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The 22nd week of pregnancy may be the moment when the forgotten symptom from the first trimester of pregnancy returns – constant visits to the bathroom. Find out how your baby is developing at week 22 and what to expect from your own body.
The baby now measures approximately 28 cm from the top of the head to the feet. It weighs about 450 kg. Although such large newborns are rare, a baby can weigh as much as ten times as much at the time of birth. So imagine how much your belly will grow even more.
And in the 22nd week of pregnancy, he is still big. At this stage, the navel usually looks a bit different, although it is not fully protruding yet. This is natural because the uterus is already about 2 cm above it. You are inevitably approaching the third trimester of pregnancy, which is the most “stressful” trimester, and you are already beginning to feel that you are carrying extra pounds with you. Use this time as much as possible to relax and exercise. Over time, it will become more and more difficult for you to actively rest.
22rd week of pregnancy – baby’s development
By the 22nd week of pregnancy, the baby is so fit and aware of its movements that it touches its face. It also grabs and pulls the umbilical cord, and if it has a twin, it also hooks its siblings.
Although the fetus already has a beautifully shaped face, the sight of it in the 22nd week of pregnancy might be a bit shocking. The baby is completely covered with fine hairs (lanugo) and fetal fluid. Additionally, his skin feels a bit tight and loose. Your baby’s appearance will change significantly as they gain more body fat, which will keep them from becoming thin.
For some time now, red blood cells have been formed in the bone marrow, and not in the spleen and liver as before. Now is the time to produce another blood component, white blood cells, which are part of the immune system. Interestingly, the white blood cells that your baby produces are not his only weapon against infections. She will also get some of the antibodies from her mother.
The liver, freed from the production of erythrocytes, takes on new functions in the 22nd week of pregnancy, including metabolizing bilirubin. It is a compound that is formed when red blood cells break down. The tiny liver, however, cannot cope with all the bilirubin. This will continue until the end of pregnancy, and as a result the baby will be slightly yellowed (physiological jaundice).
The 22nd week is also a moment of intensive development of the pancreas, which begins to produce hormones more and more efficiently.
By the 22nd week of pregnancy, the fetal eyeballs are already quite well formed, but still remain closed. The iris is still pigmentless.
At this stage of pregnancy, the baby already has a characteristic rhythm of sleep and wakefulness. Interestingly, it sleeps more or less as long as a newborn, i.e. about 14 hours. If you are concerned about your baby’s lack of movement, and it feels like it is taking an unusually long time, you can find out if everything is okay by trying to wake your baby up. The baby usually reacts to a gentle tapping on the stomach or a cool shower.
22st week of pregnancy – changes in your body
You are 22 weeks pregnant, which means that the bottom of the uterus is already about 2 cm above the navel. This causes the appearance of the navel itself to change, as it is “pushed” from the inside. Not all pregnant women have protruding navels, but it is quite common.
This, however, is the smallest problem with a growing uterus. It expands in all directions – it presses against the diaphragm at the top and against the bladder at the bottom. For this reason, you may find it difficult to catch your breath even with gentle exertion. In this case, try to sit down and rest for a while. On the other hand, there is no way you can deal with the bladder. The more advanced the pregnancy becomes, the more the uterus will press against it, which means reducing its volume and frequent visits to the toilet.
In the 22nd week of pregnancy, problems with the digestive system may also increase. Constipation, flatulence and heartburn often accompany a woman throughout her pregnancy. The best remedy for these ailments is to eat smaller meals regularly. In addition, the diet must contain a lot of fiber. Improving digestion is also beneficial on other fronts, as it minimizes the risk of developing haemorrhoids.
You may also experience increased secretion all the time. In the 22nd week of pregnancy, increased vaginal discharge is the norm. There is also a chronic runny nose.
You’re getting heavier and heavier, which means your skeletal system is under more stress. This translates not only into back pain, but also into problems with the feet and ankles. The joints are loosened in them due to the action of relaxin, which further contributes to their deformation. In the 22nd week of pregnancy, you may start experiencing foot pains that are a harbinger of flat feet. Consult your doctor about this, he may recommend wearing special insoles or exercising to reduce deformity.
Backaches in the 22nd week of pregnancy can be very severe. In order to alleviate them, you can try special exercises for pregnant women – those in water work especially well. However, if the classes do not help you, ask your doctor about the possibility of implementing rehabilitation.
Especially important in the 22st week of pregnancy
Hair and nails strengthen during pregnancy. Unfortunately, unwanted hairs often show up on parts of the body where they weren’t there before. They can grow on the face and even on the stomach. The comforting fact is that you should get rid of them completely after pregnancy. For now, remember not to use chemical or mechanical depilation to remove them. Both cosmetic ingredients and physical pain can be bad for your baby. Bet on an ordinary razor.
Tests in the 22st week of pregnancy
The 22nd week of pregnancy is the last moment when a half ultrasound is recommended – you should have it done before it is over.
In special cases, the doctor may decide that an ultrasound should be accompanied by cardocentesis. This test takes a fetal blood sample from the umbilical cord. However, cardocentesis is performed only if the first ultrasound showed fetal defects.
An interesting fact about the 22nd week of pregnancy
Do you think your uterus is big now? By the end of pregnancy, it will increase many times more and reach the size of a large watermelon. After giving birth, it will decrease steadily, and the whole process will take about six weeks
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