21 Weeks pregnant

I always advise my clients that it is advisable that there is no need to ‘eat for two’ at any stage of pregnancy. In fact you don’t really need extra calories until the third trimester (and even then only 200 kcal extra per day). Depending on your weight and BMI at your visit you will have been advised on what is a healthy weight gain⁷ in pregnancy. For most women this is between 10-12 kg through the entire pregnancy. So, by week 21 you might have gained 4-5kg on average. However if you started pregnancy either underweight or overweight, you will need individualized advice from your healthcare professionals.

It may seem incredible, but you baby can now hear you at 21 weeks! So, it’s a good time to start talking to your baby⁸ and even singing a song or two⁹. Remember your baby will think you have the best voice in the world – so don’t feel shy – it’s a great way of bonding with your baby. He or she is also starting to develop fine downy hair called lanugo¹⁰, and eyebrows and is swallowing the water in the sac called amniotic fluid.

It’s not unusual to not have felt definite movements of your baby by 21 weeks, especially if this is your first pregnancy or if the placenta has implanted anteriorly (at the front of the womb). If you work or have other children to look after, you might just be too busy in the day to notice movements. It’s common to feel them first at night when you are in bed – initially they may feel like trapped wind or infrequent flutters or ‘pops’, but they become more distinctive overt he next 2-4 weeks. It’s common to feel the movements earlier in subsequent pregnancies – your abdominal muscles are more lax and you also know what they feel like.

This is a good time to think about antenatal classes and book them in. If you want to try Hypnobirthing, you need to book your classes as the best time to start is 23-24 weeks. You also need to plan when you are going to have the Whooping Cough vaccination recommended for all pregnant women to protect their babies after they are born. It’s really important to have a check-up at your dentist too - dentists recommend that you get your regular examinations and dental cleaning throughout your pregnancy as needed. The hormonal changes of pregnancy can cause your gums to swell and become irritated more easily. These preventative appointments are important to keep potential gum disease and infections at bay as they have been shown to be associated with a higher risk of preterm birth.

You will probably need to get your MatB1 form from your midwife or GP if you are employed in order to claim your maternity pay¹¹ – now is a good time to submit it to your employer.

Regular exercise and a healthy diet¹² are so important during pregnancy, and as your third trimester approaches they help to keep you feeling more fit and active, with less swelling and bloating. If your bowels become an issue, it might be a good idea to consider taking probiotic capsules. These might also help your immune system.

You should also have a discussion with your midwife or doctor about the Covid vaccination, as the risk of Covid making you ill or affecting your birth and baby is higher in the third trimester. This decision aid might help to clarify how you feel