At 21 weeks significant, your baby has more control over limb movements, which explains why y'all might be feeling more boot and stretching going on in in that location.

From the exterior, your footling ane may be leaving his mark in the course of stretch marks — pink, reddish, purple, scarlet-chocolate-brown or night brown streaks that tin can appear as your belly expands.

Your Baby at Week 21

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It'south calendar week 21 and your footling monkey is about the size of a medium assistant — around 7 inches long and most 3-quarters of a pound. As he gets bigger and bigger, you'll exist able to feel those movements more and more…at least when he's not hunkering down for ane of his many naps. Naps? Yup. Though it may not feel like it with all the boot and poking going on in there, your snoozer sleeps as much every bit xiv hours a day.

But non considering it'southward slow at Hotel Uterus. On the contrary: You keep things very interesting just by switching upwards the catering menu. Those teensy taste buds on his tiny tongue are now adult enough and then while he tin't actually eat the foods you practise, he tin can gustatory modality them in the amniotic fluid.

And taste them he will every bit he gulps several ounces each twenty-four hours for hydration and diet…and to practice swallowing and digesting. Then sup on something spicy and within an hour or two it'll feel like a dance party in your belly equally your budding babe burrito gets a hint of that enchilada. Savor some scampi, and your little shrimp will catch a wave of garlic.

Need another reason to add diverseness to your 2nd and third trimester menus? Studies testify that babies who have sampled certain foods while in utero are more inclined to eat them in one case they hitting the high chair. So putting broccoli, carrots, and kale on your plate now packs a 1-two punch: great nutrition for you and your infant, and a greater likelihood your potentially picky eater will savor those veggies later on.

At a Glance

He's got the moves

Your baby's arms and legs are in proportion this week and his movements are at present much more coordinated. As well, notice a jump in babe'due south length this calendar week? Upwardly until now, nosotros've been measuring from crown to rump, but at present nosotros start to mensurate from crown to heel, which explains why he suddenly "grew" so much.

More blood cells

Your infant-to-be's liver and spleen have been working hard producing blood cells, but now the os marrow is developed enough to help as well.

Baby'south drinking

While the placenta is still #i when information technology comes to nourishment, now your baby takes in minor amounts of amniotic fluid, as well.

21 weeks meaning is how many months?

If you're 21 weeks meaning, you're in month v of your pregnancy. Only 4 months left to go! Nonetheless have questions? Here'due south some more information on how weeks, months and trimesters are cleaved downwards in pregnancy.

How large is my infant at 21 weeks?

How big is your infant? Switching from crown-to-rump to crown-to-heel length, he's x½ inches long and weighs 11 to 12½ounces, about the size of a large assistant.

Your developing babe still has a slap-up bargain of room in your womb — though similar anyone who lives in one space for a long time, this tenant will soon begin to feel cramped.

Baby'due south moving and sleeping

Until those uterine walls start closing in, however, there's plenty of space for twisting, turning and even an occasional somersault — and so that's what you were feeling last nighttime!

With all that belly dancing going on, information technology's hard to believe your infant is getting whatever shut-centre at all. But believe it or not, your fetus sleeps as much as a newborn. Now if only you could get some sleep yourself!

Infant's taste buds develop

Speaking of milestones, whatever yous eat this week, there's a good gamble your infant will taste it, too. That'south because when you're 21 weeks pregnant, your babe swallows a bit of amniotic fluid each day — not simply for nutrition and hydration, but also to practice swallowing and digesting, skills he'll need every bit soon every bit he arrives in your artillery.

And keep this in mind: The gustation of the amniotic fluid differs from day to day depending on what you've eaten — spicy enchilada one mean solar day, sweet banana the adjacent. That smorgasbord of flavors won't be lost on your baby since your picayune one has very developed taste buds already.

In fact, researchers have noted that babies who were exposed to certain tastes in utero via the amniotic fluid were more eager to eat foods with those aforementioned tastes after nativity. Want your peanut to eat his broccoli later? Swallow yours now!

Baby'south getting coordinated

Your little action figure is able to choreograph Matrix-like moves at 21 weeks pregnant. Artillery and legs are finally in proportion, neurons are now continued betwixt the brain and muscles, and cartilage throughout the body is turning to bone.

All these upgrades combine to give your baby more control over limb movements, which explains all that kicking, stretching and bodysurfing, or rather bellysurfing, you may take started feeling.

