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Congratulations! |
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You are in
Week 21 of Your Pregnancy |
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Size: 7.2 inches
Weight: 10.5 ounces
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| Source: "Improved birth weight table for neonates developed from gestations dated by early ultrasonography."
Journal of Ultrasound Medicine. |
Your Baby
The different organ systems developed during the crucial embryonic phase start to perform their duties, prepping the baby for survival outside the womb. During this week, your baby may start swallowing small amounts of amniotic fluid, absorbing most of the water, and passing the rest through to the large bowel.
You
How's your sex life? You may be wondering at this stage if having sex is safe for the baby. The answer is, yes, sex is perfectly safe throughout a normal pregnancy, but that doesn't mean you're feeling the love. Hormones, your added girth, and anxiousness about what lies ahead may all be affecting your libido. Take it easy on yourself and talk with your partner about how you're feeling.
You might also notice that your breasts have begun to leak a yellowish fluid. This nutrient rich fluid is called, "colostrum," and it's precursor to breast milk. Leakage during pregnancy happens to some women, and it's a perfectly normal.
