22 Weeks Pregnant

By now, your baby has grown a lot, and your body has changed with him. We’ll go over the latest symptoms you might be experiencing and take a look at what you can expect from this stage of your pregnancy.

At 22 weeks, your baby is just under 11 inches long and weighs about 15 ounces, give or take. Imagine cradling a papaya in your arms, and that’s about right. 1

Some new milestones he’s hit include:

• Enhanced senses: Your baby can see light and dark, and can hear your heartbeat and the sounds of your digestion. However, for now, he can’t hear voices or other noises from outside the womb.
• Hair and facial development: Your baby began growing fine hair all over his body, called lanugo, a few weeks ago, but now the hair on top of his head is coming in, too. He also has eyebrows, eyelashes, and fully formed lips, although his eye color will be a mystery until up to 6 to 12 months after birth.
• Movement and coordination: You’ve probably felt your baby moving already. He’ll be picking up the pace from here on out, exploring your womb, touching his face, and even pulling on the umbilical cord. His grip is getting stronger, but don’t worry—he won’t do any damage.
• Body fat formation: Your little one has started to develop a layer of fat under the skin, which is important for regulating his body temperature once he’s born. As of week 22, though, he still doesn’t have that classic chubby newborn look just yet.
• Sleep cycles: Your baby now has cycles of waking up and falling asleep. However, these early sleep cycles may not match up with yours.

At this point, your baby is developed enough that you can start forming a real relationship with him. Because his senses have been getting more refined, he may respond to your touch when you rub your belly.

As mentioned, he still can’t hear any sounds that don’t come from inside your body, but it won’t be too many more weeks until he’ll be able to hear your voice. If you like, you can go ahead and start talking to him.

Your belly bump has grown even more to make room for your baby. Your fundal height, which is the measurement from your pubic bone to the top of your uterus, is now probably between 20–24 cm, although if you’re having twins, it may be outside this range. 2

Because of this growth, you may see your belly button switch from an “innie” to an “outie.” If that weirds you out a little, don’t worry—this usually switches back after delivery. 3

Major changes and symptoms: loose ligaments and swelling

Other parts of your body are growing and changing, too, not just your belly. This is partly due to a hormone called relaxin, which loosens the ligaments in your hips and pelvis to give your baby as much space as possible to fit through.

Other swelling in your body may be caused by edema, which is a scary-sounding term for something completely normal. It just refers to the usual swelling that happens because your body is retaining more water and circulating more fluid to your tissues. 4

Your expanding uterus is also putting pressure on your veins, contributing to further swelling in your hands and feet.

Contractions

Week 22 may well mark your first contractions. Called Braxton Hicks contractions, these are your uterus’s way of practicing for the real thing.

You don’t need to worry about Braxton Hicks contractions making your baby come early—they aren’t strong enough or regular enough for that. 5 They may be slightly off-putting, but they’re actually a sign that everything’s progressing normally.

Other common pregnancy symptoms at 22 weeks

Here are some other pregnancy symptoms you may see in the coming few weeks:

• Spider veins: Your dilated vessels can create “spider veins”: tiny, branching veins just under the skin. You’ll probably see these on your legs or face.
• Stretch marks: Your growing belly and loosening ligaments will stretch your skin out, bringing stretch marks to your belly, breasts, hips, or thighs. Unfortunately, these might feel itchy. Many women dread getting stretch marks, but they’re nothing to be self-conscious about, and they’ll fade after delivery.
• Acne: There’s no need to be embarrassed about this one, either. You’re experiencing hormone fluctuations, and acne is a normal (and equally temporary!) response.
• Hair changes: Your surging hormones may also change your hair texture. If your hair becomes thicker, or, conversely, if it thins out and falls flat, don’t worry—it should return to normal after delivery. 6
• Constipation or diarrhea: Now that your baby is taking up more real estate in your belly, your digestive system has less room for its business. This is more likely to result in constipation than diarrhea, but both are normal. 7
• Heartburn/indigestion: Your increased appetite and growing uterus can also cause heartburn (acid reflux).
• Faintness or dizziness: These symptoms may be annoying, but probably won’t be debilitating. See your doctor if they are.
• Increased libido: This is yet another symptom of your changing hormones. You may find that you’re more in the mood than you were earlier in your pregnancy.
• Increased vaginal discharge: More blood flow to your body tissues can lead to increased vaginal discharge during pregnancy. This isn’t any cause for concern as long as it doesn’t develop an unusual color (e.g., yellow discharge) or smell—healthy discharge is clear to milky white, and is nearly odorless.

What symptoms should you see a doctor for?

While most of the symptoms you can experience at this stage are harmless, some may be red flags you should talk to your doctor about.

Reach out to your doctor if you experience any of these: 8

• Sudden and severe swelling of your hands or feet (as a rough guideline, gaining 10 lb over a day or two warrants a call to your doctor)
• One leg being significantly more swollen than the other
• Diarrhea that lasts more than two days
• High blood pressure or severe headaches, which can signify a serious condition called preeclampsia 9

Note that it’s perfectly fine to contact your doctor if you aren’t sure whether a symptom “means something” or not. Try using a pregnancy tracker app to keep an eye on your symptoms, and reach out to your doctor if you have any concerns.

