Pregnancy Calendar Week 21

At this point in your pregnancy, your baby’s heart is growing stronger and his/her digestive tract is maturing. His/her eyelids are also forming. In addition, his/her legs are reaching their final proportions. If your baby is a girl, the vagina will continue to develop until her birth.

If you’re having multiples, you may be worried that your babies are harming each other with their vigorous kicks and punches. However, their movement is actually a positive sign that suggests they are developing properly. The membrane that separates your babies is extremely elastic. It won’t rupture from their activity.

Your Changing Body

Now that you’re past the halfway point in your pregnancy, you’ve probably gained between 10 and 15 pounds. You may still be experiencing constipation, indigestion, heartburn, occasional headaches, round ligament pains, stretch marks, itching, or frequent urination. However, you’re probably feeling more emotionally stable than you were before.

During pregnancy calendar week 21, some women start to develop varicose veins. Caused by pregnancy-related weight gain, varicose veins may appear as painless blue or purple spots on the legs. However, they may also appear as swollen and painful veins that require elevation. In this case, the swelling will disappear after your pregnancy and the appearance of the veins will be minimized. In the meantime, you can reduce your discomfort by wearing support stockings and avoiding sitting for long periods of time.

At this point in your pregnancy, you may also notice that your palms seem to be red and itchy. This pregnancy symptom occurs in over 60 percent of white women and about 30 percent of black women. It’s caused by fluctuating hormone levels and doesn’t indicate a problem. The redness should fade shortly after delivery and the itching can be relieved with a moisturizing cream.

Monitoring Your Baby’s Movements

During pregnancy calendar week 21, it’s a good idea to get in the habit of monitoring your baby’s movements. You don’t need to keep track of every little wiggle, but it’s a good idea to notice when your baby is active. Generally, your baby will move about 10 times per hour. This includes kicks, punches, rolls, flutters, and swishes.

Of course, your baby may move less if he/she is sleeping. By the twenty-first week of pregnancy, your unborn baby has defined periods of rest and wakefulness. Many babies are most active during the evening hours, since the motion of the expectant mother walking lulls them to sleep.

If you’re concerned that your baby isn’t moving, sit down for a brief snack such as a glass of orange juice or milk. Then, lie down for about an hour. This combination of inactivity and increased blood sugar levels should motivate your baby to start moving!

If more than 24 hours have passed since you’ve last felt your baby move, contact your healthcare provider. He/she will be able to perform further tests to determine if there is a problem.

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