21 Weeks

You are now 21 weeks pregnant (or in your 22nd week if that's how you prefer to count it).

Your baby now weighs about 360g. Up until now he has been measured from crown to rump but from this point on the measurement will be from crown to heel – and this week he is about 26.7cm long. Your baby’s eyebrows and eyelids are fully developed, and he can now blink. If you’re having a boy, testes will descend from the pelvis into the scrotum in the coming weeks.

Your baby can now hear your conversations. If you talk, read, or sing to your baby, expect him to hear you. Some studies have found that newborns will suck more vigorously when read to from a book they heard frequently in the uterus (womb). 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 your baby is here. It may be your baby's favourite bedtime story for a long time after birth.

You're probably feeling quite comfortable these days. This, in fact, may be the most enjoyable time in your pregnancy. You're not too big yet, and the usual aches and pains associated with pregnancy like nausea, frequent urination, and fatigue are for the most part gone. Relax and enjoy it while you can. The third trimester is just around the corner and with it comes mild discomfort from carrying a baby that is nearly full-term.

It's hard to be graceful when you're pregnant so don't be surprised if you find yourself getting more clumsy these days. You're carrying more weight, your centre of gravity has changed with your growing uterus, and your fingers, toes, and other joints are all loosening, thanks to the effect of pregnancy hormones. Try to watch where you're going, and if you haven't already done so, say goodbye to high heels. They make keeping your balance more difficult, and can cause backaches.

Just how much weight you will gain by the end of pregnancy may be preying on your mind. Doctors are much more relaxed about weight gain in pregnancy now. Take the same approach and give yourself a break. It's also best not to worry immediately about losing weight after you've had your baby as your body can take anything from a few months to a year to recover nutrients used up during pregnancy.