21st week of pregnancy

Starting from the 21st week of pregnancy, not only does the second half of pregnancy begin, but also the 6th month of pregnancy. The period from now until birth is also called the clarification phase, because the basic development of your baby is now complete. Now, its body is becoming more refined, it is growing and accumulating fat reserves. Here you will 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 is 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 stress. You should then take some rest. You should contact your doctor in the following cases to clarify that the cramps are not :

• When the hardened abdomen hurts

• When the pain radiates downward

• When your stomach regularly and for a long time hardens

Another possible side effect, which is 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 all muscles during pregnancy, becomes softer and can no longer reliably prevent reflux. Additionally, the uncomfortable burning sensation is worsened by the fact that your stomach has less space, which is 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 the birth of your child is also a joint vacation. If so, now is the perfect time to plan and undertake the Babymoon, the last trip for two before the baby arrives. Because: the most critical phase of pregnancy is already behind you, and your belly is not yet so large that it significantly restricts your mobility. Many couples use the vacation to relax, consciously enjoy their togetherness, but also to calmly think about the future as a family. In addition to the perfect timing, there are some things to consider when planning the 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 thus infer when it is awake. Most children have already found a preferred sleeping position by the 21st week of pregnancy, so it is 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 the protective lanugo hair, but in addition to the scalp hair, its eyelashes and eyebrows are now beginning to grow. From this week, your child's intestines are capable of absorbing 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 shifted center of gravity through the abdomen increasingly strain your back. Therefore, avoid lifting heavy objects over 5 kilograms or ensure a back-friendly position if it cannot 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. Therefore, it currently needs about 500 more calories than usual. Make sure to meet this increased calorie requirement with healthy and varied foods.

• Do you want to do something good for your pelvic floor , which is increasingly being put under strain? By regularly sensing it in between, 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 own pelvic floor; after childbirth, it is about strengthening and stabilizing it.

With our pregnancy calendar, we want to accompany you through this exciting time and provide you with relevant information, which also in exchange with our
LILLYDOO experts are being created. Nevertheless, the ones listed here can still
Never replace personal consultation with your doctor or midwife with advice. Always contact your healthcare professional for questions and professional care.