21 week of pregnancy - what happens to the baby, mom and developmental features

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

21 week of pregnancy is the second trimester and the sixth obstetric month. In medicine, it is customary to count the “interesting situation” by weeks, which add up to months. The obstetric month is exactly 4 weeks. Pregnancy is counted according to the obstetric principle not from the date of conception, but from the first day of the last menstruation, the date of which is precisely known to the woman. The second trimester is considered to be a calmer and more enjoyable period. From the article it will be possible to find out what happens at the 21st week of pregnancy with mom and baby, what women can do during this period, and what is strictly prohibited, and we will also talk about complications that can develop during pregnancy and how to avoid them.

Child Development

What happens to the baby at 21 weeks pregnant? He has already formed all the systems of vital activity and internal organs. From this week, the baby's body actively begins to store subcutaneous fat, thanks to which his body acquires a pleasant roundness. The skin continues towrinkling, but it begins to gradually turn pale, and the vessels become less visible every day. The fetus at 21 weeks of gestation is still very thin, it can be compared with a small orange. The average weight of a child is about 300 grams, height is about - 25 centimeters. Deviation in weight or height is not considered a pathology, since everything is individual.

Cells that are responsible for immunity begin to form in the baby's blood. After their final formation, most of the mother's diseases do not pose a serious danger to the baby, since he will already be able to protect himself.

What happens to the baby at 21 weeks pregnant:

• Taste buds are improving (he already remarkably distinguishes the taste of swallowed amniotic fluid).
• Eyes begin to open.
• Hearing well developed, he can hear sounds.
• Reacts to mother's voice, it is recommended to communicate with him as often as possible from this period.
• He is learning to digest food and swallow. The taste of the amniotic fluid depends on what the mother ate. Scientists have proven that in the future, children will prefer those foods that the mother ate during pregnancy.
• In the baby's skeleton, cartilage is gradually replaced by bone.

The baby is quite spacious in the stomach, so he rolls over, somersaults and performs completely unthinkable acrobatic stunts. When he gets tired, he sleeps just like a newborn baby.

Fetus at 21 weeks pregnantthe reproductive system is well developed. By the appearance of the genitals, children can already be distinguished. In the ovaries of the baby, a reserve of eggs is laid. There are about 6 million of them, but by birth there will be only two million left. In addition, her vagina begins to form during this period of development.

Boys testicles are in the stomach, and gradually begin to descend. By the time of birth, they are already in the scrotum.

What's going on with mom

The body of a child at 21 weeks of gestation has already been formed and now he is starting to actively grow and gain weight. This requires a lot of strength and energy from a pregnant woman, so she gets tired very quickly and eats a lot.

With the growth of the fetus, the uterus also increases, and, as a result, the location of the internal organs changes. The bladder and intestines are slightly pushed back. Usually this does not bring much discomfort, the only thing is that urination becomes more frequent and constipation may appear.

The 21st week of pregnancy is characterized by an increase in blood volume of approximately 35% of its total volume before the onset of the "interesting position".

Most women experience accelerated growth of nails and hair, skin significantly improves, so they look very impressive.

At the 21st week of pregnancy, the size of the legs also increases, and swelling of the face, arms and legs sometimes appears.

Mammary glands continue to grow, from which colostrum can already be secreted.

Pregnant belly

Belly at 21 weeks pregnant grows with eachduring the day, the skin on it stretches, it becomes thin, its sensitivity increases, sometimes itching occurs. Some pregnant women develop stretch marks. Therefore, it is advisable to start using special cosmetic preparations.

If suddenly a rash appears on the stomach, this is not a normal symptom, you should immediately consult a doctor.

At this time of pregnancy, there may be pulling sensations in the lower abdomen. They usually last about a minute, then pass and can be repeated periodically every 5-6 hours. These are the so-called false contractions, the cause of which has not yet been identified. Scientists believe that this is quite normal, so the body begins to prepare for the birth process. But if they do not go away and are accompanied by increased soreness, you should consult a doctor.

Movement

A baby at 21 weeks pregnant is actively moving and making about 200 different movements per day. But the mother feels only a part of them, since the fetus is still very small. In addition, at 21 weeks pregnant, the baby sleeps about 20 hours a day. Very often, the wakefulness and sleep patterns of mom and baby do not match.

Movement from 20-21 weeks of pregnancy should be daily, a woman should feel about 10 movements during the day. It is necessary to carefully monitor this, since their complete absence or excessive activity of the baby indicates deviations in his development.

Ultrasound

20- 21 weeks pregnant is the time for the second screening ultrasound. If, at the first examination, one could assumedevelopment of deviations, pathologies, then already on the second their presence can be refuted or confirmed with absolute certainty.

The baby has already formed all the organs, so any deviations from the norm in their development are clearly visible on the ultrasound machine.

It is also important to assess the condition of the placenta and the amount of amniotic fluid. This information allows you to diagnose any abnormalities in the development of pregnancy at 21 weeks and take measures to maintain it.

Weight

Every week a woman steadily recovers by about 400-900 grams. Weight gain at 21 weeks pregnant is about 4.5–5.7 kilograms. But this indicator can deviate by 1-1.5 kilograms, both up and down.

At the 21st week of pregnancy, the norm and deviation in weight gain depends on factors such as:

• age;
• pre-pregnancy height and weight;
• body type;
• tendency to be overweight;
• body features;
• toxicosis.

Appetite

The desire to eat during this period occurs very often. Appetite, like the tummy, is growing every day. But you should remember that any pie, bun or sweet sparkling water will start weight gain.

Fractional meals are now optimal: a hearty good breakfast, second breakfast, a full lunch, an obligatory afternoon snack and a light dinner.

