
Your baby's blood circulation is completely functional. The umbilical cord system continues to grow and thicken as blood travels with considerable force through the body to nurture the baby. The placenta is now almost equal in size to the baby.
Your baby will be getting much larger during the second half of your pregnancy. Your baby's crown-to-rump length at this time is 7.2 inches and she weighs approximately 10.5 ounces. Your growing baby is about the size of a large banana. You should be able to feel your uterus about a half of an inch above your navel. Your weight gain so far will be around 10 to 15 pounds.
As your baby begins to lay down more fat, your weight will also increase. During the next 10 weeks, you will gain about half of the total gain for your entire pregnancy. Strangers can now tell that you are pregnant! You might notice an increase in appetite because you need 500 more calories a day to support your charged up metabolism. It is best to avoid processed foods or foods high in fat, calories or sugar. Some women also get strong cravings for foods. If you notice a craving for something unhealthy, you should contact your doctor. Craving for unusual things is known as pica. Some women crave cigarette ashes, charcoal, beer and other non-food items during this time.
Your baby's different organs and systems are maturing. The fetal digestive system is functioning in a simple way and your baby can swallow amniotic fluid. After your baby swallows the amniotic fluid, she is able to absorb water and sugars from the fluid and then the waste is passed as far as the large bowel. Your baby swallows the amniotic fluid in order to prepare itself for life outside of the womb. Some babies consume as much as 17 ounces of amniotic fluid in a 24-hour period. Your baby already has a high number of red blood cells and the white blood cells are beginning to be produced. Taste buds are being formed on your baby's tongue this week also.
Don't be surprised if your legs and feet become swollen throughout the day. You should try to get off of your feet some throughout the day and prop your legs up. If you notice a substantial amount of swelling, you should contact your healthcare provider for evaluation.
Comments on week 21Comments 1-49 of about 2910 from week 21
27 messages have been added in the last 24 hours.
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Show latest comments from all weeksjacesmommy4606@yahoo.com -
2 hours ago
we found out the sex of the baby last tuesday and its a baby boy.. im so excited i cant wait to see my oldest son jace and my little brison together yay!!!! oh yea i hit 21 weeks 4 days ago...lol~amber~ -
5.9 hours ago
HELP LOL------
Ok so all day today FYI this is my 1st pregnancy with a boy ! So I ask help!!!
I never had this before!
All day I HAVE had this feeling under right under kind of in my ribs feels like the baby is kicking me there , is it possible at 19 weeks ? I mean I know they are lower but is it ! I am not in any pain but i can feel it as he's kicking or feels like it !
Please send me a message to my profile page if you had this ever !
Last night i felt like a pop feeling and now this no pains
I see my high risk dr tomarrow im not scared about it just wondering if its possible to be him kicking me that far up considering the uterus isnt but at the belly button at 19 weeks
Thanks ! shug1stbebe -
6 hours ago
Miracle3-It was only a week after I learned I was pregnant that my 6yr old goddaughter turned to me and asked out of the blue 'When are you going to have a godsister or brother for me?' Shocked I played it off since I wasn't telling anyone yet (except her mom who is like my big sister).After being further along and everybody knew I asked her, well since technically you were the 1st to sense I was pregnant, what do you think the baby is? She replied, a girl. She was right!...out of the mouths of babes!xxdanixx -
8.9 hours ago
SniderL - there's some days where the baby might just be really tired. sometimes my baby is like that every now and then, but lately i feel her all the time. some days you'll feel the baby, and some days not at all. be calm... it's normal for most women i know.tamara0209 -
9.9 hours ago
