When you are currently pregnant and you actually are curious about the thought: 21 week pregnancy diet. You can find lots of valuable details on this kind of topic, as well as tips, advice, ideas, and answers for you to questions around being pregnant, suitable nutrition and diet plans.
In the 21st week of gestation, the development of the baby is marked by the beginning of the production of digestive enzymes by the pancreas that will be responsible for the digestion of food when the baby is born, and the eyelids that completely cover the eyes, begin to open.
In this phase of gestation, the baby already responds to external sounds, recognizes the voice of the parents and moves actively within the uterus where she has enough room to move.
During this week, symptoms of increased appetite, stuffy or stuffy nose, leg cramps, and frequent urination may continue, and swelling of the legs and feet may develop, as well as enlarged veins in the legs.
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Baby development
At the 21st week of gestation, the baby’s pancreas begins to produce pancreatic juice, which contains digestive enzymes that will be responsible for digesting carbohydrates, sugars, and fats from food when she is born. The intestine continues to grow and absorbs the nutrients from the amniotic fluid ingested by the baby, in addition to storing meconium, which is the baby’s stool, which is formed from 12 weeks until birth.
The baby’s eyes, which are already formed, are still covered by the eyelids, which begin to open and the baby already hears well and recognizes the voice of the parents, moving more and more when listening to external sounds. Since the baby still has a lot of space, she can move freely and change position several times a day.
In this phase of gestation, in addition to the liver, the baby’s bone marrow begins to produce red blood cells, which are the cells responsible for transporting oxygen to all organs, and white blood cells, which are part of the immune system of defense against infection.
If the baby is a girl, the uterus and vagina are already formed and, in the case of boys, the testicles begin to descend into the scrotum, making it possible to confirm the baby’s sex by ultrasound.
Baby’s size and weight
The size of the 21-week-old fetus is around 18.1 centimeters, equivalent to the size of a pomegranate. Your baby’s weight this week is approximately 398g.
Changes in the woman’s body
In the 21st week of pregnancy, due to the increase in the belly, it is normal to have a little difficulty sleeping, causing a little fatigue during the day, and symptoms of increased appetite, nasal congestion or stuffy nose , leg cramps and frequent urination may continue.
In this phase, the woman may also begin to present fluid retention and swelling in the feet and legs, in addition to the formation of small dilated blood vessels in the legs, which occur due to the increased volume of blood circulating in the body, weight gain, hormonal changes and the pressure of the uterus on the veins.
Care during the 21st week
In the 21st week of gestation, some cares are important to help alleviate the discomforts that may arise such as:
- Swelling in the legs and feet : keep the body hydrated, drinking at least 8 glasses of water a day to help improve blood circulation. In addition, it is recommended to sit or lie down with your feet at an elevated level, whenever possible, do exercise recommended by the doctor to help improve circulation and decrease the discomfort of swelling. However, if the swelling does not improve, starts suddenly, or has swelling in the hands and face, seek immediate medical help, as it may be a sign of preeclampsia. Learn more about preeclampsia and what the treatment is;
- Dilated blood vessels in the legs : not sitting or standing in one position for long periods of time, keeping moving whenever possible, and not crossing your legs when sitting, help to improve circulation and prevent the appearance of dilated blood vessels;
- Difficulty sleeping : sleeping with a pillow between your legs and lying on your side or in a position that the woman feels comfortable helps reduce discomfort that makes sleeping difficult.
During the entire pregnancy it is important to follow medical recommendations and continue taking the supplements indicated by the obstetrician, and also avoid the use of medications on your own.
In addition, you should practice physical activities directed by the doctor, such as swimming, water gymnastics or walking, and continue to eat a nutritious diet including fresh fruits, legumes and vegetables to provide the necessary nutrients for the development of the baby and control the increase in weight during pregnancy. Learn more about diet in pregnancy.
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