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What happens to the baby at 22 weeks
By the 22nd week of pregnancy from conception, the baby is already fully formed. If a premature birth occurs at this time, then with the help of special equipment, the child will be able to leave.
The baby is no longer so actively somersaulting in the mother’s stomach, now he stays longer in a certain position, which at the end of the second trimester will become the main one and will be called presentation. However, the child is still active – he grabs the umbilical cord with his hands, feels everything that he can reach.
In moments of rest, the baby is already dreaming. His sleep takes from 16 to 20 hours a day. During periods of awakening, the baby learns information from the outside, he listens to the voices of his parents, the noise of technology, the barking of a dog. All this he gradually learns to distinguish. At the 22nd week of pregnancy from conception, all the sense organs function in the child, the central nervous system and the brain are improved. During this period, the formation of two parts of the brain – the middle and cerebellum ends. In fact, only light crumbs remain immature, because they do not have to actively work yet.
By week 22, the baby has completely filled the uterus, now it will not only grow, but also stretch.
Fetal ultrasound
For healthy women, there are no indications for fetal ultrasound at the 22nd week of pregnancy, however, there are a number of situations when doctors send the expectant mother for additional examinations.
Most often, the need for an ultrasound at 22 weeks of gestation occurs in those who carry two or more babies, in cases where the doctor suspects an insufficient length of the cervix or other conditions that are fraught with premature birth. For example, ultrasound will help to exclude intrauterine infections, which are determined by the state of the placenta and amniotic fluid.
Indications for an ultrasound examination can also be a woman’s complaints, for example, abdominal pain, spotting from the genital tract and other problems.
Photo life
At this time, the weight of the baby reaches 600 grams, and its height is about 30 cm. The size of the child is like a zucchini. However, this may not be noticeable in the photo of the abdomen at 22 weeks of gestation.
– The size of the tummy is a very individual indicator. It depends on the size of the baby, and on the location of the baby in the uterus, and on the growth of the expectant mother, and on the size of her pelvis. I can say that from 22 weeks from conception, the growth rate of the tummy will be faster, and the tummy itself will be more noticeable every week, the doctor explains obstetrician-gynecologist Ekaterina Tugai.
What happens to mom at 22 weeks
The bottom of the uterus at the 22nd week of pregnancy from conception is already 5 cm above the navel, and it is about 25 cm high. The growing uterus presses on the organs, so the chest expands so that the lungs can fill with air.
During this period, the doctor may order a woman’s blood sugar test to rule out gestational diabetes. It just manifests itself in the period from the 22nd to the 26th week of pregnancy from conception. Elevated sugar can complicate childbirth, and may even require a caesarean section.
During this period, it is important to visit your doctor every two weeks. This allows you to control the weight gain, pressure and heartbeat of the baby.
By the way, about the increase. Most likely, the expectant mother in the second trimester has already encountered the fact that the old clothes do not fit as we would like. It doesn’t matter if it’s a growing tummy, but it’s another matter if swelling is to blame. If your shins and face swell, it may be in the kidneys or gestosis is manifested in this way – a dangerous condition that requires hospital treatment.
What sensations can you experience in 22 week
At the 22nd week of pregnancy, a variety of changes occur with the expectant mother.
- A woman may notice that she has begun to sweat more. This is normal, try to drink water and wear breathable clothing.
- Unpleasant sensations in the legs and ankles will also not be news. With an increase in weight, the load on them increases, so give preference to comfortable shoes.
- Back pain. They often occur because the lower back sags under the weight of the uterus. If this causes discomfort, it is worth discussing with your doctor the possibility of buying a bandage. It will support the uterus and fetus in an elevated position, will reduce pressure on the pelvic organs and reduce the risk of stretch marks.
- Bladder problems – their source is the same – a growing uterus. Try to go to the toilet as soon as possible, do not be patient, as otherwise there is a risk of catching a bladder infection.
- Heartburn. To avoid it, doctors advise not to eat at bedtime and try to eat on a schedule and in a balanced way during the day.
Monthly
Blood discharge at the 22nd week of pregnancy from conception is a reason to call a doctor. At this time there are no objective reasons for their appearance, as, for example, in the first or at the end of the third. Bloody discharge can mean placenta previa or placenta ingrown, its premature detachment, the presence of a decidual polyp (occur during pregnancy), as well as rupture of blood vessels.
