At 21 weeks pregnant, your baby has more control over limb movements, which explains why you might be feeling more kicking and stretching going on in there.

From the outside, your little one may be leaving his mark in the grade of stretch marks — pinkish, red, purple, ruby-brownish or dark brown streaks that can appear every bit your belly expands.

Your Babe at Calendar week 21

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It's calendar week 21 and your little monkey is about the size of a medium banana — around 7 inches long and nearly three-quarters of a pound. Equally he gets bigger and bigger, you'll be able to feel those movements more than and more…at least when he's not hunkering downwards for 1 of his many naps. Naps? Yup. Though it may not feel similar it with all the kicking and poking going on in there, your snoozer sleeps equally much as 14 hours a twenty-four hour period.

But not because it's slow at Hotel Uterus. On the reverse: Y'all keep things very interesting simply by switching up the catering menu. Those teensy taste buds on his tiny natural language are now developed enough so while he can't really eat the foods you do, he can gustatory modality them in the amniotic fluid.

And gustation them he will as he gulps several ounces each day for hydration and nutrition…and to practice swallowing and digesting. And then sup on something spicy and within an hour or two it'll feel like a dance party in your belly as your budding baby burrito gets a hint of that enchilada. Savor some scampi, and your little shrimp will grab a wave of garlic.

Need another reason to add variety to your 2d and third trimester menus? Studies evidence that babies who accept sampled certain foods while in utero are more inclined to eat them once they hit the loftier chair. So putting broccoli, carrots, and kale on your plate at present packs a 1-2 punch: bang-up nutrition for you and your infant, and a greater likelihood your potentially picky eater will savor those veggies afterwards on.

At a Glance

He's got the moves

Your baby's artillery and legs are in proportion this week and his movements are at present much more than coordinated. Also, notice a jump in baby's length this week? Upwardly until now, we've been measuring from crown to rump, simply now we kickoff to measure out from crown to heel, which explains why he all of a sudden "grew" so much.

More blood cells

Your baby-to-be'due south liver and spleen have been working hard producing claret cells, just now the os marrow is developed enough to help besides.

Infant's drinking

While the placenta is nonetheless #one when it comes to nourishment, at present your baby takes in minor amounts of amniotic fluid, besides.

21 weeks meaning is how many months?

If you're 21 weeks pregnant, you're in calendar month 5 of your pregnancy. Only 4 months left to go! Even so have questions? Here'southward some more information on how weeks, months and trimesters are cleaved down in pregnancy.

How big is my baby at 21 weeks?

How large is your baby? Switching from crown-to-rump to crown-to-heel length, he'southward 10½ inches long and weighs 11 to 12½ounces, virtually the size of a big assistant.

Your developing baby still has a great deal of room in your womb — though like anyone who lives in one space for a long time, this tenant will before long begin to feel cramped.

Baby'southward moving and sleeping

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

With all that belly dancing going on, it's hard to believe your baby is getting any shut-eye at all. Simply believe it or not, your fetus sleeps as much every bit a newborn. Now if only you lot could get some sleep yourself!

Babe'south taste buds develop

Speaking of milestones, whatsoever y'all eat this calendar week, at that place's a adept gamble your baby will gustation it, too. That's because when you're 21 weeks pregnant, your baby swallows a bit of amniotic fluid each day — not only for nutrition and hydration, but too to practice swallowing and digesting, skills he'll need as soon as he arrives in your artillery.

And keep this in mind: The gustatory modality of the amniotic fluid differs from day to day depending on what you lot've eaten — spicy enchilada 1 solar day, sweet banana the next. That smorgasbord of flavors won't be lost on your baby since your niggling one has very developed gustation buds already.

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

Infant'south getting coordinated

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

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

Your Torso at Week 21

21 weeks pregnant woman

Stretch marks

At 21 weeks pregnant, your baby might be starting to get out his marker — in the form of stretch marks, that is — all over your stomach, barrel, thighs, hips and breasts.

These pink, red, purple, reddish-brown or dark brownish streaks announced as your body expands and your tum and breasts just keep on growing: The supporting tissue under your skin gets torn every bit the peel stretches.

Estimates vary, only at to the lowest degree 1 in 2 women get stretch marks, though you lot're a likely candidate if your mom had them during pregnancy.

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

Depending on your complexion and the genes yous inherited, these lines first show up as red, pinkish or brown streaks, and with time, will somewhen fade.

There's no proven mode to prevent stretch marks from zigzagging their way across your body (though in that location's no harm in applying moisturizers like cocoa butter; if zero else, it will prevent the dryness and itching associated with pregnancy-stretched skin). After delivery, they normally fade to a less noticeable shade.

Relieving anxiety

At present that you lot're starting to expect significant — and not just like you ate a especially large dejeuner — and those kicks can no longer exist mistaken for gas, the reality of pregnancy is probably starting time to sink in.

And with it, you may find, a few ambivalent or anxious feelings you're fifty-fifty ambivalent nigh admitting: Me, a mom? There must be some mistake! Don't worry — and hang on.

At some point in pregnancy, and usually once that pregnancy becomes a very visible reality, but most every expectant parent begins to feel anxiety and fearfulness — virtually equally if you're on a runaway train and at that place's enormous changes coming round the bend.

And not merely 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 same kind of thoughts. Most important, discuss your fears with your partner, if you take i, who's probably just equally in demand of a proficient center-to-middle.

Learn more nigh anxiety during and after pregnancy.

