21weeks
pregnant

Highlights this week

Get to know your baby's usual pattern of movements.

Can anyone have a homebirth?

Get ideas and inspiration for your baby’s name.

Baby development at 21 weeks

Your baby now weighs about 360 grams. Up until now they have been measured from crown to rump but from this point on the measurement will be from crown to heel. And from crown to heel they are about 27 centimetres long. Their eyebrows and eyelids are fully developed and the fingernails cover the fingertips.

Your baby can now hear your conversations. If you talk, read or sing to your baby, expect them to hear you. Some studies have found that newborns will suck more vigorously when read to from a book they heard frequently in utero. If you want to try, pick a book now and read it out loud. Make sure you won't mind reading it over and over once the baby is here. It may be your baby's favourite bedtime story for a long time after birth.

If you've started to feel your baby's movements, you can look forward to more action in the coming weeks. You may discover a pattern to their activity as you get to know your baby better.

Read more about your baby's development this week.
See for yourself how your baby is growing in our 3D video.

baby with newly formed eyebrows and permanent fingerprints

Your baby's eyebrows are visible now
Sweat glands start developing in your baby's skin
Your baby is swallowing amniotic fluid
Fingerprints are now permanent

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Your baby is the length of a carrot

length

26.7

head to toe

weight

360

How your life's changing

You may notice you have to adjust to your changing size. Don't be surprised if you find yourself getting a bit more clumsy these days. You're carrying more weight and your centre of gravity has changed with your growing uterus. As well as these changes, your fingers, toes and other joints are all loosening, thanks to the effect of pregnancy hormones.

There's no precise formula for how big your bump should be. So try not to worry if you feel that your bump is big for your stage of pregnancy. Your midwife or doctor probably won't measure your bump until you're 24 weeks pregnant, but do mention it before then if you're concerned. She'll be able to reassure you that all is well.

See the wide variety of pregnancy shapes in our slideshow of baby bumps at 19 to 21 weeks of pregnancy.

You should have had your anomaly scan, which takes place when you are between 18 weeks pregnant and 20 weeks pregnant, by now. For some women, the scan reveals that the placenta is lying low, over or near the cervix. This is called placenta praevia.

If you're found to have a placenta praevia, there's still time for the placenta to move up and away from the cervix in time for your baby's birth. You'll have another scan in your third trimester, however, just to be sure.

baby in body with uterus pushing against intestines

Your organs are getting squashed as your baby grows
Spider and varicose veins are caused by changes in your circulation

What you need to know

Is it a boy or a girl? If your scan couldn't make out which sex baby you're having these old wives' tales may give you some clues, if you believe in them!
You may be enjoying keeping up a fitness regime while you're pregnant, and exercise has many benefits, but be careful not to overdo things. Follow our tips for a safe workout.
If you have body piercings, do you need to remove them as your body changes?
Why might your gums be more prone to bleeding during pregnancy?
Are you having vivid dreams? Find out what they mean.