Be sure to eat vegetables and fruits, the diet should beas much fiber and dairy products as possible. Do not get carried away with bakery products, you need to gradually reduce the consumption of sweets.

Feelings

What happens at 21 weeks pregnant? This is a great time for an expectant mother. She has a cheerful mood, the first movements of the baby cannot but rejoice. Her tummy, although a little rounded, is not yet as big as in the last stages of pregnancy.

But despite the fact that the general condition of the pregnant woman is very good, there are still pains that can cause discomfort.

Pain in the legs and cramps

20-21 weeks of pregnancy is a period when a woman begins to suffer from cramps, especially at night, which interferes with normal sleep. This is the first indicator that a woman's body does not have enough potassium and calcium. These symptoms should be reported to your doctor, who will prescribe vitamins.

Pain in the legs at this time indicates the presence of problems with blood vessels. The growing uterus most likely puts pressure on the vena cava, which makes it difficult for the venous outflow of blood. Periodic rest during the day, avoiding long walks, wearing compression stockings can help in this case.

Uterine tone

During this period, there should normally be no pain in the abdomen. If there are periodic pulling pains on the sides, then this is due to a sprain. But if the pain becomes cramping, and the stomach stiffens and contracts as if invise, this indicates the tone of the uterus, which can provoke the onset of preterm labor.

It should be remembered that at the 21st week of pregnancy, the development of the fetus continues, and, despite the fact that it has already formed all the organs, being born at this time, the baby has practically no chance of surviving. Therefore, if you notice symptoms such as uterine tone, you should immediately go to the hospital.

Indigestion

At this time, a woman's appetite increases significantly. But you need to watch your diet and eat in small portions. Overeating can lead to heartburn, stomach and intestinal pain, and constipation.

Stretches

Due to the growing tummy and increasing weight at the 21st week of pregnancy, women may experience such an aesthetic nuisance as stretch marks in the abdomen, hips, chest. They look like reddish stripes of various sizes, they brighten over time, but never completely disappear. Therefore, it is easier to prevent their occurrence than to deal with them later. It is recommended to moisturize the skin several times a day with various creams and cosmetic oils, which are sold in pharmacies.

Possible pregnancy complications

The second trimester of pregnancy is a relatively quiet period. But even at this time, complications can develop that can negatively affect both the mother and the child.

So, a lack of vitamin D can provoke the development of rickets in a child immediately after birth.

Lack of calcium in a woman's diet leads towashing it out of the bones and blood vessels, which threatens the development of varicose veins, hemorrhoids and such a dangerous bone disease as osteoporosis.

If a woman is very fond of food, significantly exceeds the allowable weight gain, then this threatens with obesity both for herself and for the baby. In addition, she may develop such a serious disease as diabetes.

Often from this week of pregnancy, many women begin to experience swelling of the legs. If this continues for a long time, and does not subside in the morning, you should immediately report the problem to your doctor. This unpleasant phenomenon can be alleviated by following an optimal diet, resting often and choosing the right shoes.

Medicines

Acceptance of any medications should be carried out only after consultation with a gynecologist. At this time, the placenta has already been formed, so it is quite possible to choose relatively safe drugs. It is believed that all topical preparations are relatively harmless, since they do not enter the bloodstream. In case of urgent need, the use of antispasmodics, anti-allergy drugs, but only 2-3 generations, anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen and paracetamol, are allowed.

Tetracycline antibiotics are strictly prohibited at any stage of pregnancy.

Factors that affect the baby

The fetus inside the mother's body is reliably protected from the effects of adverse factors. And what gets into the blood, once againfiltered by the placenta. But she does not completely protect the baby. Nicotine, alcohol, drugs, antibiotics, arsenic, mercury, quinine, hormones, vitamins are able to penetrate this natural placental barrier.

Moreover, the work of the placenta is strongly influenced by the course of pregnancy, the presence of chronic diseases in women, and toxicosis. Under the influence of these factors, bacteria, viruses, helminths, toxins can penetrate into the baby's blood.

Recommendations for pregnant women

Expectant mothers, in order to achieve the most comfortable state of he alth and reduce discomfort, you must adhere to the following rules and tips:

• You should not eat a lot of sweet, s alty, fatty foods. Such foods provoke intense thirst, which leads to extensive swelling.
• Don't wear restrictive and very tight clothes to avoid pressure on the abdomen. From about 21 weeks pregnant, it's worth changing your wardrobe and shopping for specialized maternity clothes.
• It is necessary to walk in the fresh air as often as possible, to ventilate the room where the woman sleeps daily, to do wet cleaning. These activities will reduce the risk of headaches.
• When unpleasant symptoms appear, one cannot self-medicate and self-prescribe. Many drugs during pregnancy are contraindicated and can lead to disastrous consequences. Seek immediate medical attention if symptoms persist.
• You can and should go in for sports, but not active sports. Suitable are:yoga, swimming, water aerobics, gymnastics, breathing exercises.
• Sex during this period of pregnancy is not contraindicated and even useful, but only if there are no complications and no problems. In this case, you should choose the correct postures to eliminate pressure on the abdomen and vena cava. In any case, you should consult with your doctor and clarify this point, because each pregnancy is individual.
• The diet should contain a lot of fruits and dairy products, in addition, it should be varied and balanced.

So, the second trimester is the most calm and pleasant period throughout the entire pregnancy. Right now, the possibility of fetal fading is excluded, which has a positive effect on mom's mood. In addition, many unpleasant sensations are already behind. This is a period of active communication with the baby and enjoying your condition. But it should be remembered that at 21 weeks the child is actively improving his organs, in addition, he rapidly begins to grow and gain weight. Therefore, you should strictly adhere to all the recommendations of doctors, do not miss visits to them and take all the tests on time. All these measures will help to detect deviations in the development and course of pregnancy in time and prevent disastrous consequences.