At 21 weeks pregnant, your baby weighs over 12.7 ounces from head to heel, and he or she is a little larger than 10.5 inches long. Your baby is comparable in length to a scallion!
Your baby's growth has slowed down somewhat, but he or she is still growing and developing at a remarkable pace. At 21 weeks pregnant, your baby's skin, organs and central nervous system are continuing to develop and mature.
Though not fully formed, your baby's digestive system is also striving to mature. The intestines are slowly starting to contract and relax. Your baby is constantly swallowing amniotic fluid, and this helps mature the digestive system.
Fun Fact: At 21 weeks pregnant, if you begin to feel repetitive and rhythmic movements in your belly, this might be fetal hiccups. Some babies hiccup quite a bit; others less. Fetal hiccups are just another exciting development to look forward to!
The nerve pathways in your future child's body are beginning to mature at 21 weeks pregnant. Although your baby has little control over his or her movements this week, it won't be long now.
If you're having twins, they are starting to be more aware of the other's presence. Twins at this stage in development often try to grab or kick each other in utero. How cute is that?
At 21 weeks pregnant, your baby's nail beds have formed, and his or her little fingernails and toenails continue to grow. The nails aren't hard, which protects your baby's skin from accidental scratches.
At 21 weeks pregnant, your uterus continues to grow and grow. Fortunately, your abdomen is still at a manageable size that allows for a great deal of movement and freedom. Enjoy sporting that "bump" this week. If you haven't already, it's a good idea to start shopping for maternity wear. In today's fashion world, it is indeed possible for you to look stylish and pregnant!
You should be already feeling your baby's movements by 21 weeks pregnant. If you haven't, don't worry. It can take certain women longer before they feel their baby's movements. Overweight and obese women, and pregnant women with a placenta in the front of the uterus typically don't feel fetal movements until later.
Helpful Tip: One of the best exercises for pregnant women is swimming. When you're in a pool, you feel weightless and this can relieve many of your aches and pains.
Did you find out your baby's gender last week? At 21 weeks pregnant, why don't you start decorating your little one's nursery? This is a fun way to celebrate your new arrival, and it will help solidify this change in your life. The amazing selection of nursery products on the market will simply make you excited for the new baby.
If your energy levels are still high, make sure that you continue to exercise regularly. Staying fit during pregnancy can strengthen and tone your muscles, and it will prep your body for the tough task of labor and delivery in 19 weeks.
At 21 weeks pregnant, your belly continues to grow and grow. Enjoy sporting that lovely bump for all to see. You may start to experience a few unpleasant pregnancy symptoms now, including the beginnings of stretch marks and backaches.
Stretch marks may begin to appear on your abdomen at 21 weeks pregnant. As your skin keeps stretching and enlarging, pink or purplish indented streaks may appear on your belly, buttocks, breasts and thighs. Hormonal changes, the physical stretching of the skin, and genetics all play a role in the development of stretch marks.
Backaches are another common pregnancy symptom at 21 weeks pregnant, and your back discomfort won't be going away anytime soon. The weight of your growing uterus, hormonal changes, and poor posture can all contribute to pregnancy-related backaches. Although backaches are normal, they are a literal pain. To cope, it may help if you apply hot or cold compresses to the achy area. Prenatal massage may also help give you some relief from your discomfort.
Helpful Tip: To alleviate your leg achiness and discomfort, consider propping your feet up when you're sitting. Regular exercise and stretching may also go a long way toward alleviating your aches and pains.
Leg cramps may start to plague you, and they can make it harder for you to have a good night's sleep. Experts aren't 100 percent sure why pregnant women are prone to getting leg cramps, but hormonal changes, the heavy weight of your growing uterus, and impaired blood circulation may play a role. Leg cramps at 21 weeks pregnant are generally mild, but they may get worse as your belly gets larger later in pregnancy.
Your baby's kicks and movements are stronger than ever now. If you place dad's hand on your belly, he might be able to feel your little one's kicks and jabs. Try not to be too worried if you haven't felt your baby's movements yet. It may take some women longer to feel fetal movements.
Varicose veins might pop up at 21 weeks pregnant, especially in women with a family history of this symptom. Elevated levels of progesterone can relax the walls of your veins; increased blood flow in your body can burden your veins; and impaired blood circulation can all contribute to varicose veins in pregnancy. To minimize the appearance of this unsightly pregnancy symptom, you might want to wear graduated compression stockings to improve blood flow from your legs to your heart. Exercising may also help your blood circulation.
To alleviate your leg achiness and discomfort, consider propping your feet up when you're sitting. Regular exercise and stretching may also go a long way toward alleviating your aches and pains.
You're probably gaining one or two pounds with each week that passes. The average weight gain at 21 weeks pregnant for the normal sized woman is roughly 10 to 13 pounds. You may have gained more or less than this, but just remember that every woman gains weight differently.
Many pregnant women will experience "growth spurts" at some point in their pregnancy week by week. During a growth spurt, you can gain several pounds quite rapidly. Then, your weight gain will slow down again. This is normal in pregnancy, and it shouldn't worry you unless the rapid weight gain becomes a pattern.
