At 21 weeks pregnant, your baby has reached a major sensory milestone: she can now taste, swallowing small amounts of amniotic fluid that carry the flavours of everything on your menu. Measuring around 10½ inches long and weighing approximately three-quarters of a pound, the baby's eyelids and eyebrows are forming, and her movements — twisting, kicking, and turning — are now strong enough to be unmistakable. For mothers, week 21 typically brings visible stretch marks, rapid hair and nail growth, and continued symptoms including backaches, bleeding gums, and varicose veins. Nutritionally, lemons are a particularly beneficial pregnancy food, offering folate to help prevent neural tube defects, potassium to reduce leg cramps, and Vitamin C — with a tablespoon of lemon juice delivering around 8% of the daily recommended intake for pregnant women — though those with severe heartburn or gastrointestinal discomfort should avoid them.
- At pregnancy week 21, the baby weighs around three-quarters of a pound and measures approximately 10½ inches in length.
- By week 21, a baby develops the ability to taste and can swallow small amounts of amniotic fluid.
- If the baby is a girl, her vagina begins developing during pregnancy week 21.
- The American Pregnancy Association states that lemon is effective in easing nausea associated with pregnancy.
- A single tablespoon of lemon juice delivers 7 grams of Vitamin C, which is approximately 8% of the daily recommended Vitamin C intake for pregnant women.
- Lemons contain limonoid compounds that are scientifically proven to help the body fight cancers of the lung, colon, mouth, breast, stomach, and skin.
- Folate found in lemons is known to help prevent the development of neural tube defects in the foetus.
Pregnancy Diary Week 21
Discover your pregnancy journey
Pregnancy Diary Week 21
This week is when your baby can start to taste!! By pregnancy week 21 you should stop doubting what’s happening inside your body when your baby is moving around. Find out what to expect this week and also learn about the nutritional benefits of lemons.
Discover
How your baby is growing
What you can expect at this time
A beneficial food for your pregnancy nutrition
Pregnancy Diary Week 21: How Is Your Baby Growing?
Her eyelids and eyebrows are now forming and if you are having a baby girl, her vagina is now developing.
This week, your baby begins to have a sense of taste. In fact, she can now swallow a bit of the amniotic fluid. This means that your baby also eats everything on your menu.
What you can expect
As the baby gets bigger every day, most likely you are now beginning to notice the presence of stretch marks. These purple, red and pink streaks are pretty normal during pregnancy because the tissues under the skin are torn due to the stretching skin. But of course, not all women have stretch marks. You can only have it if you have gained weight rapidly or your Mum had them when she was pregnant.
By this week, you can no longer mistake the baby’s movements for gas. Your baby is actually making a lot of movements in your body. You can now feel the baby twisting, kicking and turning inside the womb. Symptoms such as bleeding gums, backaches, varicose veins, hearty appetites and flatulence are still present. You can also notice that your hair and nails are growing at such a rapid rate.
Lemons For Pregnancy Nutrition
Lemons are a healthy food to eat during pregnancy unless you are suffering from severe heartburn or gastrointestinal discomfort. This citrus fruit brings a lot of vitamins and nutrients which are very beneficial not just to you, but to your baby as well. You can take int the benefits of lemons from the juice or include them in delicious marinades or dressings.
According to research, aside from the nutrients which lemons give, this fruit can also help with morning sickness. According to the American Pregnancy Association, lemon is effective in easing nausea which is associated with pregnancy. Eating, sucking or sniffing lemons can help a lot in easing queasiness.
Lemons are excellent sources of nutrients such as copper, magnesium, phosphorus, folate, manganese, thiamine, niacin, Vitamin B6, riboflavin and pantothenic acid. Folates or folic acid is known to be beneficial in preventing the development of neural tube defects in the foetus. On the other hand, potassium is an essential mineral which helps in regulating the balance of chemicals and fluids in the body, most especially when the body is expanding in such a rapid rate. Lack of potassium usually results to leg and muscle cramps.
A tablespoon of lemon juice actually delivers 7 grams of Vitamin C, which is around 8% of the daily recommended Vitamin C intake in pregnant women. Lemons are great sources of Vitamin C which is useful in boosting the immune system of the body. Aside from its ability to ward off illnesses, Vitamin C also plays a vital role in promoting tissue repair. Furthermore, it assists the process of cartilage, collagen and mental development.
Lemons contain compounds which can help in reducing one’s cravings for salt. When salt is taken excessively, it can result in blood pressure problems and swelling.
Lemons are also known for its antibiotic and antioxidant properties. Antioxidants play a vital role in inhibiting the division process of cancer cells. The fruit actually contains limonoid compounds which are scientifically proven to be effective in helping the body fight against cancers of the lung, colon, mouth, breast, stomach and skin.
PLEASE NOTE:
Though lemon is beneficial during pregnancy, pregnant women who experience severe heartburn and gastrointestinal discomfort should avoid taking this fruit as it can exacerbate their condition.
Pregnancy Diary Week 21
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DISCLAIMER
All articles on the blog and website are intended as information only. Please do not consider any of the information provided here as a substitute for medical advice. At all times seek medical advice directly with your own doctor and medical team.
ANNOUNCEMENT
This website was formerly Merrion Fetal Health. The clinic has undergone a rebrand and is now known as Merrion Ultrasound.
How big is a baby at 21 weeks pregnant?
At 21 weeks, a baby should be around three-quarters of a pound and approximately 10½ inches in length. The baby's eyelids and eyebrows are forming, and noticeable movements such as twisting, kicking, and turning are occurring inside the womb.
Can a baby taste food at 21 weeks pregnant?
Yes, at pregnancy week 21 a baby begins to develop a sense of taste and can swallow small amounts of amniotic fluid. This means the baby is effectively tasting whatever the mother eats.
What symptoms should I expect at 21 weeks pregnant?
At 21 weeks, common symptoms include stretch marks, bleeding gums, backaches, varicose veins, flatulence, and a hearty appetite. Rapid hair and nail growth are also frequently noticed at this stage.
Why do stretch marks appear during pregnancy?
Stretch marks appear during pregnancy because the tissues under the skin tear as the skin stretches to accommodate a growing baby. They are more likely to occur if weight has been gained rapidly or if the mother's own mother had stretch marks during pregnancy.
Are lemons safe to eat during pregnancy?
Lemons are generally safe and beneficial to eat during pregnancy unless you are experiencing severe heartburn or gastrointestinal discomfort, as the fruit can worsen those conditions. They can be consumed as juice, in marinades, or in dressings.
How do lemons help with morning sickness during pregnancy?
According to the American Pregnancy Association, lemons are effective in easing nausea associated with pregnancy. Eating, sucking, or sniffing lemons can help reduce queasiness.
What nutrients do lemons provide during pregnancy?
Lemons are sources of folate, potassium, Vitamin C, Vitamin B6, magnesium, phosphorus, copper, manganese, thiamine, niacin, riboflavin, and pantothenic acid. A tablespoon of lemon juice delivers 7 grams of Vitamin C, which is around 8% of the daily recommended intake for pregnant women.
Why is folate important during pregnancy?
Folate, also known as folic acid, is beneficial in preventing the development of neural tube defects in the foetus. Lemons are noted as a dietary source of folate alongside other key pregnancy nutrients.
How does potassium benefit pregnant women?
Potassium is an essential mineral that helps regulate the balance of chemicals and fluids in the body, which is especially important as the body expands rapidly during pregnancy. A lack of potassium can result in leg and muscle cramps.