Starting in the 21st week of pregnancy, not only does the second half of pregnancy begin, but so does the 6th month. The period from now until birth is also called the clarification phase, because your baby’s basic development is now complete. Now, its body is becoming more refined as it grows and builds up fat reserves. Here, you’ll read about everything that happens this week.
How big is your baby in the 21st week of pregnancy?
Measured from crown to rump (SSL), your baby is about 17 centimeters long this week—roughly the size of a zucchini. From crown to heel, it measures about 25 centimeters.
21st week of pregnancy: What's changing for you
Your thyroid continues to produce hormones diligently, and your increased activity may cause you to sweat more than usual during this phase. Your stomach may occasionally feel hard—don’t worry, this can be caused by the growth of the uterus or by stress. In that case, take some time to rest. You should contact your doctor in the following cases to make sure the cramps are not serious:
When your hardened abdomen hurts
When the pain radiates downward
When your stomach hardens regularly and for a long time
Another possible side effect, partly due to your growing uterus, is heartburn—a burning pain behind the breastbone, often accompanied by acidic or bitter regurgitation of stomach contents. The sphincter between the stomach and esophagus, like many muscles during pregnancy, becomes softer and can no longer reliably prevent reflux. In addition, the uncomfortable burning sensation is worsened by the fact that your stomach has less space. That’s why more and more women experience heartburn as pregnancy progresses. The following foods can provide relief from acute heartburn:
Drinking still water in small sips
Dry bread, a piece of rusk, or an unsalted rice cake
Oatmeal, almonds, hazelnuts, boiled potatoes, raw carrots
Ripe banana
Soothing herbal teas
Learn more about the causes of heartburn and how you can prevent it in the article "".
Babymoon: Traveling during pregnancy
Perhaps one of the things you and your partner want to “take care of” before your child is born is a vacation together. If so, now is the perfect time to plan and take a babymoon—the last trip for two before the baby arrives. The most critical phase of pregnancy is already behind you, and your belly isn’t yet so large that it significantly restricts your mobility. Many couples use this vacation to relax, consciously enjoy their time together, and calmly think about the future as a family. In addition to the perfect timing, there are a few things to consider when planning your babymoon—you can find out what they are in our article "".
Week 21 of pregnancy: Your baby's development
This week, your baby is developing a sleep-wake cycle for the first time that resembles that of a newborn. It sleeps around 20 hours a day and is active again and again in between. Perhaps you can feel its movements at a certain time each day and can tell when it’s awake. By the 21st week of pregnancy, most babies have already found a preferred sleeping position, so it’s quite possible that your baby always makes itself comfortable in the same corner.
It’s getting hairy: Your baby’s body is still completely covered with protective lanugo hair, but in addition to scalp hair, its eyelashes and eyebrows are now beginning to grow. From this week on, your child’s intestines are able to absorb water, and its kidneys can now produce urine, which your baby excretes. However, there’s no need to worry about your baby being surrounded by potential toxins in the womb: a large part of the urine is transferred via the placenta into your bloodstream and then excreted by you.
This is now important
The additional weight and the shift in your center of gravity due to your belly increasingly strain your back. Therefore, avoid lifting heavy objects over 5 kilograms, or make sure you use a back-friendly posture if it can’t be avoided.
Your weight gain since the beginning of pregnancy is approximately 5 to 7 kilograms in the 21st week of pregnancy—but you shouldn’t worry too much about the extra pounds. After all, your body is nourishing your developing baby. That’s why it currently needs about 500 more calories than usual. Make sure to meet this increased calorie requirement with healthy, varied foods.
Do you want to do something good for your pelvic floor , which is increasingly being put under strain? By checking in with it regularly, you can keep your pelvic floor elastic and even prepare for childbirth. Take a deep breath in and consciously focus on your pelvic floor, tensing it for a few seconds before relaxing again. You can repeat this exercise several times in a row. Before childbirth, the main purpose of these exercises is to strengthen your awareness of your pelvic floor; after childbirth, the focus is on strengthening and stabilizing it.
Tip from LILLYDOO Midwife Sissi
Not only can you feel the growing little being in your belly more and more clearly, but your baby can also perceive external touch more strongly. When you gently stroke your abdominal wall, your baby will probably move toward the touch. This way, your partner may be able to feel your baby for the first time and make contact with it. Your baby’s hearing is also already so well developed that you can talk to it together or sing something to it.
With our pregnancy calendar, we want to accompany you through this exciting time and provide you with relevant information, created in exchange with our
LILLYDOO experts. Nevertheless, the information listed here can
never replace a personal consultation with your doctor or midwife. Always contact your healthcare professional with questions and for professional care.
