You’re moving through the pregnancy process, getting closer to meeting your baby face-to-face! If you haven’t been talking to your little one all along, you should start, since your baby can now hear you and, by birth, will recognize your voice! You can read books, sing, or talk to your baby about your routine or whatever is on your mind.

Meanwhile, your body is also experiencing big changes. You may even begin having Braxton-Hicks contractions. These are sometimes referred to as “practice” contractions and seem to function to help prepare your body for labor.

Your Baby’s Development At 21 Weeks

Your baby has reached a full pound of weight and is almost one foot (the average at this point is 11.5 inches) in length!

He still needs to put on a lot of weight before he’s ready for birth, but his body is focusing more on internal processes right now. His bones, which just a few weeks ago were more soft cartilage than solid bone, now have bone marrow, which is taking over the task of creating red blood cells to oxygenate your baby’s body.

The baby is also starting to develop routines and preferences. If you feel your baby move, you may notice that his movement patterns begin to fall into a schedule. His sense of taste is developing, and he may later show preferences for foods you chose during late pregnancy. There’s evidence that some fetuses have a favorite sleep position in the womb!

Quick Overview: Baby's Development At 21 Weeks Pregnant:

• Baby Growth: Now weighs 1 pound and is almost 1 foot long (11.5 inches on average).
• Bone Development: Bone marrow produces red blood cells, replacing earlier cartilage-based development.
• Movement Patterns: A Baby’s activity follows a schedule, with noticeable routines and preferences.
• Taste Development: Food choices during pregnancy may influence future taste preferences.
• Sleep Position: Some evidence suggests that babies may develop a favorite sleeping position in the womb.

Mother’s Symptoms At 21 Weeks

Weight Gain, Swelling, & Stretch Marks

As your body begins to grow to accommodate your little one, your skin stretches, and as a result, you may have stretch marks. Some women embrace these marks, and others want them gone — or at least to reduce scarring. Whatever your feelings about stretch marks aesthetically, they can also cause some discomfort.

Your stretching skin may itch or feel pulled. A gentle lotion or moisturizer can help soothe the discomfort and reduce long-term scarring.

Some swelling and water retention are normal during pregnancy, but if swelling is sudden, uneven (more significant on one side of the body than the other), or facial, contact your doctor immediately, as this is a warning sign of preeclampsia.

Leaking Colostrum & Other Breast Changes

Some women leak colostrum throughout the second and third trimesters. If your skin sticks to your clothing, use warm water to release it—do not pull! Breast pads (disposable or reusable) inserted in your bra can help protect against this and against staining.

Watch for cracked or bleeding nipples. If you see signs of this, call your doctor so a prescription medication can be ordered.

Remember to stick with a supportive, comfortable bra to handle the increased weight of your breasts and reduce back pain.

Digestion & Cravings

Cravings (even unusual ones) are normal, but use caution! If you constantly crave Doritos with salsa, it doesn’t necessarily mean you have to indulge in a high-calorie, high-sodium treat. For instance, your body could be asking for vitamin C from tomatoes and peppers. You could pick an alternative snack that suits those needs without the excess salt that causes more water retention and bloating.

If you crave non-food items, such as furniture cleaner or kitty litter, talk to your doctor! This is called pica and can be a sign of a nutrient deficiency.

Heartburn and indigestion are a plague during pregnancy. Most doctors give the thumbs-up to OTC medications like Tums and Rolaids, but any with aspirin, magnesium trisilicate, or sodium bicarbonate can be harmful during pregnancy.

Nasal/Sinus Symptoms

Are you suffering from a stuffy nose but don’t have a cold? Buckle in. This, called pregnancy rhinitis, can last for 6 weeks or more, and while the cause isn’t certain, it may be due to higher blood volume and/or hormonal changes.

Some women will even suffer nosebleeds during pregnancy. Use pressure to stop the bleeding, but seek medical care if the bleeding is heavy or doesn’t stop, or if you experience a lightheaded sensation.

Pain & Cramping

Getting enough potassium may reduce leg cramps. However, many women will experience Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) symptoms during pregnancy. This can feel like a desperate urge to move your legs as you get settled in. Giving your body sufficient iron and folate may help. Doctors will typically recommend non-pharmacological treatments, like exercise, massage, and warm baths, since most RLS medications are not considered safe during pregnancy.

Round ligament pain may feel like a sharp stabbing in your lower abdomen and extend into the groin. It usually eases with a change of position that takes the weight and pressure off your round ligaments, and OTC pain meds can help.

You may also start to experience Braxton Hicks contractions, sometimes called ‘practice contractions.’ These can range from virtually unnoticeable to annoying and uncomfortable but usually won’t be painful. Try changing positions to see if they stop. Painful contractions that don’t stop when you change positions and increase in frequency may be a sign of early labor and should be called in to your doctor.

