21 WEEKS PREGNANT

• Here, the baby-to-be is curled up with his/her leg tucked in and the arms covering the face, which is turned away.
• The baby may look scrawny now, but developmentally the baby is right on track.
• The bones, visible in this 3-D image, are continuing to harden and develop.

• Although your baby's eyelids are still properly shut, week 22 is huge for what happens in his/her eyes. The eyes have formed irises at this stage and his/her sense of light is getting better day by day.
• From this week onwards, your baby can not only hear sounds but also sense vibrations!
• At about 11 inches and weighing about 400 grams now, your baby's pancreas are producing essential hormones.
• In this week, along with the lungs, all the other organs are developing quite swiftly.
• Remember that whatever your baby is doing inside the womb is practice for the real world, which the baby will soon be a part of. For example, his/her acrobatic movements and kicks will help the baby crawl and eventually teach him/her how to walk, and the amniotic fluid that the baby is swallowing will help him/her chew and digest food once the baby starts eating.
• Your baby's taste buds have reached such an advanced phase that he/she can now decipher one flavor from the other. Yes, the baby can now make out if you are binge-eating a tub of ice cream or if you are hogging a packet of salted chips.
• When the baby is not moving around (kicking, playing with the umbilical cord), he is still catching up on hours and hours of beauty sleep.
• In the silent process of growing, he/she has developed fingernails or tiny fingers too.

• Leg cramps : Though it is quite common to have leg cramps at this stage, you may want to check your calcium or magnesium levels and modify your diet accordingly. Remember to have supplements regularly, as directed by your doctor. These cramps may get worse in the evenings. You could get a gentle leg massage done for some relief.
• Braxton Hicks contractions : Are you feeling those irregular, painless tightening sensations in your stomach? Known as Braxton Hicks contractions, they are just practice sessions for your uterus.
• Protruding navel : Are you not liking the sight of your protruding belly button? Don't worry. It's going to go back eventually, after delivery. News for you: it may be slightly bigger than what it used to be!
• Constipation : Constipated often? Focus on your dinner. Include high fibre food for dinner and go for a nice walk afterward. Do we need to remind you to drink plenty of water, we hope not!
• Heartburn or indigestion : Are you eating too many snacks? Or are you not exercising enough? Try to go easy on spicy and oily food and drink plenty of water. Exercise regularly without fail.

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• You may also have noticed another change about this time. Your breasts are probably starting to leak.
• Let's jog our memory back to a few weeks before wherein we spoke about colostrum. Colostrum is the thick, milk-like substance your breasts produce before they can start making milk.
• As your pregnancy progresses, so does the amount of colostrum. Hence, it is only natural that it leaks time and again.
• You may want to stock up on some breast pads now.
• However, don't worry if you don't see any leakage all through your pregnancy. That is also a normal scenario for many women.