Wow that is a so cool about James Elgin Gill. To add to that My mom in 1953 was born really premature, and only weighed 1 pound 10oz. She still has the newspaper article framed in her house. The doctors told my grandparents to give up on her, and they said there is no chance we would ever do that. Look 55 years later she is fine and has a wonderful family. Miracles happen all the time.preggo again -
10.2 hours ago
BECKSTA CONGRATS!!!!!!! I FIND OUT SEX TOMMORROW IM HOPIN ITS A BOY BUT HEY IT MAYBE A GIRL AND GIRLS ROCK SO IM HAPPY WITH WHATEVER I GET AS LONG AS ITS HEALTHY.becksta2206 -
10.9 hours ago
I found out the sex of the baby 2 day and im having a BOY!!!preggo again -
12.9 hours ago
((( singing)))tommorrow tommorrow i find out the sex tommorrow i and i cant wait : )Chel32588 -
13.9 hours ago
Wow thats an early baby and for him to survive with how much less there was with our knowledge of medical stuff.. edhmom2b -
15 hours ago
Just to put things in prospective. From Wikipedia: James Elgin Gill (born on 20 May 1987 in Ottawa, Canada) was the earliest premature baby in the world. He was 128 days premature (21 weeks and 5 days gestation) and weighed 1 lb. 6 oz. (624 g). He survived and is quite healthy.[31][32]Chel32588 -
15.9 hours ago
SnyderL- Drink some juice or something with sugar or have a little caffine wake him up. I do that if putting a little bit of pressure on my belly doesn't work.(which that usually does) Then if you still dont feel him move for another hour or so I would go get a scan just to be sure! I hope he is just tired. Good luck. SnyderL -
16.2 hours ago
So I'm 21 weeks, I've felt the baby kick just about every day for several weeks now, and today I've barely felt him! I'm a little concerned cause I'm so used to the little guy kicking like crazy. Anyone have any similar experiences? I'm hoping he's just extra sleepy today...Chel32588 -
16.2 hours ago
CindyB- I had a cold last week and I just took my vitamins and took a sudafed one day but it dried my sinus's so bad it hurt my nose. CindyB8470 -
16.4 hours ago
This is my last day in 21 weeks, I go to 22 weeks tomorrow..I just wish I didn't feel so bad, woke up yesterday with a cold and was up most of the night coughing, and now my voice is almost gone. Are any of you sick, and what have you done for it?Chel32588 -
16.7 hours ago
I find it funny how big I am... Some people say oh you are barely showing(I am showing a tun)others tell me how huge I am... I am like I cant wait till you get pregnant and I am going to make you feel huge. Is it that hard to say 'Oh your belly is cute'? Is it that hard to be nice about it and not make me feel like a giant freak. I know I am going to get so much bigger, I dont mind its something that I have to do. But it makes it hard for me to want to be nice to these people telling me how fat I look. I think its beautiful and dont mind how wrecked my body gets I can excersize I tend to be a very active mom. So I dont care about the weight but it makes me so mad when they think that its a very bad thing and pretty much say I am fat rather than my belly is cute or something I dont know maybe I am weird?
collegeprincess27 -
16.8 hours ago
woooohooooo I have been waiting for this week all month long. We had our ultra sound this morning and our lil bundle of joy is a lil girl I will be putting up pics shortly!!!!baby-momma09 -
16.8 hours ago
lol no my bf doesn't mind. which is surprising. bc he freaks out over everything. yday he told me i got big over the past 2wks. =(( gee thanks alot. Chel32588 -
17.1 hours ago
My boyfriend thinks its weird too and gets all worried, but he is always the one to come on to me. Lol he had a dream that he got 'some' in me and she choked on it. That made me laugh he was all sorts of tramatized... I tried to tell him for the last 5 mos that its ok and he still gets worried. It makes me laugh :)nortybear -
17.3 hours ago
My hubby doesn't want to have sex. It weirds him out too much to think that our daughter is in between us. I just told him that is where dimples come from ;0)
CindyB8470 -
17.6 hours ago
My husband's upset with all of your husbands/boyfriends who get to have sex. We can't have sex, we lost a baby from having sex. My cervix is small and doesn't handle me having sex. He is being good about and counting down until we can be together again. So, enjoy for us too.
