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The journey of being pregnant is a whole different and special experience, now that you are 22 weeks pregnant, you would have gained a lot of knowledge about pregnancy and kids. On the 22nd week, your baby has started developing its facial features and has started getting a more defined look.
Your child weighs 15.7 ounces that is approximately 1 pound and the size of your baby is 11 inches long. This week you should also know a few things about preeclampsia. Read our article further to know more about your pregnancy in the 22nd week.
How Many Months is 22 Weeks Pregnant?
For those who don’t know, at 22 weeks pregnant, you are approximately 5 months and 2 weeks into your pregnancy. Pregnancy is typically counted as 40 weeks, so each month is roughly 4 weeks long.
Changes In Your Body When 22 Weeks Pregnant
When your baby progresses to be bigger, their muscle growth is rising. You can notice that they’re jumping around a bit more in 22 weeks. This is what’s going on with your child in the 22nd week.
1. Facial features:
Your child’s lips and eyelids have become more defined. The eyes themselves start moving a bit, tear ducts start forming and the eyes of your baby become even more prominent.
2. Sprouting hair:
They form more hair on their scalp and even on their eyebrows. The baby will also have little tufts of fine hair, these minute features will gradually become more noticeable.
3. Arms and legs:
As body parts get tougher and more versatile, your baby will start grabbing onto their face and umbilical cord in utero. The is likely to be about 1 pound and 7 1/2 inches long, from crown to rump.
4. Nails are growing:
Little nails are developing to the tips of the baby’s fingers. They’re going to be sharp when the baby is delivered, so add those baby nail scissors to your checklist!
5. Brain Development:
The brain of the baby also starts developing rapidly with the formation of nerve endings. The baby will now develop the sense of touch, and they might be experimenting with this new sense, as they stroke their body parts. The baby will also start putting on layers which are called brown fat.
6. Vision, Hearing, and Grip Strength:
This week, your baby is strengthening her grip and improving her sense of touch. She’s also developing better vision, able to distinguish between light and dark, even though her eyelids are fused. Additionally, she can hear sounds from your body, like your voice and heartbeat, in the womb, making her more connected to the world outside.
22 Weeks Pregnant: What Happens To The Mother's Body
As your tummy keeps growing, you can encounter something unusual: your belly button pops up! Let’s see what are the other uncommon things going to happen this week.
1. Back pain
Have you noticed, a lot of pregnant women pose for photographs with their supporting their lower Does it seem like a lot of pregnant women are posing for photos of their hands on their lower backs? That may be because back pain is very prevalent throughout pregnancy. Shifts in the center of gravity, weight raise, and excess pregnancy hormone relaxin all lead to back pain. The big stuff: try to work out daily and sit up straight away. Good ones: consider using ice packs for a couple of days, accompanied by a moderate heating pad to relieve the discomfort.
2. “Outtie” belly button
If your uterus begins to develop, your stomach is under pressure. If you have an innie belly button, your belly button will stick out. Once you deliver your child, it will go back to its normal state.
3. Tight Shoes
Is footwear always uncomfortably tight? Yeah, the legs appear to grow during pregnancy. Our legs have 26 bones and 33 joints, and because relaxin loosens all joints, the legs begin to stretch a little. And the additional weight enlarges the foot, too. Durable shoes can hopefully maintain off any foot spreading by providing your arches with lots of space and relaxation during these difficult months. And consider always taking an additional size above to support your legs to get comfortable.
4. Blood pressure
Approximately 10% of pregnant women experience a form of hypertensive condition (also called high blood pressure) during pregnancy. Your healthcare provider will closely track your BP at every appointment if anything takes place. Why? It can result in preeclampsia, which impacts between 5% and 8% of pregnancy, which can cause serious problems in pregnancy. Black women are also more likely to experience pre-eclampsia. But with effective diagnosis and management, mom and baby can be safe and comfortable.
5. Stretch Marks in Pregnancy
Stretch marks can show up or extend as your baby grows bigger—and not just restricted to your belly. Breasts, calves, hips, butts, and arms may also render stretchmarks. Stretch marks normally run through three stages:
They could start scratchy and lifted. They can be pink, purple, red, reddish-brown, or dark brown depending on the color of your skin. They may feel a little raised. They get considerably larger and they can get darker in color. After childbirth, they begin to fade back to the natural color of the skin, although they can appear silvery, be uneven in length, and appear like mildly depressed waves in the skin.
There are a lot of products available in the market that promise to eliminate or minimize stretch marks—and, as far as we realize, none of them have been proven to function. Even it is worth taking a chance to use a cream or oil to keep the skin moisturized and to preserve its firmness.
6. Heartburn
Experiencing heartburn or indigestion is quite common during pregnancy. As you may have an increased appetite due to your growing baby, it’s a good idea to keep your kitchen filled with nutritious snacks like fresh fruit, chopped vegetables, nuts, and whole wheat crackers to satisfy your cravings while staying healthy.
7. Constipation
Constipation can be an issue as your expanding uterus places pressure on your bowels, making it challenging to have regular bowel movements. To help alleviate this, consider incorporating regular exercise into your routine, as it can stimulate your digestive system and promote smoother bowel movements.
8. Dizziness
The continuous growth of your uterus may compress your blood vessels, potentially leading to reduced blood flow to your brain and resulting in dizziness. To maintain proper circulation, ensure you consume a minimum of eight glasses of water daily, and consider increasing your intake, especially in hot weather or during physical activity.
9. Leg Cramps
Leg cramps experienced during pregnancy might be linked to a potential deficiency in dietary calcium or magnesium, according to some experts. To help minimize the occurrence of these discomforting muscle spasms, make sure to incorporate your daily prenatal vitamin into your routine.
22 Weeks Pregnant Belly: How Will The Belly Look?
When you’re 22 weeks pregnant, your excess weight is usually around a pound each week. Your 22 weeks pregnant belly has grown out a lot this week. The baby’s activity is getting better, and you may find that the baby is sleeping or staying constant when you’re walking around. When you rest, your child seems to want to practice their kickboxing movements. These moments are to be cherished for a lifetime so make sure you are happy and content all the time and you relax the most.
Tips For You
1. Consume Magnesium
Magnesium is a valuable ally for both your baby’s bone development and various bodily functions. Found in foods like chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, almonds, and cashews, it supports enzyme activity, insulin regulation, and blood sugar control. Consult your doctor to confirm your magnesium intake from prenatal vitamins and your diet. Inadequate magnesium levels can lead to fatigue, weakened muscles, restless legs, or leg cramps
2. Sweat
Exercise isn’t just for your benefit—scientific studies indicate that expectant mothers who engage in physical activity tend to have children who score higher on intelligence tests by the age of 4. So, your workout regimen doesn’t just strengthen your muscles; it can also enhance your baby’s brainpower!
3. Breathing Exercises
Now is a perfect time to learn relaxation techniques that will help you deal with pregnancy worries and labor contractions. They’ll also be valuable as a new mom, especially during those baby-crying marathons. These techniques can alleviate pregnancy symptoms like shortness of breath and headaches. A quick relaxation method involves closing your eyes, imagining a serene scene, and slowly relaxing your muscles from toe to face. Breathe through your nose and repeat a calming word as you exhale.
Final Thoughts
As you come closer to your due date you get more anxious. We request all the beautiful mommas to be happy and feel content. You can start changing your maternity style a bit because when you look good you feel good too!
