Pregnancy And Baby Care Articles Pregnancy Week By Week

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...Having passed through the formative stage of development, the baby will now start putting on weight, as a result of the formation of body fat. A 21 weeks fetus begins to look more and more like a little person as the body begins to fill-up.

At 21 weeks pregnant, fetal movement can be felt. Women who have been pregnant before are known to feel these butterfly-like movements around the 18th week of pregnancy. In the case of first time moms, these fluttering movements are experienced around the 20th or 21st week of pregnancy. Ultrasound scans may show the baby swimming in the amniotic fluid or moving its limbs, if the baby is not resting.

21 weeks fetal development sees the baby’s bone marrow producing red blood cells. Prior to this, the baby’s liver and spleen were performing this crucial function. The baby begins to swallow small amounts of amniotic fluid. The small intestine begins to absorb a small portion of sugars from the ingested fluid. A protective layer forms on the skin. This prevents damage caused by continuous exposure to amniotic fluid. It also protects the baby from the dangers of sudden exposure to air and external factors on birth. An ultrasound at 21 weeks of gestation can also reveal if the baby is a girl or a boy. 21 weeks fetal development also includes the development of the baby’s ability to hear sounds and voices outside the womb. A baby is believed to start recognizing its mother’s voice from this early stage. Reading stories as well as playing soft music for the baby is believed to have long-term benefits. Babies get used to listening to music and after birth; this music can be used to soothe them or to ensure that they sleep comfortably.

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