My Pregnancy Week 21
Baby
Your baby continues to grow and develop inside of you. He now measures 7 inches long and can weigh up to 10 ounces. In the coming weeks, your baby will continue to grow and mature at a fast rate.
The hair on his scalp is more visible and by week 21 he has probably developed eyelashes and eyebrows!
He is waking and sleeping in regular intervals, which you might be able to tell from his movements. He is also swallowing amniotic fluid to help his digestive system mature for life in the "outside world". His intestines also start slowly relaxing and contracting this week.
Notice any small, repetitive movements in your abdomen? Those might be his first case of the hiccups! Usually, these movements occur for a few minutes at a time. As your baby grows larger, these movements will feel stronger. And remember, all babies are different, some hiccup multiple times a day, and others, only once in awhile.
Mom
How are you feeling? By week 21, your hormone levels have probably stabilized, which means more even moods throughout the day. How are your legs feeling? Most women have gained about 10-15 lbs by week 21 (some more, some less). As your body continues to pack on the pounds to support the growth of your little one, you may notice that your ankles are sore, you have some cramping in the legs or you have developed varicose veins. All of these discomforts thankfully subside after pregnancy.
Below you will finds some tips to deal with any aches and pains you may be feeling in your legs...
- Support Hose – Put them on first thing in the morning to help deal with varicose veins and swelling during pregnancy.
- Pregnancy support belt – Wear this throughout the day to help deal with edema or discomfort in the ankles or legs.
- Stretching – Stretch about 10-15 minutes every day. Remember, don't push yourself too hard, it shouldn't hurt! A nice gentle stretch will go a long way.
- Pregnancy Pillow - Elevate your legs on a pregnancy support pillow when you relax at night, or when sleeping. This will increase circulation in your legs, often relieving varicose veins, cramping and edema.
Most importantly, don't beat yourself up if you can't keep the schedule you used to! It's important to listen to your body and rest or stretch if you need to. Your body is going through some pretty amazing changes; you deserve some time to relax!
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