You’re right in the middle of the second trimester, also known as the honeymoon phase. Pregnancy week 21 brings more exciting moments and milestones for you and your little one. For starters, the flutters are starting to feel like kicks which will settle into a pattern over the next few weeks while you’re still very much in your second trimester glow. However, some women break out instead which is normal and should be no cause for alarm.
Your Baby’s Milestones at Pregnancy Week 21
At 21 weeks pregnant, you should be feeling and enjoying the baby’s light movements. They’re now starting to grow out of space in the uterus and you will feel their kicks more sharply these coming weeks. Your little munchkin is getting more detailed facial features such as little eyebrows and eyelids with fully formed eyes but their eyelids are still sealed.
This week, your baby is putting their digestive system to practice and swallowing a lot of amniotic fluid which will help them plump out. This mixed with the hairs that will shed off their skin will form meconium which the baby will expel as first poop. The big development this week is that their taste buds are now active and can they can taste the amniotic fluid. Its taste changes day to day depending on the kinds of food that you are eating.
Your baby is now the size of a large banana, weighs about 400 grams and measures 27 cm long.
Related: Pregnancy Week 20: Baby Development and Body Changes to Expect
Your Changing Body at Pregnancy Week 21
When you are 21 weeks pregnant, you likely no longer feel queasy or experience morning sickness, hurray! You are also likely to experience a spike in appetite this trimester. You have noticeably added weight, about 6 kgs on average and you are probably not feeling very good about how you look. Our antenatal care includes support from other pregnant women or new mothers through Malaica’s WhatsApp Groups.
Do other members of your family have varicose veins? If yes, then you are prone to developing them from pregnancy week 21. Varicose veins come as a result of increasing pressure on the veins in your legs. You can reduce them by doing light exercises, making a habit of propping your feet up, and learning to sleep on your left side.
Pregnancy Week 21 Tip:
Naomi Gembe, a new mother of a four month old girl, explains how she dealt with a bout of skin break out,
“In the middle of my second trimester, my face broke out. I wasn’t allowed to use any over the counter break out creams or pills. I committed to a high daily water intake and I made sure to cleanse my face with a gentle cleanser twice daily. They didn’t all go away but my face improved significantly.”
Natural beauty and health tips are recommended as the initial solution for skin breakouts during pregnancy. However, there are safe skin care products that can help but it’s always best to speak with your doctor first before using them on your body. You can also try YouTube tutorials on how to apply makeup and make it look natural.
Next Week: Body Changes and Baby’s Development Milestones at Pregnancy Week 22
Pregnancy Care at Malaica Maternity Hospital
If you’re still exploring your maternity hospital options, Malaica Maternity Hospital provides personalized pregnancy care with multiple layers of support. From a 24/7 midwife hotline to a virtual psychologist, online support groups of pregnant and newborn mothers, and nutritionists specialized in maternal healthcare, our antenatal clinics have everything you need for a healthy pregnancy.
Reach out to us at +254 746 610643 or visit us at 240 General Mathenge Gardens, Westlands to learn how we can empower your pregnancy journey from bump to postpartum. You can also fill out our online booking form and we’ll call you back.