How does my baby grow at 21 weeks?

At this point, your baby is around 26.7cm long (the size of a carrot) and weighs around 350g (the weight of 5 pitta breads).

Around this time, your baby is becoming heavier than the placenta. The placenta essentially works by providing food to your baby and removing waste. It will continue to grow alongside your baby during pregnancy.

Capillaries, which are small blood vessels, are forming under your baby’s skin. Alongside this, their eyebrows are getting thicker, they will continue to develop a layer of fine lanugo hair, and their lips are becoming more distinct.

What do I need to know about being 21 weeks pregnant?

At 21 weeks of pregnancy, your baby's digestive system is starting to work as he or she starts to swallow amniotic fluid and pass it through the intestines. This process helps your baby's intestines develop and prepare for the digestion of breast milk after birth. Having said that, the main source of nutrition for your baby will remain the placenta. This is why it is recommended that you eat a balanced and varied diet to expose your baby to a range of different flavours and nutrients.

At this stage, if you haven’t had a recent ultrasound scan, it’s time to make sure you have one booked soon, as this is a good point in your pregnancy to check on your baby’s development.

What Does My Pregnancy Look Like at Twenty-One Weeks?

Your baby’s progress, symptoms, and more about being 21 weeks pregnant.