22 Weeks Pregnant
What’s happening this week?
You’re now 22 weeks pregnant. Find out how you can start bonding with your baby even before birth.
22 weeks pregnant what to expect? How is my baby developing?
You’re 22 weeks pregnant and your baby’s face is getting more distinct features. The eyes are formed and hidden inside the eyelids but don’t have any pigment yet. Also, as the nasal bridge isn’t completely developed, your baby has a button nose.
Furthermore, internal organs are all fully developed and operational, and all bones contain bone marrow capable of producing red blood cells.
Nails continue to grow and they’ll need a good trim after birth! At 22 weeks pregnant, your baby’s skin is losing its transparency as fat layers are deposited underneath. Fat is essential for development, including in the brain, as each nerve cell is surrounded by a protective layer of fat.
Lanugo, a very fine hair, now covers the whole of your baby’s body and helps the vernix to stick to the skin. This protects the baby from becoming too wrinkly for being in the water.
At 22 weeks pregnant, your baby measures over 30 cm and weighs almost 450 grams.
How is my body changing?
At 22 weeks pregnant your uterus is almost an inch above your belly button. If you are one of the lucky ones, you’ll be experiencing your pregnancy glow and feel refreshed and invigorated with beautiful skin.
However, you may be unfortunate and experience dry skin or acne. Other skin problems common at this stage include stretch marks, which may appear on the breasts, thighs, waist, and abdomen. Lotion may help, but the good news is that they will probably disappear after delivery.
In addition, heartburn and gastrointestinal problems can be a nuisance, so make sure you eat small meals spread during the day.
From now on,. your baby can hear you and recognizes your voice, so make sure you spend some time every day “bonding” with your baby, by talking and rubbing your tummy.
At 22 weeks pregnant, your weight gain is between 12 and 15 pounds. From now on, you should gain one pound per week.
How to alleviate back pain?
Possibly the most common symptom during the second and third trimesters is back pain, caused by your ever-growing uterus. Fortunately, there are certain things you can do to alleviate this symptom.
The most important is to pay attention to your posture and sit up straight. If your symptoms are severe, invest in a maternity support belt, which will support your abdomen when standing or walking for long periods of time.
Keep up with your daily exercise or you may want to visit a chiropractor (just make sure they have experience with pregnant women).