Your Torso at Week 21

21 weeks pregnant woman

Stretch marks

At 21 weeks pregnant, your babe might be starting to get out his mark — in the class of stretch marks, that is — all over your breadbasket, butt, thighs, hips and breasts.

These pink, red, purple, crimson-brown or dark brown streaks appear as your body expands and your tum and breasts only keep on growing: The supporting tissue nether your skin gets torn every bit the skin stretches.

Estimates vary, just at least ane in 2 women get stretch marks, though you're a likely candidate if your mom had them during pregnancy.

Rapid weight gain tin can likewise predispose you to getting stretch marks — another good reason to add your pounds slowly and steadily, at an average of about a pound a calendar week these days.

Depending on your complexion and the genes you lot inherited, these lines start prove up as red, pink or brown streaks, and with time, will eventually fade.

There's no proven way to prevent stretch marks from zigzagging their way across your body (though there'southward no harm in applying moisturizers like cocoa butter; if nothing else, it volition preclude the dryness and itching associated with pregnancy-stretched skin). Afterwards delivery, they unremarkably fade to a less noticeable shade.

Relieving anxiety

Now that yous're starting to expect significant — and not simply like you lot ate a particularly large lunch — and those kicks can no longer exist mistaken for gas, the reality of pregnancy is probably beginning to sink in.

And with it, you may find, a few ambivalent or anxious feelings you're even ambivalent about albeit: Me, a mom? There must exist some mistake! Don't worry — and hang on.

At some point in pregnancy, and usually once that pregnancy becomes a very visible reality, simply near every expectant parent begins to feel feet and fearfulness — almost as if yous're on a runaway train and at that place's enormous changes coming circular the curve.

And not just is information technology completely normal to feel anxious, it's especially healthy to acknowledge it. Talk your feelings over with your friends who've had babies — they'll reassure you that they experienced the aforementioned kind of thoughts. Most important, discuss your fears with your partner, if y'all have i, who'southward probably just equally in need of a good heart-to-middle.

Acquire more about anxiety during and after pregnancy.

Pregnancy Symptoms Week 21

Fetal motion

By now you may exist able to feel your infant twisting, turning and kicking in the womb — though many new expectant moms fault the feeling for gas. Bask these first gentle love taps — soon plenty your growing baby's kicks will get more ambitious. Read More

Increased ambition

Are y'all always in the mood…to eat? Bear healthy snacks such as nuts, raisins, trail mix or granola confined so you'll have nutritious fuel to keep you lot and your baby-to-exist nourished, even when you lot're on the get. Read More

Bloating and gas

The increasing pressure your uterus is placing on your rectum can mean that you're having a hard time containing yourself (your gas, that is). Beverage plenty of water and swallow fiber-rich foods to avoid becoming constipated, which can make gassiness worse. Read More

Backaches

Not simply is your heart of gravity shifting and putting actress strain on your back, but the hormone relaxin is also causing your ligaments and joints to stretch and loosen, which means boosted achiness in your back. If yous can, splurge for a prenatal massage from a trained professional and spring for a pair of supportive shoes. Read More

Bleeding gums

If your inflamed, haemorrhage gums are turning your toothbrush pinkish, avert eating sticky candies, specially when you tin can't brush after. The sugariness stuff increases bacteria in your mouth and further irritates your gums. Read More than

Fast-growing nails

Have you noticed that your hair and nails are growing at record speed? Pregnancy hormones are partly the cause — as is the increased apportionment in your trunk — bringing extra nutrients to your pilus, nails, and of course, to your baby. Read More

Tips for You This Week

Unstuff your nose

Seasonal allergies may not be to blame for all that nasal congestion you've been experiencing. Alas, starting in the 2nd trimester, a stuffy nose is a common pregnancy symptom — one that tends to stick effectually until delivery.

To clear your nasal passages, utilise your thumb to close one nostril, while gently blowing out the other. Then, repeat on the other side. If you're actually stuffed upwards, ask your doctor if in that location's a rubber OTC decongestant or antihistamine you lot tin utilise.

Elevate your feet

Finding information technology harder to tie your shoes than usual? Swollen anxiety and ankles may exist to blame. Because your torso has about 50 pct more than blood and fluid than it did pre-infant, your extremities are more decumbent to swelling. And then be sure to clock in a few sit-and-drag sessions throughout the day.

Deadening and steady wins the race

Chances are your practitioner advised you on your target weight gain at your first prenatal engagement — and that it was calculated based on a number of factors, including what your pre-pregnancy weight and BMI were.

