Week 21: Hiccups and flutters

Your baby — about the length of a carrot — is swallowing amniotic fluid, a gentle rehearsal for feeding after birth, and even experiencing REM sleep, which means they may be dreaming. Their bone marrow has taken over making blood cells, and their little digestive system is producing its first meconium.

You might start to notice a rhythmic, repetitive fluttering that isn’t quite a kick — that’s your baby hiccupping, completely normal and rather sweet. You may also feel the first Braxton Hicks: painless, irregular tightenings as your uterus practises. If they ever become regular or painful, give your midwife a call.

Many people find their hair and nails growing faster around now, thanks to pregnancy hormones — enjoy it while it lasts. Iron-deficiency anaemia is common at this stage, so your next blood test will usually check your iron levels.

It helps to know that Braxton Hicks are completely normal practice contractions — irregular, usually painless, and easing off if you change position or have a drink of water. True labour is regular and builds; so if tightenings ever become regular and painful, or come with bleeding or a gush of fluid while you’re still well before your due date, call your maternity unit. For everyday energy, keep your iron up with food (lean meat, legumes, leafy greens, plus a little vitamin C), since iron-deficiency anaemia is common around now and easily checked.

As your bump grows more prominent, you might start fielding unsolicited advice and belly-touching from all directions — it’s completely fine to set whatever boundaries feel right. Inside, your baby is increasingly responsive to sound and touch, so this is a sweet time to talk, sing, and let your partner chat to the bump too. Looking after your own sleep and energy matters as much as ever.

If you’re planning a public-hospital birth and haven’t registered yet, now’s a good time. It’s also worth asking about the Midwifery Group Practice model, which offers continuity of care from a known midwife.