Your Baby in week 21
Your Baby in week 21:
The amniotic fluid that has cushioned and
supported your baby in the uterus now serves
another purpose. The intestines have developed
enough that small amounts of sugars can be
absorbed from the fluid that is swallowed
and passed through the digestive system to
the large bowel. Almost all of your baby's
nourishment, however, still comes from you
through the placenta.
Until now your baby's liver and spleen
have been responsible for the production
of blood cells. But now the bone marrow
spaces are developed enough to contribute
to blood cell formation as well, and bone
marrow will become the major site of blood
cell production in the third trimester
and after birth. The spleen will stop
producing blood cells by week 30, and
the liver will stop a few weeks before birth.
What's going on with You:
Is exercise safe during pregnancy? Exercise can be
a great way to stay in shape during pregnancy and
can even keep some symptoms — such as varicose
veins, excessive weight gain, and backache —
to a minimum. But pregnancy is not the time to
start training for a triathlon — going slowly
is the name of the game. Because ligaments
become more relaxed during pregnancy, you're
at higher risk for injury, so low- or
non-impact exercise such as yoga, swimming,
and walking are your best bets.
Talk to your health care provider
before beginning any exercise program
while you're pregnant.
next week 22
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