Your practitioner probably also talks to you at every visit about where you are on that upwards curve — and where you should aim to be.

If you've been instructed to gain the standard 25-to-35-pound total in your pregnancy, by this week you're probable to have gained anywhere from 10 to xvi of those pounds.

If you raced past that number weeks ago, or are gaining faster than your practitioner recommended, you'll want to irksome down. And if yous're non gaining enough, yous'll want to speed things up. Ask your dr. or midwife for tips.

Walk for 30 minutes a twenty-four hour period

Is your plumbing clogged? Then commencement walking for exercise. Both during pregnancy and in those first postpartum weeks, physical action like a brisk walk is one of the best means to stimulate your bowels and fight constipation.

Just a half-hour walk a day can do the play a trick on, especially if you drinkable enough of water and favor fiber-rich foods. Just remember to accept some trail mix when you hitting the trail. And even if you're not doing it to relieve constipation or other pregnancy symptoms, walking is a great way to get the do yous need when yous're pregnant.

Avoid lasers

Your legs, armpits, bikini line and upper lip may be hairier than usual due to all those raging hormones. Only think twice earlier yous turn to lasers, electrolysis, depilatories and bleaching.

No reliable studies have been washed to determine for sure whether these popular hair-removal and lightening treatments are harmful or not, but it's probably best to skip them until after yous give birth.

Take centre, though — you may pluck or shave to your centre's content. Even waxing is fine if your skin's not as well sensitive. That'due south not making you feel better? Chin up — yous're more than than halfway to the end line!

Clear your calendar

It's not a lack of slumber that's causing you to forget where you lot put your keys (though that certainly doesn't help). Encephalon fog is a mutual pregnancy symptom, and causes forgetfulness and trouble concentrating.

Since and so-chosen "pregnancy encephalon" could well be here to stay for the residual of your pregnancy, now's the fourth dimension to start making to-do lists, leaving notes for yourself in obvious places and outsourcing some of your regular tasks to your partner or non-significant friends and family.

Limit empty calories

Accent on "empty." You nonetheless want to consume enough nutrients to keep your baby fed and growing. After all, the idea isn't to lose weight — losing weight is always a bad idea when you're significant — information technology's to consume a salubrious diet and keep your weight gain dull and steady.

Like shooting fish in a barrel, nutritious strategies, like substituting fresh fruit for stale, baked potatoes or yams for French fries, and grilled white-meat chicken with no skin for fried dark meat with peel, can brand a big difference.

Other calories that tin can go? The ones yous'll observe in sugary treats.

From the What to Expect editorial squad and Heidi Murkoff, author ofWhat to Wait When Y'all're Expecting. What to Expect follows strict reporting guidelines and uses merely credible sources, such as peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions and highly respected health organizations. Learn how we keep our content accurate and up-to-date past reading our medical review and editorial policy.

  • What to Expect When You're Expecting, 5th edition, Heidi Murkoff.
  • WhatToExpect.com, How to Remove Pilus During Pregnancy Safely, March 2021.
  • WhatToExpect.com, "Pregnancy Brain" or Forgetfulness During Pregnancy, Oct 2020.
  • WhatToExpect.com, How Much Weight You Should Proceeds During Pregnancy, Oct 2020.
  • WhatToExpect.com, Stuffy Olfactory organ and Nosebleeds During Pregnancy, April 2021.
  • WhatToExpect.com, Constipation During Pregnancy, October 2020.
  • WhatToExpect.com, Allergies During Pregnancy, September 2020.
  • National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, Fetal Development, June 2021.
  • National Institutes of Wellness, National Library of Medicine, Cell Reports, Development of the Fetal Bone Marrow Niche and Regulation of HSC Quiescence and Homing Ability by Emerging Osteolineage Cells, Oct 2014.
  • Current Biology, Early Influences on the Evolution of Food Preferences, May 2013.
  • American University of Dermatology, Stretch Marks: Why They Appear and How to Get Rid of Them, 2021.
  • National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, Stretch Marks, February 2021.
  • American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Weight Gain During Pregnancy, 2020.
  • American Higher of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Diet During Pregnancy, March 2021.
  • National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, Eating Correct During Pregnancy, June 2021.
  • National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, Canadian Family Physician, Safe of Skin Care Products During Pregnancy, June 2011.
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  • National Institutes of Wellness, Part of Dietary Supplements, Iron, March 2021.
  • Clinics in Dermatology, Striae Gravidarum, March-April 2006.
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