Week 21 Size: Carrot
About the length of a long carrot.
Relative Visual Scale
Solid circle represents your baby's size. Dotted circle shows the full-term week 40 size threshold.
Baby's Development
The baby's movements are transitioning from reflex-like flutters to deliberate kicks and nudges. The baby's taste buds are developed, and they can taste the flavors of the foods you eat through the amniotic fluid.
Weekly Milestones
- ✦ Taste Buds Functioning
- ✦ Deliberate Movement
Your Body & Symptoms
You might feel generally comfortable, but stretch marks may start appearing. Varicose veins and spider veins can show up due to pressure on pelvic veins.
Common Symptoms this Week
Doctor & Care Recommendations
- ✓ Wear support hose if you develop varicose veins.
- ✓ Eat a wide variety of healthy foods to introduce different flavors to your baby.
- ✓ Avoid standing for long periods without moving.
PregWeeks
CHECKLISTUltimate Hospital Bag & Birth Plan
Print-Ready PDFThe Ultimate Hospital Bag Checklist & Birth Plan PDF
Prepare for labor with confidence. Our doctor-reviewed checklists ensure you don't forget any newborn or partner essentials in the hospital delivery room.
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Weekly Health Guides & Resources
Second Trimester Guide
Read comprehensive clinical milestones, screening checklists, and developmental guidelines for this phase.
Track & Relieve Symptoms
Learn why symptoms occur, home remedies, and clinical indicators for this week:
Food Safety Checklists
Verify safety statuses, listeria and mercury risks, and safe alternatives for:
Frequently Asked Questions: Week 21
Evidence-Based Clinical Sources for Week 21
PregWeeks is dedicated to medical transparency. Every milestone, symptom tip, and fetal development guideline for Week 21 is sourced directly from clinical guidelines published by leading obstetric authorities. Read more about our editorial methodology on our Medical Sources page.
Prenatal Diagnostic Testing for Genetic Disorders (Practice Bulletin No. 162)
ACOGClinical recommendations for mid-pregnancy screening options, including the anatomy ultrasound scan commonly scheduled between weeks 18 and 22.
View Clinical Guideline ↗Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (Practice Bulletin No. 190)
ACOGPractice standards for screening and diagnosing gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), typically scheduled between weeks 24 and 28.
View Clinical Guideline ↗Implementing a Gestational Diabetes Screening Protocol (Committee Opinion No. 798)
ACOGStandardized protocols for glucose screening tests to detect gestational diabetes and optimize maternal-fetal metabolic health.
View Clinical Guideline ↗Get weekly pregnancy updates
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