Headaches are also common in pregnancy, but severe headaches that don’t ease may be a sign of high blood pressure and/or pre-eclampsia, so contact your doctor if you don’t get any relief.

Fatigue & Shortness Of Breath

As you progress through your pregnancy, you may tire more easily than normal, thanks to extra pressure on your lungs and increased blood volume.

If you feel fatigued, stop and rest. If this persists, check in with your doctor. If you’re a little short of breath or even a bit dizzy or lightheaded, take a break, but if this is severe or persists, contact your doctor. For any shortness of breath or chest pain, seek medical care immediately.

21 Week Pregnancy Symptoms Quick Recap:

• Weight Gain & Skin Changes: Stretch marks, itching, tight skin, swelling, and water retention are common. Sudden, uneven, or facial swelling may occur.
• Breast Changes & Leaking Colostrum: Some experience colostrum leakage, cracked or bleeding nipples, and breast heaviness.
• Cravings & Digestion Issues: Increased cravings, heartburn, indigestion, and bloating may persist. Non-food cravings (pica) can occur.
• Nasal/Sinus Symptoms: Stuffy nose (pregnancy rhinitis) and nosebleeds may develop.
• Pain & Cramping: Leg cramps, RLS, round ligament pain, Braxton Hicks contractions, and headaches are common.
• Fatigue & Shortness of Breath: Tiredness, dizziness, lightheadedness, and breathlessness can increase.

When To Contact Your Doctor

Early Labor

If you think you may be in labor, call your doctor immediately. Medication can be administered to stop labor and help you keep your pregnancy until your baby is mature enough to be delivered safely.

Contractions that are painful or get harder and more frequent are a sign of labor. Sometimes, they may feel like a clenching fist, downward pressure, or a lower backache.

Rupture of membranes (water breaking) is a sign of labor. This may gush or trickle. Amniotic fluid is clear and watery but may have mucousy material or bloody streaks in it.

Losing your mucous plug can mean your cervix is dilating or thinning. Some women will see pieces of mucous plug pass weeks before they go into labor, and it can reform, so seeing bits of mucousy, white (sometimes pinkish or brownish) material later in pregnancy isn’t always a concern, but this early it should be reported to your doctor.

Pre-Eclampsia

Symptoms of pre-eclampsia can, in many cases, be more intense versions of more typical pregnancy symptoms. Severe swelling, severe headaches that don’t go away, and severe nausea and vomiting can all be symptoms. Some symptoms may appear to your doctor first, like proteins in your urine or a change in your blood pressure.

Call your doctor immediately for swelling that is more prominent on one side of the body, swelling that affects your face, sudden swelling, a severe headache that doesn’t get better with medicine, any vision changes, and any vomiting at this stage of pregnancy.

Dehydration

Mild dehydration is common during pregnancy (and may be contributing to your other symptoms, including cramps, headaches, RLS, and fatigue). Still, when dehydration becomes more severe, it can become an emergency. Let your doctor know if you see signs, like being unable to pass urine for long periods or fatigue coupled with extreme thirst. In worse cases, this may require IV fluids.

Pain & Bleeding

Call your doctor for any vaginal bleeding (other than light spotting immediately after an internal exam). Call for any pain that is severe and does not go away with simple treatments like OTC pain meds, change of position, or hydration.

What Should Mom Be Doing At 21 Weeks?

Get plenty of rest! Try to keep your body active, but take breaks when needed, and don’t push yourself past your limits.

Enjoy your ultrasound photos! If you haven’t had your mid-pregnancy ultrasound yet, that should be this week or next week. Consider putting your favorite ultrasound photo (or all of them) in your baby album or picking a cute frame to adorn with ribbons. These images can fade over time especially if exposed to heat or sunlight,, so if you want to keep them forever, consider getting a copy printed.

Have you and your partner talked about your parenting plans? If you haven’t covered breast vs. bottle, postpartum expectations, and where the baby will sleep yet, now is a good time to get on the same page.

Start a watch/listen/read list. Take note of the TV shows, movies, books, and even podcasts you’ve wanted to enjoy but never quite made time for. These may come in handy during late-night (or all-night) feeding sessions.

Quick Recap Of What Mom Should Be Doing At 21 Weeks Pregnant:

• Rest & Activity: Balance rest and movement, avoiding overexertion.
• Ultrasound Keepsakes: Mid-pregnancy ultrasound happens around this time, with photos to save.
• Parenting Plans: Discuss feeding choices, postpartum expectations, and sleep arrangements with your partner.
• Entertainment Prep: Create a watch, listen, or read list for future downtime.

What To Look Forward To

If you haven’t felt your baby move, that’s coming soon. By the end of pregnancy, you’ll even be able to see some of these kicks and flips, or at least their effect on your body!