Pregnancy week 21: symptoms, baby size and tips
Welcome to pregnancy week 21, a beautiful stage of your second trimester. Your baby is now roughly the size of a carrot, measures about 27 centimetres and you can feel their movements more clearly every day. Something magical is happening too: they’re starting to taste what you eat. Let me walk you through it, as always ❤️.
If you’re coming from pregnancy week 20, you’re doing great. And if you want the full journey at hand, check out our pregnancy week by week guide.
What is pregnancy week 21?
As always, pregnancy weeks are counted from the first day of your last period (LMP), not from conception. In week 21 you’re about 19 weeks past fertilisation, you’re closing your fifth month of pregnancy (weeks 18 to 21) and you’re still in the middle of the second trimester, which runs from week 13 to 28.
For many women, this is one of the most enjoyable phases of pregnancy: your bump has a clearly visible rounded shape, your energy tends to come back after the first trimester and your baby’s movements become a daily joy. There are still a few weeks before the bump feels heavier, so it’s a great time to enjoy it.
How is your baby developing in week 21?
Your little one keeps growing and maturing at full speed:
- They’re bigger and heavier: now about 27 centimetres from head to toe and weighing around 350 grams — roughly a large carrot.
- They taste what you eat: through the amniotic fluid, your baby begins to pick up the flavours of your food. It’s the start of their future taste preferences.
- Their hearing keeps improving: they now perceive your voice, your heartbeat and outside sounds. Talking to them and playing gentle music is lovely.
- They practise breathing: although they still get oxygen through the cord, they rehearse breathing and swallowing movements with the amniotic fluid.
- Their eyebrows and eyelids are formed: and their eyelashes are starting to appear. Their face is more and more defined.
- They move with strength: kicks, stretches and rolls that you now notice clearly, especially when you’re resting.
- They get hiccups sometimes: that rhythmic “tap-tap” in your belly is your baby practising swallowing. It’s a sign their nervous system is maturing.
If you haven’t yet, remember your hCG level is still reliable and you can take our free online pregnancy test to get a sense of your symptoms, and if you fancy a bit of fun, try our
