Week 21

21 weeks

At 21 weeks Rylan is almost a pound in weight and about 12.2 inches long!! ( No wonder I'm getting bigger!) He swallows at least several ounces of amniotic fluid each day — not only for hydration and nutrition, but also to practice swallowing and digesting — skills he will need as soon as he arrives in my arms. The taste of the amniotic fluid differs from day to day depending on what I've eaten (spicy tacos, sweet carrots another). And that smorgasbord of tastes won't be lost on Rylan. That's because he has very developed taste buds already. In fact, researchers have noted that babies who were exposed to certain tastes in utero via the amniotic fluid were much more eager to eat foods with that same taste after birth. So if I want him to eat his broccoli later, I've got to eat mine now! Rylan still has a great deal of room in the womb - although like anyone who lives in one space for a long time, this tenant will soon begin to feel cramped. Until those uterine walls start closing in, however, there's plenty of space for twisting, turning, and even an occasional somersault ( that's what I was feeling last night!). He still sleeps about 12-14 hours a day and then he moves most of the other 10 hours of the day. It's a wonderful feeling though!