How big is my baby at 21 weeks?

Bringing a child into this world is not only a thrilling but an intriguing experience as well. It is but natural for every expectant mother to be curious about the development of her little angel, the baby developing within her womb. As an expectant mother completes the first half of her pregnancy term, she eagerly asks the question – ‘How big is my baby at 21 weeks?’

At 21 weeks pregnant, baby size may differ from child to child as this is mainly influenced by the body mass index and stature of the parents as well as the nutritional intake of the mother. The size of a baby at 21 weeks is approximately the size of a small, frail doll. During the first half of pregnancy, babies are measured from the crown to the rump as it is very difficult to get an accurate picture of the baby’ length from crown to heels because the baby is in a curled by position at all times. At 21 weeks of gestation, the baby is measured from crown to heels and is generally 10.5 inches or 27 centimeters long. At 21 weeks, a fetus’ weight would be approximately 12.70 ounces or 360 grams. After 21 weeks, baby weight begins increasing immensely. From now on, the organs that were formed in the initial half of pregnancy start growing and maturing further. A layer of fat begins to form below the skin. This fat will act as an insulating layer once the baby is born. This layer of fat ensures that the baby’s body temperature does not fluctuate once the baby is exposed to climatic conditions outside the womb. The baby’s facial features are forming and the baby looks cuter by the day. A slimy whitish layer begins to coat the baby. This layer protects the baby’s skin from damage caused by being surrounded by amniotic fluid throughout the day and night. It also helps in easy passage through the cervix at the time of delivery. The digestive system begins functioning to some extent and the baby takes in amniotic fluid. The small intestine absorbs small quantities to sugar from the ingested fluid. The heart continues to become stronger. At 21 weeks, the bone marrow takes up its responsibility of producing blood cells. Prior to this, this job was left to the spleen and the liver. The baby’s movements become more prominent. Most pregnant women experience this in the form of a fluttering sensation and soon the baby’s movements begin to mimic the action on a football field. Nevertheless, all these experiences are worth cherishing.

Submitted by N on April 1, 2011 at 07:38

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