Second Trimester 1^stTrimester     3^rd Trimester

The baby is regularly swallowing the amniotic fluid in increasing amounts.

Fingernails are beginning to grow. There's no danger of the baby scratching himself, since his skin is covered in vernix, a protective waxy coating.

At 21 weeks the average crown to heel length is 9.7 in (24.5 cm) and the average weight is 8.8 oz (240 g).

In girl babies the ovaries have descended from the abdomen into the pelvis.

The developing brain is picking up electrical signals from the baby's body about sensations such as pressure and temperature. At this stage, a baby's nervous reactions are not conscious but simply reflexes.

Not all women happily accept their changing body shape, even though they're overjoyed to be pregnant. But a belly "bump" doesn't have to mean frump. You've got a good excuse to treat yourself to a few attractive maternity clothes or to indulge in some pampering, perhaps by having a gentle massage. Keep up your exercise routine, because you'll feel energized and all the better for it.

Excerpted from Pregnancy Day by Day.
Copyright © 2009 Dorling Kindersley Limited.
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