samo -
18.1 hours ago
So,I had a great weekend. I finally felt my little baby kicking me on Friday and he hasn't stopped! Last night I laid in bed and he wouldn't stop. And it wasn't like butterflies it was like noticable kicks. I could even put my hand on my stomach and you could feel him keep kicking. Evertime I would switch positions he would kick. It was so cute. baby-momma09 -
18.6 hours ago
ahhh yes the belly hair. my bf noticed it. =( as for sex =) im def. still enjoying it. no problems with the belly in the way. although i do feel a lil insecure bc i have a belly now. if im on top i feel like im squishing the bf (bc i feel like a cow)and if hes on top then im ok. every other position has been perfect. lol OH YEA CONGRATS TO EVERYONE IN WEEK 21. one more week down!! Miracle 3 -
19 hours ago
Less hair on legs? My sister in law said that she and others having boys stopped growing hair on their legs during the preg and some time later. No shaving would be great huh? ( me - not that lucky but they do seem to stay smoother longer after a shave) Anyone else notice this and is there a corrilation to this having a boy? EXCITING! - the first stranger to ask if I was pregnant - A litttle girl about 8yrs looked at me while washing our hands in the restroom and said ' Are you having a baby?" Yeh! - When I said yes I 've been waiting for someone to ask me:-) Her grandma looked relieved- I'm gusesing cause I still possibly look like I have a real fat tummy. Anyway then the next little girl says, "Are you having a boy or will it be a brother?" Too funny she didn't question whether it would be a boy or girl just boy or boy. :-) kdemattia -
19.1 hours ago
hey girls im from wk 14..i have a question for those who know the sex of their child, if your having a girl did you have bad morning sickness? lol im trying to see if this myth is true.. comment on my page :)Chel32588 -
19.8 hours ago
It is the hormones making the hair on your bellies. I noticed it a while ago, well my bf pointed it out to me-never the less on a day I already felt like crap about myself. As for the sex question I have no idea I just know it got uncomfortable for me a long time ago, we ended up trading positions.
* Went to the Dr Friday and everything looked fantastic. She was playing with her cord waving it all over the place. And she 'smiled' at us, it is the cutest picture I have of her so far. She also 'waved' at us. It was amazing! I laughed cause she was just having a good ol'time in there. Which makes me happy-that she is happy and healthy as can be!!jens1st -
20.7 hours ago
MY HUBBY AND FOUN THAT LYING ON MY SIDE WITH HIM BEHIND ME WORKS THE BEST. BUT I TELL YOU I GET SICK OF IT. LOL
gemzc -
22.5 hours ago
I'm glad I'm not the only one to notice my belly is looking hairy! he he! shug1stbebe -
1 days ago
About the belly hair....I think its official i've grown fur :(jonewman -
1 days ago
I don't know if that position is dangerous, but I know I don't like it right now. I actually stopped the missionary position with my honey once my belly popped and even though I miss it, it isn't the way to go right now in my opinionSarahSue -
1 days ago
Does anyone know at what point we shouldnt be having sex in the missionary position anymore? I notice already that pressure on my belly is getting a little uncomfortable and am wondering if it can be harmful..SarahSue -
1 days ago
Yeah Im having a hungry day too.I made cookies and Ive been eating those and pretzels. I also had some soup, chili, and a smoothie. Thanksgivng is gonna be fun!
Stlgirl-I have a hairier belly too. Im actually hairier everywhere and its something I started noticing right before I found out I was preg. collegeprincess27 -
2 days ago
mmmmmmm can't wait till thanksgiving turkey ham potatoes mac and cheese oh oh don't forget the pies anyone else feel like they are staving today lol Well tomorrow is my ulta sound wish me luck that baby helps us out and shows us what sex it is I won't be able to sleep tonight knowing that tomorrow i will be seeing the baby well hope all is good with all the mommies and babies QUEEN TANJA -
2 days ago
LADIES HELP PLEASE WETH NAMES , MIDDLE NAMES ...
