Welcome to the 21st week of your pregnancy journey! You have now passed half of your pregnancy journey and you are now entering an entirely new era of some rapid bump growth! Meanwhile, your baby is being prepared for life after birth as he is developing important skills such as breathing and sucking!
Your baby’s legs and arms are in proportion these weeks and his movements make more sense, you can now tell if he is trying to kick, punch, or roll over!
The Baby’s spleen and liver have been working hard on producing a larger number of blood cells. And while the placenta remains the main source of nourishment to your baby, your baby can now take in small amounts of e amniotic fluid as well.
Changes Happening in Your Body by Your 21st Week
You might start feeling a bit clumsy those few weeks as your bump is growing bigger and you are still adjusting to the rapid growth in your belly and the extra weight. Now that your gravity’s center has changed and you are having looser joints.
If you fall over at any point, do not panic, it is normal for these incidents to happen every now and then, your baby is completely safe in your belly with all the cushioning inside. However, if the fall was too hard or if you would like to get some peace of mind, you can check with your midwife or with your doctor to make sure your baby is safe and sound.
Since you are a pregnant woman with quite a noticeable bump, now is the time for you to consider getting your “baby on board” badge to urge the commuters on the public transportations to give up their seats for you… Finally!
Your baby is now moving around doing his weird dancing routines in your belly, he is also establishing some sleeping patterns, the only problem is, he might be just getting started to kick and punch while you are about to fall asleep. Try to get as many power naps as you can get at this stage to make up for the lost sleeping hours at night time.
Start a Healthy Diet
As tempting as it is to eat everything you are craving at this stage, you still need to aim to have a better diet to ensure that you get all the nutrients that you need without putting on more weight that you do not need.
A healthier diet that includes fresh vegetables and fruits gives you even more energy than a junk meal gives you as well as helping your baby through this rapid growth phase. As a matter of fact, the better you eat, the better your baby eats, too. And you both are less likely to get any medical conditions such as diabetes.
Always aim to eat five portions of vegetables and fruits per day, and as much as you can, choose low sugar and low-fat options, with a healthier diet, your baby is a born champion!
Symptoms of the 21st Week of Pregnancy
By this week, you should be feeling all good most of the time, however, do not ignore any discomforting or painful symptoms assuming they will disappear on their own.
For instance, if you experienced a severe headache that lasts for more than 3 straight hours, contact your doctor as soon as you can as it might be an indication of a serious condition called pre-eclampsia which affects some women during their second trimester.
However, do not be alarmed as it could be just dehydration. So, make sure to stay hydrated, drink a minimum of 8 glasses of fluid per day including natural juices and milk.
Some of this week’s pregnancy symptoms could include:
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Tiredness
- Sore breasts
- Leg cramps
- Stretch marks
- Thicker hair
- Swollen gums
- Urine infection
- Bloating or constipation
- Spotty skin
- Feeling too warm
- Greasier skin
- Piles
- Vaginal infection
- Thicker hair
Your Baby’s 21st Week Development

Your baby has been doing a lot of growing up over the past few weeks, now he is around 26.7cm in length, which is about the same size of a carrot, and weighs about 350g, when did they get that big!
Your baby has now grown to be even bigger than the placenta. The placenta will not stop growing soon though! As it is the source of nutrients and waste removal in your baby’s body, it will keep on growing throughout your pregnancy so it can do its essential job.
Your baby now has a nice furry coat called the lanugo, which keeps your baby warm and prevents his skin from getting wrinkled. This coating fades away before birth though, and for the babies who are born earlier than their time, the fur fades a bit after birth.
Your baby is now able to hear sounds and voices around your bump. If you are looking to share the first song with your baby, now is the best time to do it.
This Week’s Tips
Do Low-Impact Exercises
You can exercise during your second trimester with all the new energy you will feel. However, make sure that those workout moves are low impacted with yoga, swimming, or walking to prevent any risk of having an injury.
Avoid Anemia
Your doctor might prescribe you some iron supplements, even though there are ways that you can get the iron and the extra nutrients from the foods you eat, it is always better to have an extra source of this essential nutrient.
Elevate Your Feet
During this stage of your pregnancy, you are probably facing an issue with swollen feet and hands due to having 50 percent more blood and fluids in your body which results in swelling in these body parts. Try doing a few sit and elevate sessions at home during the day to help relieve that discomforting feeling.