By 21 weeks pregnant, many expectant moms have already felt their baby's movements in utero. In some cases, these movements may be strong enough for dad to share in the excitement. Let him place his hand on your belly, and let this be an opportunity for the two of you to bond over your impending arrival.
As you continue your pregnancy week by week, you will notice that you become increasingly protective and attached to your baby. This is very true for moms who feel their babies kick and move on a regular basis. Feeling these movements is often one of the most magical parts of being pregnant.
If you have not yet felt your baby's movements at pregnancy week 21, don't worry! Not all women feel their baby's acrobats until later in the pregnancy. Women who are overweight and those with a placenta lying in front of their uterus will feel their baby's movements later.
Should You be Concerned about Your Baby's Movements?
You shouldn't be too focused on how often your baby moves at this week of pregnancy. It's only around 28 weeks pregnant that your doctor may recommend that you keep track of your baby's movement pattern. However, at pregnancy week 21, you should address any concerns that you have with your doctor or healthcare provider.
Sport That Pregnancy Bump!
As your body continues to grow larger and larger at 21 weeks pregnant, you should sport that beautiful pregnancy bump! Embrace your growing body, and you will be much happier and more excited about your baby's birth.
You may find that maternity clothes don't have to be frumpy or unattractive. Today's maternity apparel can be very hip and trendy. For chic maternity clothes that keep you looking very chic and stylish.
Sexual Intercourse at 21 Weeks Pregnant
In your second trimester, it’s not unusual for your libido to return. You may find pregnancy week 21 a wonderful week to resume intimacy with your partner, as you are not too large and uncomfortable yet. Sex during pregnancy is absolutely safe, though you will want to abstain if your doctor has warned you against it.
Don’t worry about your baby feeling anything. He or she may be aware that there is some movement when you’re having sex, but he or she is perfectly safe and protected in the amniotic sac. Plus, your mucous plug protects your cervix from any semen and infection.
When you have an orgasm, you may feel your uterus tightening. Some women may experience Braxton-Hicks contractions after an orgasm, but this will not harm your baby at all.
Back Pain During Pregnancy
During pregnancy week 21, you may notice that you're suffering from backaches or back pain. This is a common problem in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, as the weight of your uterus places strain on your back muscles.
Since your pregnancy weight gain at 21 weeks pregnant may be between 10 and 13 pounds for an average-sized woman, backaches may start to become more common, especially if you tend to lean backwards when you stand.
Though back pain in pregnancy is common, you shouldn't always ignore it. Sometimes, a low, dull backache can be a sign of preterm labor. It's recommended that you speak to your doctor or healthcare provider to get to the root cause of your backaches.
Tips to Alleviate Backaches During Pregnancy
Your doctor may be able to give you suggestions on how to alleviate your discomfort. Common ways to relieve or prevent your backaches during pregnancy week 21:
Take a warm bath, or apply cold and hot compresses to the area.
Get a massage from an experienced therapist who works with pregnant women, or ask your husband or partner to give you a nice back rub or massage.
Watch your posture when you are standing. Try to pull your shoulders back and downward and stand straight. Also, be sure to raise your legs when you are seated.
Join a yoga class to gently stretch and strengthen your back muscles.
Sleep on your side, not your back. Keep your knees bent when you side-sleep.
Exercise During the Second Trimester
Now that you are at pregnancy week 21, remember to continue to exercise regularly in the second trimester and throughout the rest of your pregnancy week by week. Regular exercise will help strengthen your body and prepare you for labor and delivery.
At 21 weeks pregnant, some of the best exercises you can do include walking, swimming, prenatal yoga, and riding a stationary bike. (You may want to avoid a real bicycle, due to the risk of falling off and injuring yourself and the baby).
Along with exercise, you will want to continue to eat well during pregnancy week 21. As your baby continues to develop inside you, he or she depends on you for healthy nutrients. To avoid indigestion and to give yourself more energy, remember to eat lighter meals and smaller meals throughout the day.
Fetal Development at 21 Weeks Pregnant At 21 weeks pregnant, your baby continues to pack on the pounds. He or she is now 12.7 ounces and is longer than 10.5 inches - roughly the size of a small banana! Not bad for someone that is only five months old!
Your baby has started to regularly swallow amniotic fluid at pregnancy week 21, giving his or her maturing digestive system some practice. As your baby swallows the amniotic fluid, it passes through the digestive system, into his or her kidneys, and comes back out as urine. Yep, that's right. Your baby is now regularly urinating in the womb!
By 21 weeks pregnant, you may start to feel a series of rhythmic movements coming from your baby. These are fetal hiccups! Hiccupping is a normal part of your baby's development, though some babies hiccup more and others less. You may have already felt these hiccups at the end of your first trimester, or early in the second trimester!
Your baby is growing fingernails at pregnancy week 21! The nail beds have already formed, and his or her little nails are starting to grow. At this point, the nails are not hardened yet. This is to prevent your little one from accidently scratching his or her skin in utero.
At this point in your pregnancy week by week, your baby's skin is now covered in a waxy, white protective coating called vernix. This will protect your little one's skin from the constant exposure to the amniotic fluid around him or her. The amount of vernix decreases by the end of your pregnancy, however your baby may be born covered in vernix if he or she is born premature.
At 21 weeks pregnant, your baby's nerve pathways are starting to mature. Though your little one has little or no control over his movements right now, this will start to change in the following weeks.
If you're expecting twins, you'll be excited to know that your babies are becoming more aware of each other. If, you had an ultrasound scan, you may even see your twins interacting with each other. It's common for twins to kick and try to grab each other in the womb.
Your baby's skin continues to become less translucent as your pregnancy week by week continues. At 21 weeks pregnant, your little one continues to pack on the fat. His or her fat reserves will control temperature and provide your little one with energy after birth.
Fibroids During Pregnancy If you've been diagnosed with fibroids during pregnancy, you may be worried about your chance of delivering a healthy baby. Fibroids, which are benign tumors that develop in the wall of your uterus, are most common in women between age 30 and 40, but they can happen to any woman.
Fibroids typically develop before you got pregnant, but since some fibroids can be very small in size, you may not have had any symptoms before your pregnancy.
It's estimated that at least 25 percent of all women will have fibroids at some point in their life, but not all women will have any symptoms. African-American women are more likely to suffer from these than Caucasians.
What Causes Fibroids?
Doctors don't know exactly what causes fibroids, but hormones are thought to play a role. During pregnancy, the increased levels of estrogen and progesterone can encourage the fibroids to increase in size. The rapid growth of these fibroids in pregnancy may cause you to feel pressure, discomfort, and pain.
Doctors don't know exactly what causes fibroids, but hormones are thought to play a role. During pregnancy, the increased levels of estrogen and progesterone can encourage the fibroids to increase in size. The rapid growth of these fibroids in pregnancy may cause you to feel pressure, discomfort, and pain.
In most cases, fibroids don't require treatment during pregnancy. You may not even experience any discomfort. Fortunately, fibroids will shrink in size after your baby is born.
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