21st Week Pregnancy: Symptoms, Baby Development, And Tips

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How Many Months Are 21 Weeks Of Pregnancy?

At 21 weeks, you are in the fifth month of pregnancy. By now, you would’ve felt your baby move a little, although these movements are infrequent and feel like you have butterflies in the stomach.

Tessa Rayanne, an expecting mom, shares her pregnancy journey at 21 weeks and says, “I have a nudger inside! He is fully active and nudging on my insides. I get so excited with every movement I feel. I jerk my husband with my elbow and demand he put his hand on the belly to experience the joy that I’m experiencing. It’s pretty magical, and I just want everyone to feel it (i)!”

Here, MomJunction tells you more about how your body changes and your baby grows in the 21st week.

How Big Is Your Baby At 21 Weeks?

In the 21st week, your baby is about the size of a carrot and measures 10.51in (26.7cm) in length and weighs 12.7oz (360g) (1)(2).

What Is The Baby’s Development At 21 Weeks?

Here is how your baby’s body is developing in this week:

As the baby grows and develops new functions, you will experience certain symptoms. Read about that next.

What Symptoms Do You Experience In The 21st Week Of Pregnancy?

Here are some common symptoms you might experience during this week:

1. Weight gain: It should be based on your BMI (8).

2. Heartburn/indigestion: The gastric fluids in the stomach are pushed up into the esophagus due to the pressure exerted by the growing uterus, causing heartburn during pregnancy.

While many women get relief from morning sickness by this week, some may still experience it due to hormonal changes or other medical conditions.

Point to consider

Heartburn that does not improve even after medications may be a sign of something more serious such as pre-eclampsia (16).

3. Braxton Hicks contractions: These are irregular, spontaneous, and less painful contractions that help prepare the body for labor.

Rayanne adds, “I had my first identifiable braxton hicks at 21 weeks and 1 day. It didn’t hurt at all; it just got really tight, and my stomach was in a tiny little ball. He’s kicking like crazy now. And I mean big, big kicks that even my hubby can feel.”

4. Increased appetite: The hunger pangs may increase, so have small meals at frequent intervals. Pack snacks or fruits for your office and eat them whenever you are hungry.

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5. Fast-growing nails: The hormonal changes and increased blood circulation provide extra nutrients to your hair and nails and make them grow faster.

6. Backache: The extra weight of the baby puts pressure on the lower back causing backache.

7. Physiological edema: Water retention in the body causes swelling of hands and feet.

8. Frequent urination: The pressure exerted by the growing uterus on the bladder increases the frequency of urination.

9. Varicose veins: The extra blood flow to the lower part of the body causes the veins to swell.

Tip: Keep the legs elevated and avoid standing for long hours. Maintain a healthy weight during pregnancy and add more fiber to your diet to avoid constipation.

10. Urinary tract infection (UTI): The extra pressure put on the bladder by the growing uterus can block the urine flow and cause UTI during pregnancy.  Symptoms of UTI include:

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• Pain or burning sensation while passing urine
• Fever
• Chills
• Urinating more frequently than before
• Pain or cramps in the pubic area
• Foul smelling or turbid urine

Tip: Drink plenty of water. Avoid holding urine for long as it promotes bacterial growth in the urinary tract.

Did you know?

You may also experience bleeding gums at 21 weeks pregnant (16).

What Changes Occur In The Body At 21 Weeks Of Pregnancy?

1. Enlarged belly: As the baby attains good growth by this week, the uterus enlarges and your belly bump shows.

2. Enlarged breast: The breasts grow in size as the body starts preparing for milk production.

3. Blue veins: The veins surrounding the breasts become more prominent due to an increased blood supply.

4. Colostrum leak: The yellow fluids (the first milk) may start leaking from the nipples.

5. Oily skin and acne: The hormonal changes cause excess production of sebum (oil produced from skin), resulting in acne during pregnancy.

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Tips: Clean the face with lukewarm water and use oil-free creams and cosmetics. Wash your hair daily or as often as needed to remove the excess oil.

6. Stretch marks: The skin stretches with the growing uterus, creating stretch marks. The skin may also become dry and itchy. Applying a good moisturizing lotion can help reduce the itchiness.

The symptoms you experience now are not all pleasant. But if they are making you uneasy, talk to your doctor about them during the regular prenatal visit.

What Is Your OB/GYN Visit Like?

During this week, your obstetrician/gynecologist will check the:

• Blood pressure
• Weight gain
• Fundal height
• Fetal heart rate

The doctor may also recommend a urine test, besides other tests, to determine the protein and sugar levels.

What Tests Are Done In The 21st Week?