Pregnancy Symptoms Week 21

Fetal movement

Past now you may exist able to feel your babe twisting, turning and boot in the womb — though many new expectant moms error the feeling for gas. Bask these commencement gentle beloved taps — presently plenty your growing baby's kicks volition become more aggressive. Read More

Increased appetite

Are yous e'er in the mood…to swallow? Carry healthy snacks such as nuts, raisins, trail mix or granola bars so you'll have nutritious fuel to keep you and your baby-to-exist nourished, even when you're on the become. Read More

Bloating and gas

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

Backaches

Not just is your heart of gravity shifting and putting extra strain on your back, simply the hormone relaxin is as well causing your ligaments and joints to stretch and loosen, which means additional achiness in your back. If you can, splurge for a prenatal massage from a trained professional person and spring for a pair of supportive shoes. Read More

Bleeding gums

If your inflamed, bleeding gums are turning your toothbrush pinkish, avoid eating sticky candies, especially when you can't brush afterward. The sweetness stuff increases bacteria in your mouth and farther irritates your gums. Read More

Fast-growing nails

Have you noticed that your hair and nails are growing at record speed? Pregnancy hormones are partly the cause — every bit is the increased circulation in your body — bringing extra nutrients to your hair, nails, and of grade, to your baby. Read More

Tips for You This Week

Unstuff your olfactory organ

Seasonal allergies may not exist to arraign for all that nasal congestion yous've been experiencing. Alas, starting in the second trimester, a stuffy olfactory organ is a common pregnancy symptom — one that tends to stick around until delivery.

To articulate your nasal passages, employ your pollex to close one nostril, while gently blowing out the other. Then, echo on the other side. If you're really stuffed upwardly, enquire your medico if there'south a safe OTC decongestant or antihistamine you tin use.

Elevate your anxiety

Finding it harder to tie your shoes than usual? Swollen feet and ankles may exist to blame. Because your trunk has well-nigh fifty percent more claret and fluid than it did pre-baby, your extremities are more decumbent to swelling. So be sure to clock in a few sit-and-elevate sessions throughout the day.

Slow and steady wins the race

Chances are your practitioner advised yous on your target weight gain at your first prenatal appointment — 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 upward bend — and where yous should aim to be.

If yous've been instructed to proceeds the standard 25-to-35-pound total in your pregnancy, by this week yous're probable to have gained anywhere from 10 to 16 of those pounds.

If yous raced past that number weeks ago, or are gaining faster than your practitioner recommended, you'll want to tiresome down. And if you're not gaining enough, you lot'll want to speed things upwardly. Ask your doctor or midwife for tips.

Walk for 30 minutes a day

Is your plumbing clogged? Then start walking for exercise. Both during pregnancy and in those first postpartum weeks, physical activity like a brisk walk is one of the all-time ways to stimulate your bowels and fight constipation.

Just a one-half-hour walk a day can do the trick, especially if you beverage plenty of water and favor cobweb-rich foods. Just remember to take some trail mix when you lot hitting the trail. And fifty-fifty if you're not doing it to relieve constipation or other pregnancy symptoms, walking is a great way to get the exercise you need when you'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 you turn to lasers, electrolysis, depilatories and bleaching.

No reliable studies have been done to make up one's mind for sure whether these popular pilus-removal and lightening treatments are harmful or not, but it's probably all-time to skip them until later on you requite birth.

Take eye, though — you may pluck or shave to your middle's content. Fifty-fifty waxing is fine if your pare'south not also sensitive. That's not making yous feel better? Chin up — you're more halfway to the finish line!

Articulate your calendar

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

Since then-chosen "pregnancy brain" could well be hither to stay for the residue of your pregnancy, at present's the time to get-go making to-practise lists, leaving notes for yourself in obvious places and outsourcing some of your regular tasks to your partner or not-significant friends and family unit.

Limit empty calories

Accent on "empty." You withal want to consume plenty nutrients to keep your infant fed and growing. Afterward all, the idea isn't to lose weight — losing weight is always a bad thought when y'all're pregnant — it's to consume a good for you diet and continue your weight proceeds irksome and steady.

Easy, nutritious strategies, similar substituting fresh fruit for dried, baked potatoes or yams for French chips, and grilled white-meat craven with no skin for fried nighttime meat with skin, tin make a large difference.

Other calories that can go? The ones you lot'll find in sugary treats.

From the What to Await editorial team and Heidi Murkoff, author ofWhat to Expect When You're Expecting. What to Expect follows strict reporting guidelines and uses just credible sources, such as peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions and highly respected health organizations. Learn how we keep our content authentic and up-to-date by reading our medical review and editorial policy.

  • What to Wait When You're Expectinchiliad, 5th edition, Heidi Murkoff.
  • WhatToExpect.com, How to Remove Hair During Pregnancy Safely, March 2021.
  • WhatToExpect.com, "Pregnancy Brain" or Forgetfulness During Pregnancy, Oct 2020.
  • WhatToExpect.com, How Much Weight You Should Gain During Pregnancy, October 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.
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  • National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, Jail cell Reports, Development of the Fetal Bone Marrow Niche and Regulation of HSC Quiescence and Homing Ability by Emerging Osteolineage Cells, October 2014.
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  • American Academy of Dermatology, Stretch Marks: Why They Appear and How to Get Rid of Them, 2021.
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  • American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Weight Gain During Pregnancy, 2020.
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