Pregnancy: 21 weeks

How the child grows:

Your child weighs 350 grams, and his height is 25 cm. You perfectly feel his movements, which, as he grows, intensify. The child already has eyebrows and eyelids.

Important: the development of each child is strictly individual. Our information is designed to give you an idea of the development of the fetus.

Changes of the future mother

You probably feel comfortable enough, since your stomach is not too large, and the symptoms of an early pregnancy do not bother you anymore. If you are feeling well, relax and enjoy this feeling. This does not mean that you will not experience some minor difficulties, for example, increased fat content of the skin, which contributes to the appearance of acne. If you have undergone such changes, try to thoroughly clean the skin with a special remedy. Do not take medicine to treat acne - some of them are dangerous during pregnancy.

At this stage, you are more prone to varicose veins. Pregnancy increases pressure on the veins of the legs, and a higher level of progesterone can aggravate the problem. Varicose veins are also caused by genetic factors and age category. To prevent or minimize varicose veins, you must perform daily exercise.

You may also have the so-called arachnoid hemangiomas (a group of tiny blood vessels on the surface of the skin), especially on the ankles, legs, and face. Although they do not look aesthetically pleasing, spider-like hemangiomas do not cause discomfort and usually disappear after birth.

3 Questions about ... Sex during pregnancy

• Is it acceptable to crave sex during pregnancy?

Some pregnant women notice increased libido during pregnancy. Increased blood flow to the pelvic area, increased sensitivity to stimulation and increased volume of vaginal lubrication due to hormonal changes, contribute to the emergence of sexual desire. As one future mother told BabyCenter, "Hormones turned me into a sex machine! It seems I want sex more often." It is also quite natural for a complete lack of sexual desire. If you experience discomfort, tenderness, and seem unattractive to yourself, all this can affect your sexual appetite.

• What poses are most comfortable during pregnancy?

More than 75 percent of future parents who participated in the survey said they experimented with various postures during pregnancy. The favorite for most couples was the position "on the side".

• Are there prohibitions on sex during pregnancy?

You should refrain from sexual intercourse, in the event of the following conditions or symptoms:

• placenta previa
• prematurity
• unexplained vaginal bleeding or discharge
• abdominal cramps
• cervical insufficiency
• enlarged neck

You should also give up sex if you or your partner has herpes. Avoid sexual contact with a partner for the entire third trimester, if your partner had herpes earlier, even if no symptoms have been identified. The same applies to oral sex. And, finally, give up sexual contact if you or your partner has any other sexually transmitted infection. There are other situations when the doctor leading the pregnancy will advise abstinence from sexual intercourse.

This Week's Activity: Create a gift list. Even if you do not like the idea of ordering gifts, your friends and relatives will still ask you about them. Preparing a list of gifts will save you from unnecessary waste of time for further discussions and from unnecessary gifts.

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