Find out whether your baby has established sleep and wake cycles in pregnancy week 22.
How Big is Your Baby?
By pregnancy week 22, your baby is as big as a papaya. He/she is around 27.7 cm and weighs about 430 g.
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Your Baby’s Development
In this week by week pregnancy guide, you’ll learn that:
- Your baby looks more like a newborn, with developed eyes and lips.
- His/her gums are already developing little tooth buds.
- His/her organs continue to grow, while his pancreas is producing important hormones.
- If you are having a daughter, her vagina is fully developed by your pregnancy week 22.
- He/she has a developed pattern of sleep and wake cycles—can you believe it?
Pregnancy Symptoms
- Your baby is filling up the space inside your body really fast. The result? He/she is pressing against your ribs, thus making breathing difficult.
- You are beginning to attract bump-touches because people are drawn to pregnant women. Allow this, but only if you’re comfortable; and don’t hesitate to say ‘no’ when you are uncomfortable.
- You are developing an ‘outie’, which occurs when your growing belly pushes out your belly button. It may look odd through the clothes, but once the baby is out, your belly button will return to normal.
Pregnancy Care
- While travelling, take adequate precautions, especially when travelling via air.
- Keep your posture right and support your aching back using a cushion.
- If the swelling in your hands and feet makes wearing rings uncomfortable, remove accessories or jewellery for the time being.
- Wear comfortable footwear with sturdy soles to accommodate your growing feet.
Your Checklist
- Visit your gynaecologist regularly to monitor your baby’s growth.
- Enjoy your lustrous hair. In most women, pregnancy hormones make the hair thicker and glossier than usual.
- Don’t overdo it with work. Stress doesn’t do good things to mum and baby!
Your next week: 23 weeks pregnant
Your previous week: 21 weeks pregnant
Do you have questions on this week by week pregnancy guide? What are your current concerns, mums? Leave us a comment below!
