Pregnancy Guide: Symptoms of 22 weeks pregnant and the development of your baby inside your womb

At 22 weeks you’re in the second trimester of your pregnancy, know the development of your baby and the changes you might experience in this stage.

22 weeks pregnant: How big is your baby?

22 weeks pregnant: How big is your baby?

At 22 weeks pregnant, your baby is about 27.8 cm long and 430 g in weight. That is about the size of a papaya and weighs the same as five tangerines.

The baby now has eyebrows, eyelashes, lips, and fingernails. Moreover, because the lungs are still developing, your unborn baby will practice breathing while still in your womb. Amniotic fluid is currently being consumed by your baby in small volumes. This usually stays in the bowels and finally leaves after birth as meconium — sticky, dark feces.

Your baby is also experimenting with touch and honing their coordination when they glide their hands over their own face or clutch the umbilical cord. You would see the baby reacting to light and sound from outside your abdomen around 22 weeks.

22 weeks pregnant in months

You are about five months pregnant, despite the fact that your growth is described by doctors in terms of weeks rather than months.

Pregnancy Week 22: Your baby’s development

In this week-by-week pregnancy guide, you’ll learn that:

• Your baby looks more like a newborn, with developed eyes and lips.
• His gums are already developing little tooth buds.
• His organs continue to grow, while his pancreas is producing important hormones.
• If you are having a daughter, her vagina is fully developed by now.
• He has a developed pattern of sleep and wake cycles–can you believe it?

22 weeks pregnant symptoms

You should feel generally well at 22 weeks pregnant. There are still a few common symptoms, though, that you might be experiencing now. According to NHS UK, during the first 22 weeks of pregnancy, you might experience:

1. Abdominal Pain

At 22 weeks pregnant, abdominal pain is typical, but it can also occasionally be very terrifying. Both dull and achy ache and severe, stabbing pain are possible symptoms.

2. Bloating and Constipation

You can experience greater gas and constipation at this time because of the increased progesterone levels. Your bowel is also put under extra pressure as your uterus expands. A balanced diet and regular exercise can help with this.

3. Varicose Veins

Pregnancy-related varicose veins are a common issue.

• The venous smooth muscle relaxes as a result of progesterone. Progesterone stabilizes the uterus by relaxing smooth muscles. This directly influences venous function.
• An increase in intravascular pressure that results in venous hypertension forces blood from the deep to the superficial venous networks.

To reduce your risk of getting varicose veins, try to use compression stockings as often as you can. Additionally, raise your feet for a few minutes at least once a day.

4. Dizziness

In the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, the body’s natural chemical balance and hormone levels usually return to normal. However, due to hormonal changes, you may still feel unwell at 22 weeks pregnant.

5. Leg cramps or round ligament pains

Image from Shutterstock

Cramping at 22 weeks pregnant is frequently a regular pregnancy symptom. Cramping occurs frequently during the 22nd week due to pain in the round ligament.

The uterus is maintained in an anteverted position by the circular ligament (the position of the uterus when its fundus is turned forward). When it extends, you could feel a sharp, stabbing pain in your lower belly.

6. Diarrhea

Having diarrhea during 22 weeks of pregnancy is also possible. You can develop sensitivity to particular foods as a result of the changes in your body.

Additionally, diarrhea might indicate that labor is about to begin. However, the combination of nausea, diarrhea, and abdominal discomfort may be a sign of dangerous illnesses like appendicitis or cholecystitis. If you’re having unusual diarrhea, consult your doctor immediately.

7. Pelvic pressure

Gravity is at work, your blood volume is increasing, and your baby is growing — all of the aforementioned are the cause of the pelvic pressure you are starting to feel.

The best thing to do is to lie on your side and try to focus on your breathing. Try to differentiate between pelvic pressure and pelvic pain.

If you are experiencing discomfort rather than pressure, walking will be difficult for you. In this circumstance, you must speak with your doctor right away.

8. Braxton Hicks Contractions

It is normal to experience false contractions, also known as Braxton Hicks contractions, during this point in the pregnancy. Typically, they are feeble or start out strong before becoming weaker. Braxton Hicks contractions feel like a tightening in your lower belly, beginning in the upper part of the uterine muscles and spreading downward.

9. Increase in libido

Around week 22, some pregnant moms notice an increase in their libido. That is a result of how out of control your hormones are right now.

10. Increased vaginal discharge

Changes in vaginal discharge are usual when you’re 22 weeks pregnant because of the increased blood flow. As a result, the vaginal discharge might increase in frequency. However, you should visit a doctor right away if you notice that the color or smell of your vaginal discharge has changed because this could be a sign of an infection.

A protein called fetal fibronectin may also be seen in the vaginal discharge. Fetal fibronectin is used to eliminate preterm labor. Fetal fibronectin is screened between weeks 22 and 34 of pregnancy in order to rule out preterm labor, especially for pregnant women who are at higher risk.

Other 22 weeks pregnant symptoms include:

• Tiredness and sleeping problems
• Headaches
• Backaches
• Stretch marks swollen and bleeding gums
• Heartburn and indigestion
• Urine and vaginal infections
• Chloasma

22 weeks pregnant ultrasound

Image from Shutterstock

Between 18 and 22 weeks is often the time that the Level 2 ultrasound is performed. In the 22 weeks pregnant ultrasound, you can see all of the baby’s major organs and other body parts.

Pregnancy Week 22: Pregnancy Care

• While travelling, take adequate precautions, especially when travelling via air.
• Keep your posture right and support your aching back using a cushion.
• If the swelling in your hands and feet makes wearing rings uncomfortable, remove accessories or jewelry for the time being.
• Wear comfortable footwear with sturdy soles to accommodate your growing feet.

Pregnancy Week 22: Your Checklist

Image from Shutterstock

• A variety of healthful meals, such as fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy products, legumes, whole-grain bread, fish, and lean meats, should be included in your daily menu. Make sure to drink enough water, and don’t consume more than 200 mg of caffeine per day.
• Visit your gynecologist regularly to monitor your baby’s growth.
• Enjoy your lustrous hair. In most women, pregnancy hormones make the hair thicker and glossier than usual.
• Don’t overdo it with work. Stress doesn’t do good things to mom and baby!
• Take your vitamins. Prenatal vitamins provide you with the essential vitamins and minerals you require. Taking the necessary vitamins also reduces the incidence of various birth defects.
• If you smoke, you need to stop right away. Smoking increases your chance of miscarriage and a number of other health issues associated with pregnancy (premature labor as well as low birthweight).
• Stop drinking alcohol. Alcohol can cause fetal alcohol syndrome, or FAS, which affects how your baby’s brain develops. Later, the FAS causes problems with behavior, development, and mental health.

Your next week: 23 weeks pregnant

Your previous week: 21 weeks pregnant

Additional information from Margaux Dolores

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