From crown to heel, your baby is over 8 1/2 inches long and weighs roughly 12 ounces. It’s roughly the size of a carrot after 21 Weeks of pregnancy. Your baby’s eyes may open this week. Amniotic fluid can be swallowed by your baby, and their small finger and toe prints may be seen.
Although many women feel physically satisfied throughout their second trimester, certain unpleasant symptoms may still appear around week 21. It’s possible that your breasts have grown larger and that you’ve developed stretch marks. Women should gain 2 to 4 pounds every month in the second trimester, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). To achieve your weight gain goals, you do not need to increase your food intake.
To sustain a healthy pregnancy, women of normal weight before conception only require about 300 more calories each day. Consult a dietitian if you’re having trouble with your diet. This is a wonderful time to enrol in childbirth classes if you haven’t previously. You should also start thinking about the nursery and layette for your child. These duties will most likely be simpler to complete now before your belly develops to the point where they become more difficult.
It’s also critical to look after your mental and physical well-being. Hormones, physical pain, and juggling a career or other children at home can all contribute to stress. While some stress is natural, prolonged stress can have a negative influence on your baby.
Call your doctor if you think your stress is out of the ordinary. Counselling could be beneficial. Stress can also be managed by eating a nutritious diet, exercising regularly, and using relaxation techniques such as yoga or meditation.
If you have any of the following symptoms, contact your doctor right away: increased vaginal discharge, discharge with odour, fever, chills, urination pain, cramping or pain in the lower abdomen.
You’re far into your second trimester, and you’re probably starting to feel your baby move, so you’re facing the reality that you’ll soon be a mother. This week, most women have more energy and are less uncomfortable.
Enjoy the process of preparing for your baby’s arrival.