You are now 22 weeks pregnant and at the beginning of week 23. Your baby is around 26 cm long from head to toe (10.2 inches) and weighs about 550 grams (or 1.21 pounds).
Your baby's nervous system is now completely 'connected'. The vital link between their brain and spinal cord (the brain stem) has matured and many nerve cells make vigorous connections. Now your baby is capable of recognising warmth, light, sound and pain. While primitive brain waves have been detected in unborn babies as early as 7 weeks, it is not until 22 weeks that sustained patterns can be definitely recorded. Some women now notice that their baby jumps with a loud sound (if they can feel their baby move yet).
Unborn babies at this stage typically like to lie in a transverse position (or crossways inside your belly), with their feet and bottom on one side, and their head on the other side. Your baby's placenta is now processing about 1 litre of blood per hour (or 50 pints every 24 hours) and by 40 weeks this increases to about 12 litres per hour (600 pints in 24 hours).
What is my body doing at 22 weeks pregnant?
Your tummy’s getting bigger and bigger - but it’s not the only thing changing. You’ve probably noticed that your feet are swelling more than you might like. This is due to pregnancy swelling, or edema, as well as the pregnancy hormone relaxin, which loosens the ligaments in the feet so that the bones under them spread. This can mean your feet increase by a half or even a whole shoe size. Don’t try and squeeze into your old kicks: choose a bigger, comfortable pair that you can wear throughout your pregnancy, with no more than a two-inch heel: It’s hard enough as it is to keep your balance with your pregnancy belly, let alone with sky-high stilettos!
Common symptoms to look out for:
How big should my bump be at 22 weeks pregnant?
A typical belly at 22 weeks pregnant will be around 20 to 24 centimeters from pelvic bone to the top of the uterus.
How much should my baby be moving at 22 weeks?
Most women start to feel their baby moving between 18 and 20 weeks pregnant, yet how strong or how much you feel these little flutters completely depends on your pre-pregnancy weight and how your baby is lying.
Your baby's nervous system is now completely 'connected'. The vital link between their brain and spinal cord (the brain stem) has matured and many nerve cells make vigorous connections. Now your baby is capable of recognising warmth, light, sound and pain. While primitive brain waves have been detected in unborn babies as early as 7 weeks, it is not until 22 weeks that sustained patterns can be definitely recorded. Some women now notice that their baby jumps with a loud sound (if they can feel their baby move yet).
Unborn babies at this stage typically like to lie in a transverse position (or crossways inside your belly), with their feet and bottom on one side, and their head on the other side. Your baby's placenta is now processing about 1 litre of blood per hour (or 50 pints every 24 hours) and by 40 weeks this increases to about 12 litres per hour (600 pints in 24 hours).
What is my body doing at 22 weeks pregnant?
Your tummy’s getting bigger and bigger - but it’s not the only thing changing. You’ve probably noticed that your feet are swelling more than you might like. This is due to pregnancy swelling, or edema, as well as the pregnancy hormone relaxin, which loosens the ligaments in the feet so that the bones under them spread. This can mean your feet increase by a half or even a whole shoe size. Don’t try and squeeze into your old kicks: choose a bigger, comfortable pair that you can wear throughout your pregnancy, with no more than a two-inch heel: It’s hard enough as it is to keep your balance with your pregnancy belly, let alone with sky-high stilettos!
Common symptoms to look out for:
- Changing fingernails: Different women experience different symptoms: some find their nails grow faster than usual, some find theirs are harder than usual, and others notice theirs get softer or more brittle.
- Gorgeous hair: Yup, along with all the not-so-pleasant pregnancy symptoms, there are some great ones too. During pregnancy, your body sheds hair more slowly than it did before, giving your hair the appearance of being thicker and more lustrous than ever.
- More body hair: Unfortunately, this also applies to your body hair, with hormones causing more hair on your face (usually on your chin, upper lip, cheeks and jaw). You might also spot some on your stomach, arms, back and legs. You can tweeze, wax and shave these excess hairs if you’re not too fond of their appearance.
- Discoloured skin: You might find some patches of darker skin on your face due to the increased melanin in your body. Make sure you’re protecting your face with sunscreen with a high SPF, wear a hat and stay out of the sun in the strongest hours.
- Bigger, darker nipples: You might notice some changes in your breasts, namely bigger, darker nipples and areoles, more pronounced bumps on your areoles, and more noticeable veins on your breasts.
Physical changes
-Swelling
About 65% of healthy pregnant women develop fluid retention or swelling (called oedema), even though their blood pressure is normal. This may be noticed any time after 20 weeks of pregnancy and can happen in the legs, feet and hands. Normal pregnancy swelling is generally more noticeable at the end of the day, although it may be worse on hot days, after a plane trip or if you are on your feet for long periods of time.
NOTE: If you notice sudden swelling, you should have your blood pressure checked by your caregiver or local doctor to make sure it is NOT related to high blood pressure.
Nausea and vomiting
Up to 15% of women feel nauseous (and perhaps vomit) beyond 20 weeks of pregnancy. This may be due to the influence of pregnancy hormones and an increased metabolism, or perhaps ongoing stress, anxiety and/or fatigue. Sometimes nausea and vomiting return during late pregnancy quite unexpectedly, particularly if dealing with a lot of stress. However, check with your caregiver to make sure it is not caused by an unrelated illness.
