Week by Week Pregnancy, Weeks 21-24

During weeks 21 to 24, you are officially half way through your pregnancy! Your baby will grow to about 12 inches in length and 1 to 1-1/2 pounds in weight, increasing in size from a banana to that of a cantaloupe!

During these weeks, your baby's respiratory system is developing lung tissue & specialized cells, that secrete the substance needed for your baby to breathe on his or her own. Your baby can open & close its eyelids and has fingernails and toenails, too!

Most women begin to experience greater energy during this stage of pregnancy and find that it is a great time to start planning the baby's nursery!

While you may be feeling better overall, you may begin to notice fluid leaking from your breasts, have troubles sleeping, and develop leg cramps & stretch marks. Talk with your pregnancy doctor about these concerns as helpful solutions are often available.

Written by: Shelley Scheibel RN, BSN

References/Articles/Videos of Interest:

http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/pages/pregnancy-weeks-21-22-23-24.aspx
https://www.kpwomenshealth.org/maternity_care_20-24weeks.asp
http://www.countdownmypregnancy.com/pregnancy/week-24.php
http://pregnant.thebump.com/pregnancy-week-by-week/24-weeks-pregnant.aspx

                                                  Week by Week Pregnancy, Weeks 15-20

Congratulations! You are nearly half way through your pregnancy now! During weeks 15 and 20, your baby will grow from 4 inches to 7 inches and more than triple his or her weight from 2.5 ounces to 10 ounces! Your baby will grow from the size of a naval orange to that of a banana!

During this time, your baby's nervous system will rapidly mature as nerve connection between his or her brain and lower extremities develops. Read and sing to your baby, as sensory development of hearing is in full swing!

Around 18 to 20 weeks of pregnancy, two very exciting milestones will occur! First, you will feel fluttering, as your baby moves about, called "quickening." And, upon sonogram, your baby's gender can be revealed!

Written by: Shelley Scheibel RN, BSN

References/Articles/Videos of Interest:

http://pregnant.thebump.com/pregnancy-week-by-week/20-weeks-pregnant.aspx
http://www.babycenter.com/fetal-development-images-15-weeks