Pregnancy Week 21

What’s your baby up to?

Your baby weighs around 350g and measures around 26.7cm from head to toe, about the length of a carrot. Length measurements from now on are from head to toe, and not crown to rump, because your baby’s legs have straightened out.

Your little one’s body is now covered with lanugo.

Your baby’s lungs are formed, but not yet functioning, it will take some weeks before they are fully mature.

He weighs more than the placenta, which now has thousands of blood vessels. The umbilical cord is much longer, thicker and stronger.

If you are having a girl, her vaginal canal has started to form.

How are you feeling?

Hello from the other side (of your pregnancy)! The second-half that is.

Do you have veins bulging under your skin? it’s quite common to have these around now. Varicose veins are caused when progesterone relaxes the walls of your veins, or due to the extra volume of blood in your body putting pressure on your blood vessels. They are usually found on the legs, but can also be found in the anus as hemorrhoids, or in the vulva as vulval varicosities.

You may also feel some random and painless tightening of your stomach. This is known as Braxton Hicks contraction. It’s just your body preparing for labour, and nothing to worry about.

You might also be having headaches and migraines, these are quite common. See your doctor immediately if at this stage of your pregnancy, you have severe headache that lasts for more than two or three hours and cannot be relieved by paracetamol. It could be a warning sign of pre-eclampsia.

What should you do this week?

Headache that is accompanied by pain while urinating or blood in the urine, could be a sign of a urinary tract infection. See your doctor to get treatment.

Headache that is accompanied by vision problems and bad swelling on your hands, feet, face or stomach, could be an indication of pre-eclampsia. Call your doctor immediately.

Prevent or reduce varicose veins, by lying down on your left, exercising daily, elevating your legs when you are resting, and also wearing compression socks. Standing or sitting for a long time is highly discouraged. Walk around every 45 minutes during long flights or car rides.

Finally, stay informed, healthy and inspired, by reading  Maternity Nest. Connect with other moms-to-be for moral support, by joining your Due Date Club in the The Nest.