21 weeks of pregnancy - this is how many months?

One of the important and responsible processes in the life of every woman is gestation. At the same time, the expectant mother always worries about her baby, thinks about him every minute. Let's take a closer look at such a gestation period as 21 weeks, and find out - how much it is in months, how the future baby develops on such a date and what the pregnant woman feels at this time.

How to calculate the time in months?

First of all, it is necessary to note the fact that often in determining the term the woman has difficulties. The thing is that young ladies because of active sexual life can not remember exactly the day when they thought that conception had occurred. In view of this fact, physicians rely on a parameter, such as monthly ones, when setting a time limit. The starting point for this is the first day of the last observed menstrual flow. The duration of pregnancy established in this way is usually called an obstetric term.

In addition, there is another nuance. For the simplicity of mathematical calculations, each calendar month is taken exactly 4 weeks, no more, no less.

Thus, given the above calculation algorithms, any pregnant woman will not be difficult to independently calculate how many months this is the period of 21-22 weeks of pregnancy. To do this, it is enough to divide by 4. As a result, it turns out that with this duration of the gestational process, 5 months and 1 or 2 obstetric weeks have passed from the beginning, respectively. It should be taken into account that the real age, or as it is called the embryonic period, is 2 weeks less. This difference arises from the fact that from the moment of the first day of menstruation to ovulation, in which the fertilization of the egg actually takes place, it takes an average of 14 days.

In order to make it easier to establish how much this is in the months - 21 weeks of pregnancy, a woman can use the table.

How does the fetus develop during this period?

Having dealt with how many months this is 21 weeks of gestation, we will consider the main changes that the future child undergoes on such a date.

First of all, it should be noted that by this time the fetus has grown considerably. On average, the growth of a future child at this time from the top to the heel is 25 cm (18 cm to the tailbone ). Its body weight is about 300 g.

Skin covers are covered with a large number of folds. As the small body grows, they will be smoothed out. This changes the color of the skin, in view of the increase in the subcutaneous fat layer. Now it has a reddish tinge.

In the oral cavity appear rudiments of the teeth, the formation of the facial part of the skull is completed: eyebrows, eyelashes are well distinguishable. By this time the fetus is actively blinking.

The process of forming organs is already over. At this stage, they are only improving. The organs of the endocrine system, such as the pancreas, the thyroid gland, the adrenal glands with the pituitary gland, are active.

Improvement of CNS activity is noted. By this time the fetus has already formed periods of wakefulness and rest.

The digestive system is also active. Swallowed amniotic fluid pass through it and then, falling into the intestine, form into meconium.

How does the expectant mother feel at this time?

At this time, doctors recommend to listen carefully to the movements of the baby. Usually they appear on the 4th month of pregnancy. But many, especially primitive mothers, feel them right now, because amplitude and frequency increase.

There is a gradual increase in the body weight of the pregnant woman. By this time she is gaining 4.5-6.5 kg.

In general, well-being is normal. Manifestations of toxicosis are already behind, and now a quiet period when a woman can enjoy her position.