Overview on Insomnia and Difficult Sleep in Pregnancy
At pregnancy 21 weeks, you may find that sleep is becoming increasingly difficult. In the second trimester, leg cramps, backaches, restless leg syndrome, and hot flashes can keep you up all night. As your belly gets larger at 21 weeks pregnant, you may also find that it's more difficult to find a comfortable position to sleep.
To help you sleep better, invest in a pregnancy pillow to support your growing body. You can also get some comfort with a regular pillow tucked between your legs and behind your back. As your belly grows, you'll find that sleeping on your side is most comfortable, so make adjustments to your sleep position.
If you're having trouble with leg cramps or restless leg syndrome, you may find that stretching your legs or massaging your calves before you go to bed may help give you some relief. Warm and hot compresses are also helpful.
To avoid waking up in the middle of the night in a sweat or feeling chilled, make sure that you wear pajamas or sleepwear that is made with breathable fiber, such as cotton. You'll want to stay away from synthetic materials, since they can track moisture next to your skin and leave you feeling sweaty or chilled.
After delivery it is quite normal to go through a period of elation followed by a short period referred to as the baby blues. Having a baby can bring on many different emotions. Joy is often intermingled with challenges and exhaustion. Most newborn babies do not sleep through the night until many weeks after birth. This can result in moodiness and sometimes depression.
The baby blues otherwise known as postpartum blues are quite common, affecting up to 80 percent of women who give birth, usually in the first few weeks after delivery. A normal case of the blues can be characterized by feelings of anxiety, fear, fatigue, irritability and even nauseousness. You may find your appetite changes and you feel down for several days. Fortunately these feelings are usually pretty normal during the first couple of weeks after birth. The blues should only last a few days. The rapid drop in hormones that occurs immediately following delivery may also influence your mental state.
Sometimes, the depression and anxiety experienced after birth become much more serious. Baby blues are not the same as a condition called postpartum depression or PPD. While they share many of the same symptoms, PPD is much more serious than a case of the baby blues, and may result in suicidal thoughts or a woman's inability to care for her newborn baby.
Symptoms of Post-Partum Depression
You might suspect PPD if you exhibit any of the following symptoms after the birth of your baby:
Inability to shake the blues after two weeks
Constant insomnia despite exhaustion
Weepiness or crying that persists all day for days at a time
Lack of interest in your baby or daily life
Changes in appetite that persist
Anxiety that does not diminish with rest and support
Moodiness and irritability that seems excessive
Feelings of guilt about your ability to care for your baby
Panic attacks
Suicidal thoughts
Feelings like you might harm your baby
If you suspect that you might have PPD it is best that you contact your healthcare provider as soon as possible. One of the most common signs of PPD is that you are not able to sleep when your baby does, even though you are exhausted. PPD sometimes results in feelings like you won't be able to care for your baby.
In very rare circumstances, postpartum depression can result in psychosis, which is characterized by delusional thinking and violent or suicidal impulses. It is absolutely critical that you see your healthcare provider should you experience any symptoms like this.
Remember that PPD can strike at any time, and it can strike any woman regardless of her background or abilities. Some women with a history of depression in their family may be more susceptible than others, so it is important that you discuss your family history with your healthcare provider, so they can take adequate preventive measures to ensure that you are okay after delivery.
Researchers aren't exactly certain why some women develop PPD and others do not. There are some women, however, who are considered more at risk than others, including the following:
Women who are dealing with an unexpected pregnancy
Single mothers
Parents who are financially burdened
Individuals recently experiencing severe stress or a loss
Women who suffer from PMS
Women who have a family history of depression
The good news is your healthcare provider can treat PPD and help you recover completely. It is important that you share any feelings you are experiencing during the postpartum period. Reach out to those around you, and you'll find that you are less likely to experience the symptoms of depression. It is also important that you get sleep whenever you can during the early weeks after delivery. Sleep deprivation in and of itself may be enough to contribute to severe depression in many women. If you aren't in a situation where someone can relieve you occasionally, consider hiring a babysitter once or twice a week so you can get some much needed rest.
Pregnancy Week by Week
Pregnancy Explained A to Z
Pregnancy Blog
Ask Our Doc - Pregnancy Q & A 
Share Your Pregnancy Pictures
Follow us on FaceBook
Follow us on Twitter
At 21 weeks pregnant, your belly continues to grow and grow. Enjoy sporting that lovely bump for all to see. You may start to experience a few unpleasant pregnancy symptoms now, including the beginnings of stretch marks and backaches. 
At pregnancy 21 weeks, you may find that sleep is becoming increasingly difficult. In the second trimester, leg cramps, backaches, restless leg syndrome, and hot flashes can keep you up all night. As your belly gets larger at 21 weeks pregnant, you may also find that it's more difficult to find a comfortable position to sleep. 
After delivery it is quite normal to go through a period of elation followed by a short period referred to as the 
If you suspect that you might have PPD it is best that you contact your healthcare provider as soon as possible. One of the most common signs of PPD is that you are not able to sleep when your baby does, even though you are exhausted. PPD sometimes results in feelings like you won't be able to care for your baby. 