Week Twenty-Two Pregnancy

You Are

You will be feeling more vibrant at 22 weeks pregnant as you fully enter the second trimester. As your belly expands, you may get backaches, leg cramps or mild swelling of your feet. It is normal for pregnant women to feel more obvious and energetic movements from their baby in these weeks, making the pregnancy even closer. At this stage, your uterus can be felt one inch above your belly button, and changes in your body can lead to appetite changes, skin changes, and occasional Braxton Hicks contractions. Drinking a lot of water and eating healthily can help relieve discomfort and maintain good health.

Your Baby

Your baby has grown to be about 11 inches long and weighs almost one pound which measures up to a papaya. At this time, your baby’s senses are developing very quickly – taste buds are forming and they are starting to hear sounds from the outside. While the skin is still wrinkly, it is becoming thicker and clearer as the body is gaining more fat. Your baby’s lungs are producing surfactant, an essential substance for breathing during the first days after birth. Your baby is moving more and more, and can respond to noises and exercise sucking and swallowing reflexes.