Emotional reactions
Most women feel quite comfortable with their pregnancy by this stage, both physically and emotionally. Thoughts may now turn towards giving birth and making preparations for this and parenting after the birth. Partners may also feel the pregnancy is becoming more tangible as they watch the woman's belly grow and hopefully soon will be able to feel their baby move as well!
Other considerations
Buying for baby
As your pregnancy progresses, you may start buying some items for your new baby's arrival. The joy of setting up a cot or bassinette and putting everything in its place in readiness for after the birth can make having your baby feel closer and perhaps more realistic. Some parents find it emotionally difficult to resist buying everything! Miniature clothes can look so cute, tugging at your heart strings and bringing feelings of excitement and wonder about the baby you have created, which will soon be here! Our Newborn Baby Checklist can help you sort out what you really need to buy.
Much time can be spent researching all the different baby equipment available, often taking up weekends with shopping (or hours surfing the net) to compare products and prices. In many cases, buying for your baby can feel overwhelming and confusing with so much to choose from. Perhaps post a message in our birthtalks® forum to compare baby products and find out what other parents have found useful.
Natural therapies during pregnancy
Bowen
The Bowen technique was developed by Tom Bowen from Victoria, Australia in the 1970's. It is a system of gentle, precise movements across muscles, nerves and connective tissue on specific areas of the body, with frequent pauses to allow the body time to respond to the moves. Treatments are often used to help maintain good health or treat conditions such as sciatica, back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, sprains, joint problems, migraines, stress and tension.
-Swelling
About 65% of healthy pregnant women develop fluid retention or swelling (called oedema), even though their blood pressure is normal. This may be noticed any time after 20 weeks of pregnancy and can happen in the legs, feet and hands. Normal pregnancy swelling is generally more noticeable at the end of the day, although it may be worse on hot days, after a plane trip or if you are on your feet for long periods of time.
NOTE: If you notice sudden swelling, you should have your blood pressure checked by your caregiver or local doctor to make sure it is NOT related to high blood pressure.
Nausea and vomiting
Up to 15% of women feel nauseous (and perhaps vomit) beyond 20 weeks of pregnancy. This may be due to the influence of pregnancy hormones and an increased metabolism, or perhaps ongoing stress, anxiety and/or fatigue. Sometimes nausea and vomiting return during late pregnancy quite unexpectedly, particularly if dealing with a lot of stress. However, check with your caregiver to make sure it is not caused by an unrelated illness.
Emotional reactions
Most women feel quite comfortable with their pregnancy by this stage, both physically and emotionally. Thoughts may now turn towards giving birth and making preparations for this and parenting after the birth. Partners may also feel the pregnancy is becoming more tangible as they watch the woman's belly grow and hopefully soon will be able to feel their baby move as well!
Other considerations
Buying for baby
As your pregnancy progresses, you may start buying some items for your new baby's arrival. The joy of setting up a cot or bassinette and putting everything in its place in readiness for after the birth can make having your baby feel closer and perhaps more realistic. Some parents find it emotionally difficult to resist buying everything! Miniature clothes can look so cute, tugging at your heart strings and bringing feelings of excitement and wonder about the baby you have created, which will soon be here! Our Newborn Baby Checklist can help you sort out what you really need to buy.
Much time can be spent researching all the different baby equipment available, often taking up weekends with shopping (or hours surfing the net) to compare products and prices. In many cases, buying for your baby can feel overwhelming and confusing with so much to choose from. Perhaps post a message in our birthtalks® forum to compare baby products and find out what other parents have found useful.
Natural therapies during pregnancy
Bowen
The Bowen technique was developed by Tom Bowen from Victoria, Australia in the 1970's. It is a system of gentle, precise movements across muscles, nerves and connective tissue on specific areas of the body, with frequent pauses to allow the body time to respond to the moves. Treatments are often used to help maintain good health or treat conditions such as sciatica, back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, sprains, joint problems, migraines, stress and tension.
What to do this week:
- Slow down: It’s quite common to feel dizzy or light-headed during pregnancy – that’s because so much blood is being directed to your womb to help with your baby’s development. Get yourself into the habit of getting up slowly so the blood flow can adjust gradually.
- Keep snacking: Make sure you eat regular healthy snacks (carry some nuts or raisins or fruit like a banana, apple or seedless tangerine in your bag) and stay hydrated to keep energy levels up and ensure your blood sugar doesn’t rise or fall too quickly. If you feel faint or dizzy, sit down and put your head between your knees so the blood can return to your brain: the dizziness will soon disappear.
How big should my bump be at 22 weeks pregnant?
A typical belly at 22 weeks pregnant will be around 20 to 24 centimeters from pelvic bone to the top of the uterus.
How much should my baby be moving at 22 weeks?
Most women start to feel their baby moving between 18 and 20 weeks pregnant, yet how strong or how much you feel these little flutters completely depends on your pre-pregnancy weight and how your baby is lying.
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