causing additional stress on your back. Prenatal massage from experts can offer you immense relief in this case.

You Develop Stretch Marks

In the 21st week you may start developing stretch markson your hips, thighs, belly and buttock. You are getting these stretch marks due to rapid weight gain. Although, there are no proven ways to stop these stretch marks, you can apply moisturizers and cocoa butter on your skin. These stretch marks shall become less noticeable after your delivery.

Your Baby’s Development in 21st Week of Pregnancy

Size of your baby is like that of your placenta now.
He or she has now fully developed his or her blood circulation and is comfortably swimming in your tummy. His or her intestine has started to relax and contract on its own, which gradually matures the digestive system. Foetus’s digestive system starts functioning as she swallows your amniotic fluid on a regular basis.
You may expect eyelids, eyebrows, toenails and fingernails of the foetus to have developed by this time.
Your baby has also developed her taste bud and can differentiate between different flavours that are reaching her through the amniotic fluid.
His or her skin looks quite different now as she has developed a white coating called Vernix caseoa. This is a protection from the amniotic fluid. You can see some of those white waxy substances once he or she is born.
The baby has started gaining fats around her that shall give him or her wonderful chubby look once he or she is born. He or she now weighs around 11 ounces and is about 8 inches in length.
You just need to wait for few more weeks to see your little bundle of joy now.

What changes can be expected in 21st week of pregnancy? How to deal with the changes that take place body during 21st week of pregnancy? How to deal with the aches and pains during pregnancy? Discuss here.



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Desmond
Desmond.11 years ago
Am having pain in my lower stomach what can be the cause?
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swapnaramesh
swapnaramesh.13 years ago
iam now in 6th month{21st week],iam indian but staying in europe.iam very tensenced that my baby is moving.so kindly sugest me a solution
thanx bye
 
 
 
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Monique Denny
Monique Denny.14 years ago
i am in the military and i can't wait to have my little baby boy! his name is going to be amari darnell williams. he gives me constant heartburn and likes to be in a position that is very uncomfortable to me. i can feel him all in the left side of my upper stomach!
 
 
 
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Alexsis Dawkins
Alexsis Dawkins.14 years ago
im a teenage mother and i'm having a baby girl! she is very active and i love feeling her movements. even my mom is excitec and has me a crib and is starting to make a handmade quilt for her!! grandma will be the spoiler for sure!!!
 
 
 
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Ruksar shaikh
Ruksar shaikh.14 years ago
i have juz step- in to 21 weeks pregnancy ,but yet i do not feel any movements ;instead of slight and very rarely some tapping movements.
plz advice is it normal that i do not feel much of movements .
 
 
 
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taanu
taanu.14 years ago
iam not feeling much movement of baby.
which excersice should i do?
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