The development of the baby at 21 weeks of gestation, which corresponds to 5 months of pregnancy, is marked by the development of all bones, and it is possible to complete the production of red blood cells and to start production of white blood cells, which are cells responsible for protecting the body.
At this stage, the uterus has grown a lot and the belly begins to get steeper, but despite this, some women believe that their belly is small, which is normal because there is a lot of variation in the size of the belly from one woman to another. Normally up to the 21st week of gestation, the woman gained about 5kg.
Development of the fetus at 21 weeks' gestation
Regarding the development of the fetus at 21 weeks of gestation, it can be observed that the small blood vessels carry blood under the skin that is very thin, so the baby's skin is very pink. It does not yet have a lot of stored fat, because it uses it all as a source of energy, but in the next few weeks, some fat will start to be stored, making the skin less transparent.
In addition, the nails begin to grow and the baby can scratch a lot, but it is not able to be arranged since its skin is protected by a mucosa. On ultrasound, the baby's nose may look quite wide, but this is because the nasal bone has not yet developed, and as soon as it develops, the baby's nose will become thinner and longer.
As the baby still has a lot of space, it can move freely, being able to do full somersaults and changes position several times a day, however, some women may still not feel the baby move, especially if it is the first pregnancy.
The baby swallows the amniotic fluid and it is digested, forming the baby's first stool, a sticky, black stool. The meconium is stored in the baby's intestine from 12 weeks until birth, being free of bacteria and so does not cause gas in the baby. Learn more about meconium.
If the baby is a girl, after the 21st week the uterus and vagina are already formed, while in the case of boys from that week of gestation, the testicles begin to descend to the scrotum.
At this stage of development, the baby can already perceive sounds and recognize the voice of parents, for example. So you can put some music or read to the baby so you can rest easy, for example.
Pictures of the fetus at 21 weeks gestation
Fetal size at 21 weeks' gestation
The size of the fetus at 21 weeks gestation is approximately 25 cm, measured from the head to the heel, and its weight is about 300 g.
Changes in the woman with 21 weeks of pregnancy
Changes in a woman at 21 weeks of pregnancy include memory failures , which are becoming more frequent, and many women complain of an increase in vaginal discharge, but since it does not smell or color, it is not dangerous.
Practicing some type of exercise is recommended to improve blood circulation, prevent bloating, excessive weight gain and to facilitate labor. But not all exercises can be performed during pregnancy, one should always choose the quiet ones, which have no impact, such as walking, water aerobics, Pilates or some bodybuilding exercises.
As for food, the ideal is to avoid sweets and fatty foods, which do not provide nutrients and tend to accumulate in the form of fat. The amount of food should not be greater than what was ingested before becoming pregnant. The idea that just because you are pregnant, you should eat by 2, it is a myth. The truth is that you need to feed properly, giving preference to foods rich in vitamins as this is very important for the development of the baby.
Your pregnancy by quarter
To make your life easier and you do not waste time looking, we separate all the information you need for each trimester of gestation. What quarter are you in?
- 1st Quarter (1st to 13th week)
- 2nd Quarter (14th to 27th week)
- 3rd Quarter (from the 28th to the 41st week)
