21 weeks of gestation: changes in the body of the mother and baby

At 21 weeks of gestation, half of the pregnancy has passed, as it is the fifth month .

At this stage, the woman has a well rounded and hard belly, but not as big as it should be until the end of 9 months. After all, it is in the third trimester that the baby gets the most fat.

The weight gained during these months is highly dependent on the diet of each mother. But, maintaining a balanced and healthy diet, on average, it is likely that she has gained between 4kg to 8kg by then.

During this phase, it is possible that the mother and baby are not in the same time zone, so to speak. During the day, when the woman is more agitated and moving more, the baby can be more calm and quiet.

At night, this exchange can happen: when the mother is more calm and resting, the baby tends to be more agitated and moving around a lot.

Check out more changes in the pregnant woman and the baby in this 21st week of pregnancy:

Contents

How is the baby’s development?

The baby’s development in the 21st gestation period is marked by the formation of white blood cells (leukocytes), cells that are part of the immune system.

The baby’s growth is no longer as fast as it was in the first few months. The development of systems, organs, tissues and bones continues every week, but at a different pace.

It is also observed, already in this phase, that the baby’s skin is very thin, reddish and wrinkled. The redness is due to the blood vessels that are apparent.

He also doesn’t have a lot of body fat yet, but in the coming months this tends to change, as he gets quite fat every week. With more fat in the body, your skin tends to be more pink and less transparent.

The baby also moves a lot. With a lot of space in the uterus, because it is still small, the fetus can somersault in the mother’s belly. This happens mainly at night, a period of greater agitation.

Another movement that doctors can identify at this stage is the baby scratching himself, because at 21 weeks, it is possible to see that the nails are already formed.

However, because the skin is coated with a mucosa, even with the big nails the baby cannot scratch itself.

In addition, it can also swallow the amniotic fluid, which can already be digested by your digestive system. Thus, the baby’s first feces are formed and remain in the intestine until birth.

Because they are free of bacteria, these feces (called meconium) do not cause gas in the baby.

What is the weight and size of a 21-week-old fetus?

The fetus at 21 weeks of gestation can have a weight ranging from 300g to 400g and its size is approximately 25cm (from the heel to the head). Some people can compare its size at this stage to that of a large banana .

Symptoms and changes in the pregnant woman’s body

The pregnant woman this week may start to manifest a symptom that is a common complaint in pregnancy: memory failures. There are recurrent reports of women who feel more forgotten during pregnancy.

Some women also report an increase in vaginal discharge, but without the presence of smell, color and symptoms that could indicate an infection.

It is also possible to have greater swelling in the feet and legs, especially on warmer days. Therefore, the ideal is to keep your legs elevated whenever possible, to improve circulation. Drinking plenty of fluids also helps to relieve the symptom.

The breasts tend to grow quite early in pregnancy, but at 21 weeks this growth is unlikely to happen anymore. The nipples may be more protruding and the areolas larger and darker. Therefore, it is recommended to use comfortable bras, with straps that provide good support.

Loading...