1. Anomaly scan: Done between 18 weeks and 20+6 weeks, this ultrasound scan determines the physical abnormalities in the baby (9) It can check for 11 physical conditions including:

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• Open spina bifidaⁱA congenital disorder where the spinal cord doesn't fully develop, leading to physical and neurological complications
• AnencephalyⁱA congenital condition identified by incomplete development of the brain and skull in the baby
• Diaphragmatic herniaⁱA genetic condition where there is a hole in the diaphragm, causing the abdominal organs to move into your chest
• Cleft lip
• ExomphalosⁱIncomplete development of abdominal wall in babies
• Gastroschisisⁱ A birth condition identified by a hole in the abdominal wall that may allow the intestines to exit through it
• Cardiac abnormalities
• Lethal skeletal dysplasiaⁱA congenital condition characterized by underdeveloped bones and cartilage
• Bilateral renal agenesisⁱA condition causing the complete absence of kidneys at birth
• Patau's syndromeⁱA genetic condition caused by having an extra copy of chromosome 13 in all the cells or T13
• Edwards' syndromeⁱ A severe chromosomal condition affecting fetal growth and development or T18

All anomalies cannot be detected by this scan; the detection rate is 80%.

2. Maternal serum quad screen (10): This screening test will be done if you have missed the sequential screening tests in the first trimester. It checks for the level of four substances in the blood like alpha-fetoproteinⁱA protein present in the mother’s blood and the amniotic fluid, also used as a tumor marker (AFP), estriolⁱA form of estrogen that helps the uterus grow and stay healthy , human chorionic gonadotropinⁱA hormone produced by placental cells during pregnancy , and inhibin-A. These tests detect Down syndrome and neural tubeⁱA hollow structure in the developing embryo that forms the brain and spinal cord defects in babies (10).

Make sure you get all the recommended tests done and follow a healthy lifestyle. Next, we have a few tips on how to stay healthy this week.

What Are Some Tips For Moms-To-Be?

Here are some tips for you to follow during this week:

• Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.
• Eat small meals at regular intervals and have home cooked food.
• Add fruits, vegetables, dairy products, beans, and meat in the diet. Some recipes you can add to your 5th month of pregnancy diet to satisfy your cravings include celeriac, watercress soup, and sweet apple lamb.
• Exercise moderately; walking is ideal to keep up your energy level.
• Maintain oral hygiene by brushing and flossing your teeth regularly.
• Avoid smoking, drinking alcohol, and using illicit drugs, as they can affect fetal development.
• Keep stress at bay.
• Wear loose, breathable maternity clothes to accommodate your growing baby bump.
• Give your body enough rest.
• Consider reading books covering pregnancy, breastfeeding, and postpartum topics.
• Take your prenatal vitamins as prescribed by your doctor. However, you must avoid taking any other medicines without the doctor’s permission.
• Avoid sitting with your legs crossed as it can cause a backache.
• Avoid oily and fatty foods and add more fiber to your diet. It helps reduce constipation.
• Wear comfortable footwear.

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• To combat fatigue while working, it’s crucial to avoid prolonged sitting. Try to take short walks whenever possible..
• Enroll in childbirth classes to prepare for labor and delivery.
• Spend time with family and friends and plan a baby shower if you haven’t done so already.

Whenever needed, seek your partner’s help and support.

Do remember

It is common for some friendships to fall away during pregnancy or after childbirth, as some friends may not understand how and what you are feeling. Do not fret over it and remember that it is only natural (10)

What Are Some Tips For Dads-To-Be?

Here are some tips for the dad-to-be:

• Share the household chores to lessen your burden.
• Create a pleasant environment at home.
• Accompany your partner to all prenatal care visits.
• Go for maternal shopping or plan a romantic date.
• Give you a good neck or foot massage to ease your discomfort.
• Learn the best and fastest route to the hospital before the due date.

Infographic: Fetal Developments In The 21st Week Of Pregnancy

Being 21 weeks pregnant means you’re already in your second trimester of pregnancy, and your fetus is as big as the size of a carrot. If you’re curious about how much your fetus has developed at this stage, check out the infographic below to explore significant fetal developments.

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team

Illustration: 21st Week Pregnancy: Symptoms Baby Development And Tips

Image: Stable Diffusion/MomJunction Design Team

Week 21 of pregnancy is an exciting time! Watch this video and gain insights into fetal development and the remarkable growth of your baby.

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Reviewer Author Editor Fact Checker

Subhashis Samajder MS, DNB

Dr. Subhashis Samajder, a consultant gynecologist-obstetrician with nine years of experience, is currently practicing at Narayana Multispeciality Hospital, Howrah. His area of expertise includes abortion, colposcopy surgery, hysterectomy, hysteroscopy, infertility treatment, and menopausal problems.

Read full bio of Subhashis Samajder

Sakshi MishraMSc

Sakshi holds a bachelor’s degree in Science and a master’s in Bioinformatics from Panjab University, India. She has worked on a research project, “In silico ligand designing exhibiting anti-diabetic activity derived from responsible phytochemicals of selected herbs.

Read full bio of Sakshi Mishra

Rebecca MalachiBSc

Rebecca is a pregnancy writer and editor with a passion for delivering research-based and engaging content in areas of fertility, pregnancy, birth, and post-pregnancy. She did her graduation in Biotechnology and Genetics from Loyola Academy, Osmania University and obtained a certification in ‘Nutrition and Lifestyle in Pregnancy’ from Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU).

Read full bio of Rebecca Malachi

Aneesha AmonzMSc

Aneesha holds a Bachelor's degree in Biotechnology from USTM, Meghalaya and Master’s degree in Applied Microbiology from VIT, Vellore. With two years of experience, she has worked on different research projects in the field of Food Sciences.

Read full bio of Aneesha Amonz