As exciting as it can be to know that you’re getting these symptoms because your baby is growing, they can still be annoying.

Fortunately, although you probably won’t be able to eliminate your symptoms entirely, you can alleviate a lot of them. Try these strategies:

• Heartburn: To counteract this, avoid spicy, fried, and fatty foods. You can also try eating five to six smaller meals throughout the day instead of three larger ones. If your symptoms are worse at night, try elevating your head and upper body when you sleep. Avoid laying down for at least an hour after eating.
• Constipation/diarrhea: Whichever of these symptoms you have, hydration is the way. It’s especially important to drink a few more glasses of water if you have diarrhea (after all, you have to make up for what you lose!), but it can also get things moving if you’re blocked up down there, too. So can adding fiber or more exercise to your routine.
• Swelling: Drinking more water will also help with foot swelling. You can also try elevating your feet and avoiding standing or sitting for hours at a time (yet another reason to stay active). When you buy pregnancy clothes, consider adding compression socks and a pair of comfortable shoes in a larger size than usual.
• Aches and pains: Calf stretches and massaging your legs can help relieve leg cramps. You may also need to add more magnesium to your diet. 10 If you have back, pelvic, or round ligament pain, use a pregnancy belly band or support belt, or talk to your doctor about using a baby-safe pain reliever.
• Acne: Talk to your doctor about safe options for acne treatment—some options may contain chemicals that are safe for adults but not for developing fetuses.
• Itchy skin: While there’s no proven cure for stretch marks, using an unscented moisturizing lotion can cut down on dryness.

Other tips for a healthy and happy 22nd week

As great as it feels to know that you’re more than halfway through your pregnancy, this period can also be overwhelming. You’re experiencing a lot of changes in your body, and getting a lot of congratulations from everybody you know (and probably strangers, too).

Here are a few things that you can do to keep yourself comfortable. You probably already know about all of them, but sometimes it’s worth reviewing the basics:

• Stay active: Take advantage of your second-trimester energy and try to do some light to moderate exercise.
• Eat more: You probably need to eat more calories. Your goal should be steady weight gain, not a quick bulk, so try to add in just 340 or so extra calories each day. 11
• Eat well: Relatedly, focus on eating a balanced pregnancy diet of fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains. Keep an eye on the calcium, iron, and magnesium content of these foods, which are good for both you and your baby.
• Stay hydrated: As you’ve probably gathered, it’s very important to drink plenty of water to help with swelling, dizziness, constipation, and your overall health.
• Rest up: If you’re feeling tired, take it easy (and don’t let yourself feel guilty for that, either). This is especially true if you feel dizzy or faint. Relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, visualization, or yoga can help you manage your stress and prepare you for labor.
• Be assertive: Now that your belly is more visible and your baby is starting to react to outside touches and sounds, everyone may want to say hello to him. Don’t hesitate to enforce your boundaries by politely declining unwanted belly touches or comments.

You probably don’t have a prenatal visit scheduled for this week; most doctors schedule the “anatomy scan,” the first ultrasound when you can find out your baby’s sex, for a few weeks before this.

However, if your healthcare provider was all booked up or there was some other reason to deviate from the usual schedule, it’s possible you’ll have that visit this week. If so, be prepared to tell the sonographer (the ultrasound technician) whether or not you want to know whether you have a boy or a girl.

You should also be prepared for disappointment, because it’s possible your baby won’t feel like cooperating and will be positioned in a way that hides his genitals, meaning you’ll have to wait to find out his sex.

Should you get an elective ultrasound?

Some moms-to-be opt for elective ultrasounds. There are “prenatal portrait centers” that will perform this procedure for you—not because it’s medically necessary, just to give you pictures of your growing baby.

While it might be tempting to get a look at that head of hair your baby is developing, many experts caution against getting an elective 3D/4D ultrasound during this stage of your pregnancy. The sound waves that ultrasounds use to create images aren’t considered potentially harmful, but doctors still recommend only opting for this procedure when it’s medically necessary.

If you do choose to get an ultrasound, make sure it’s performed by a medical professional. 12

Week 22 is a good time to take a look at what’s ahead. Set aside some time to schedule and prepare for these events:

• Birthing classes: If this is your first pregnancy, consider taking birthing classes to help you prepare.
• Your baby shower: Your friends or family may have already decided they’re the real planners here, but this is your baby, so let your planners know what kind of party you want. If this isn’t your first rodeo, you can consider a baby sprinkle instead: a smaller, simpler party.
• A portrait session: If you want a maternity portrait taken in your third trimester so you can capture your full maternity glow, week 22 is a good time to start looking for photographers and scheduling your portrait session.

On a very practical note, if you haven’t already, talk to your doctor about getting a flu shot. Depending on what time of year it is, you can either do this now or a little further down the line. Getting your shot is always good practice, but it’s especially worth doing during pregnancy, and it’s perfectly safe for both you and the baby.

Again, you’ve come a long way. Keep up your good habits, see your doctor regularly (both for regular prenatal checkups and if anything concerns you), and don’t forget to let yourself relax. Hopefully, you have a strong network of support that you can lean on if things get overwhelming.

Think positive—the worst of your symptoms are behind you, and the best is still to come. You have less than half of your pregnancy left before you can finally hear your baby laugh!