VOTE ON MY BLOG ....feb2009 -
2 days ago
Happy Thanksgiving to all the pregnant Canadians!!spencerbaby1 -
2 days ago
anyone else not overly liking the idea of their belly getting bigger? i was laying in bed yesterday and my husband rolls over and says 'your stomach is getting bigger' and laughs. i guess maybe its just cuz i had self esteem issues prior to getting pregnant....mandyw0213 -
2 days ago
stlgirl: it's not just you! my wonderful bf actually made a comment on it the other day (not understanding why i was upset, of course). i don't know the reason for it, but i swear it's more!stlgirl -
2 days ago
okay so this is crazy. over these last 21 weeks, has anyone else's stomaches gotten, er, a bit hairier? I mean, don't get me wrong, I don't look like I'm growing a layer of fur or anything, but I've definitely grown more hair on my stomach. Hormones to blame? mandyw0213 -
3 days ago
Hey guys!
22 weeks tomorrow! Whoohoo. I cannot believe how hast this is going. It kinda freaks me out. I think I'm gonna pass out here at work. Down in the area of Texas I live in, it is still pretty warm alot of the time and the ac is out! I am miserable.
Other than that, things are going well. Ready to start getting the baby's nursery ready. We're gonna try to set up the crib when I get off work on sunday. I can't wait! Miracle 3 -
3 days ago
Vibrating - this is so funny driving to the outlet mall to meet some friends and suddenly all this vibrating - and I'm like oh this is what the gals have been talking of - then 2 seconds later I see my phone is on my lap and my friend had called. ha hamarcardb -
3 days ago
Good to know I'm not the only one with the funny bubbles Lol.wannabe -
3 days ago
hi ladies only 4 sleeps to go until i see my little bubs on the screen im so excited i cant wait im literally wishing my life away x one quick question last tuesday morning i felt my baby kick on the outside for the first time but since then nothing i can feel slight movements and can hear movement with my fetal heart monitor still havent heard the heartbeat with it yet but can hear movement has anyone else experienced this as i was told once u start feeling they will get stronger and i know alot of u woman are feeling strong movements a friend said it could just be the baby kicking my back im just a little concerned and really dont wanna wait till wednesday thank you in advance ladies x x x aliwitbaby -
3 days ago
You guys should read my blog about my vibrating butt.... I get that too lol Hubby says its a nerve :Pchel32588 -
3 days ago
Hello ladies! I get the funky bubbles as well. Forgot to ask mr Dr about it today. I had my baby measurements and everything all looks fantastic. She is 14 oz!! She is so beautiful. She wasnt cooperating at all she was trying to hide. She smiled and waved at us it was awesome!! I wish I could just watch her everyday. I also epierence te vibrating feeling but its not in my hips or legs mine is over my ribs. Its weird. I hope everyone is doing great!xtrainergirl -
3 days ago
marcardb- YES! I feel bubbles down there too. I asked the same question and never got a response from anybody. You're not alone!tiffany02-09 -
3 days ago
Haha I had the same shower issue but I won out and mine will be november 22nd, my mother and sister wanted to have it january 26th but I told them if I had to wait that long I would just buy everything I needed myself. I just really wanted to have it before the holidays started and with enough time to buy anything I didn't get at the showermamatobe269 -
3 days ago
I'm havin a very emotional day! I have been feelin so good up untill Wednesday and since then I feel like I'm on a rollercoaster ride. I'm feelin rage one min, then cryin like someone died the next! UGH I have been in control of my emotions till now and I want control back damn it!! I hate usein the excuse that I'm pregnant, but it has to be the reason I'm out of control right? I hope its just a phase and that tomorrow will be a better day! Hope you all are doin well =)J9 -
3 days ago
I've had a weird 'vibrating' feeling too! for me it's happened when I'm in bed and it's not on my bump is sort of on my hips/thighs. the first time it happened I pulled down my pjs to check what on earth was going on! then I just wondered if it was to do with something stretching!! funny someone else should mention that!!TiffanyA -
3 days ago
Violet23, I actually felt that vibrating feeling last night, but only once. I have no idea what it is.marcardb -
3 days ago
Sorry if this is tmi but is anybody feeling bubbles down there? violet23 -
4 days ago
So I've been having this strange vibrating feeling just on my left hip and it only happens when im standing. Sometimes I think it's my phone in my pocket but it's not lol. Has anyone experienced this or heard of this?