Often, the sensitivity of the cervix of the expectant mother is increased, so it is easy to “irritate” it during sex and a routine gynecological examination.
In any case, blood on linen is an alarm signal. If it is scarlet and you feel pain in the abdomen or lower back, pressure in the lower part of the pelvis – these may be hints of preterm labor.
Stomach ache
There are many reasons for abdominal pain at the 22nd week of pregnancy from conception, what exactly provokes discomfort, only a doctor can find out.
Firstly, the pain is sometimes not connected in any way, in fact, with the uterus. Often trouble delivers the digestive system – the stomach or intestines. Often in pregnant women, appendicitis worsens or problems with the kidneys and bladder make themselves felt. Sometimes pain provokes pinching of the sciatic nerve.
However, in some cases, pain is an alarming symptom of preterm labor. This is usually a sharp or prolonged pain in the abdomen, or aching pain in the lower back, or pain when urinating. If it is accompanied by spotting or clear watery discharge, immediately call an ambulance. There is no need to worry, even if premature birth occurs, at this time the baby is already viable.
Brown discharge
– Brown spotting at any stage of pregnancy is a reason to see a doctor. Of course, they can be different in volume, character, but only a specialist can understand their origin, – explains gynecologist Ekaterina Tugay.
The appearance of such discharge may indicate placental abruption, while the presence of watery discharge, especially abundant, may indicate leakage of amniotic fluid. You need to pay attention to the discharge with a curdled consistency, they serve as a sign of inflammation.
Popular questions and answers
By the 22nd week of pregnancy, and in fragile girls even earlier, the navel begins to grow. This is normal, as well as the reverse situation. After giving birth, everything will return to its place. Belly button pain is also common. It can be caused by stretched skin. If the pain is severe, there is a possibility of an umbilical hernia. As time goes on, the risk of its occurrence increases. There is nothing to be afraid of, you can cure a hernia with creams, a bandage and the right diet, which excludes the possibility of constipation.
There are other reasons for belly button pain. For example, weak abdominal muscles, so athletes have such complaints – a rarity. In addition, pain in the navel can provoke the intestines if peristalsis is disturbed in it. Eat vegetables and fruits to speed up digestion.
Are Panic Attacks During Pregnancy Dangerous?
If you are prone to panic attacks, try to visit a therapist, do breathing exercises and relax.
What pressure is considered normal during pregnancy?
In addition, physiological tachycardia is sometimes observed during pregnancy. The heart rate in women in late pregnancy can rise to 80-95 per minute, and this is normal.
Is it possible to have sex?
However, before you retire behind closed doors, consult your doctor. In some cases, active pleasures are contraindicated for pregnant women, in particular, if there is a threat of premature birth.
In addition, it is worth reconsidering the usual positions. Now it is better to give preference to poses where the pressure on the woman’s stomach will be minimal, for example, on the side, in the pose of a rider or washerwoman.
What to do if the temperature rises?
If the temperature rises sharply, call a doctor at home.
– If you have a high temperature, it is better to take an antipyretic (an agent containing paracetamol), this will alleviate your condition. If necessary, you can be referred to a specialized hospital (infectious diseases department, pulmonology department) for round-the-clock monitoring, as complications such as pneumonia often develop. The most effective way to protect yourself from the flu is to get vaccinated, and the second and third trimesters of pregnancy are the ideal time to get vaccinated, says the doctor.
What to do if it pulls the lower abdomen?
Sometimes pulling pain occurs due to pinching of the sciatic nerve. In this case, the best tactic would be to visit a doctor.
How to eat right?
No need to drastically change your diet, it is better to make it more balanced. To do this, you should include more vegetables in it, because they are sources of vitamins and trace elements. But potatoes are better to limit. You need to periodically eat fruits and berries, but without fanaticism – for example, bananas and grapes are recommended to be excluded, they have a lot of carbohydrates. Excellent sources of protein and iron are beef, veal, rabbit, lean pork. The diet should include chicken, turkey and quail meat. We must not forget about dairy products: cottage cheese, kefir, yogurt. An irreplaceable source of phosphorus, iodine and omega-3 is fish. It also stands close to the greens: dill, parsley.
It is useful to eat buckwheat and oatmeal. Of the liquid, water and compotes are the best choice – 1,5-2 liters per day. What is not recommended:
• alcohol;
• fast food;
• sweets;
• carbonated drinks.