21 Weeks Pregnant

Seasonal allergies may not be to blame for all that nasal congestion you've been experiencing. Alas, starting in the second trimester, a stuffy nose is a common pregnancy symptom — one that tends to stick around until delivery.

To clear your nasal passages, use your thumb to close one nostril, while gently blowing out the other. Then, repeat on the other side. If you're really stuffed up, ask your doctor if there's a safe OTC decongestant or antihistamine you can use.

Finding it harder to tie your shoes than usual? Swollen feet and ankles may be to blame. Because your body has about 50 percent more blood and fluid than it did pre-baby, your extremities are more prone to swelling. So be sure to clock in a few sit-and-elevate sessions throughout the day.

Chances are your practitioner advised you on your target weight gain at your first prenatal appointment — and that it was calculated based on a number of factors, including what your pre-pregnancy weight and BMI were.

Your practitioner probably also talks to you at every visit about where you are on that upward curve — and where you should aim to be.

If you've been instructed to gain the standard 25-to-35-pound total in your pregnancy, by this week you're likely to have gained anywhere from 10 to 16 of those pounds.

If you raced past that number weeks ago, or are gaining faster than your practitioner recommended, you'll want to slow down. And if you’re not gaining enough, you'll want to speed things up. Ask your doctor or midwife for tips.

Is your plumbing clogged? Then start walking for exercise. Both during pregnancy and in those first postpartum weeks, physical activity like a brisk walk is one of the best ways to stimulate your bowels and fight constipation.

Just a half-hour walk a day can do the trick, especially if you drink plenty of water and favor fiber-rich foods. Just remember to take some trail mix when you hit the trail. And even if you’re not doing it to relieve constipation or other pregnancy symptoms, walking is a great way to get the exercise you need when you’re pregnant.

Your legs, armpits, bikini line and upper lip may be hairier than usual due to all those raging hormones. But think twice before you turn to lasers, electrolysis, depilatories and bleaching.

No reliable studies have been done to determine for sure whether these popular hair-removal and lightening treatments are harmful or not, but it's probably best to skip them until after you give birth.

Take heart, though — you may pluck or shave to your heart's content. Even waxing is fine if your skin's not too sensitive. That's not making you feel better? Chin up — you're more than halfway to the finish line!

It's not a lack of sleep that's causing you to forget where you put your keys (though that certainly doesn't help). Brain fog is a common pregnancy symptom, and causes forgetfulness and trouble concentrating.

Since so-called “pregnancy brain” could well be here to stay for the remainder of your pregnancy, now's the time to start making to-do lists, leaving notes for yourself in obvious places and outsourcing some of your regular tasks to your partner or non-pregnant friends and family.

Emphasis on “empty.” You still want to consume enough nutrients to keep your baby fed and growing. After all, the idea isn't to lose weight — losing weight is always a bad idea when you're pregnant — it’s to eat a healthy diet and keep your weight gain slow and steady.

Easy, nutritious strategies, like substituting fresh fruit for dried, baked potatoes or yams for French fries, and grilled white-meat chicken with no skin for fried dark meat with skin, can make a big difference.

Other calories that can go? The ones you'll find in sugary treats.