22nd week of pregnancy
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Your belly is now so round that you probably feel "really pregnant." At the same time, this phase of pregnancy is usually calm and relaxed. Enjoy it to the fullest, rest as often as possible, and gather strength for the upcoming time. What to expect this week, you can read here.
How big is your baby in the 22nd week of pregnancy?
Your baby is about 18 centimeters long this week, comparable to a papaya. The crown-to-heel length is approximately 25.5 centimeters.
22nd week of pregnancy: What's changing for you
Your lower abdomen is already being better supplied with blood in preparation for childbirth. This may manifest as a pulling sensation or increased discharge. As long as the discharge is white and odorless, there is no cause for concern. However, if it becomes discolored or has an unpleasant smell, you should contact your doctor to rule out an infection.
Your nipples are changing in preparation for breastfeeding. Around the areola, small bumps called Montgomery glands are now forming. They secrete a fatty fluid that nourishes and protects your nipples.
The pelvic floor
Your uterus is now so large that it is gradually displacing surrounding organs. Gradually, the pressure on your pelvic floor—the muscle network that closes the pelvis downward and supports the uterus and other organs—is increasing. Due to the rising pressure, it is under more strain than usual, which you may notice if, during pregnancy, some drops of urine occasionally leak into your clothes. During childbirth, the pelvic floor is also heavily stressed by stretching. After the postpartum period, specialized pelvic floor training is therefore an important part of every postpartum recovery course. Before birth, you should not train your pelvic floor too intensively, but you can prepare it for childbirth with certain exercises, as a flexible pelvic floor can make this easier. You can learn specific exercises, for example, in the . The main focus is on developing a sense of your pelvic floor and learning to consciously feel it. You can find out more about the strong muscle network and its role during pregnancy and childbirth in the article “ “.
22nd week of pregnancy: Development of your baby
Your baby is now so big that it touches your abdominal wall when it moves – which means you will most likely feel it for the first time by the 22nd week of pregnancy at the latest. Especially when it has hiccups and twitches (which now happens regularly), you can feel the little being in your belly. Your baby is usually most active when you are resting or sleeping. This is because lying down relaxes your abdominal wall and your organs exert less pressure on the uterus. Your baby then has more space and freedom of movement, which it knows how to use. If you move yourself, it is gently rocked back and forth in the uterus and calms down, so it falls asleep.
Your baby's fingernails have fully developed this week; from now on, they will only grow. After birth, they will still be very soft, so you should only cut them for the first time after a few weeks. Eyes and eyelids are fully developed except for the pigmentation of the iris, but still closed. Since his eyelids are slightly transparent, your child can still distinguish day and night and reacts to light and darkness.
Even its skin layers are fully developed by the 22nd week of pregnancy. However, the skin is still very thin, and your baby will continue to accumulate fat reserves in the coming weeks. From now on, it will grow more slowly than before, but it will gain weight more rapidly. Until then, your baby's skin still appears quite wrinkled.
This is now important
If you want to celebrate your pregnancy with a baby shower, now is the perfect time to do so. Although your pregnancy is now quite visible, it doesn't restrict you too much yet, so you can fully enjoy the celebration, where you should be the center of attention. Many DIY ideas to craft around the baby shower can be found on our YouTube channel.
Your child now needs more magnesium for their development, so your requirement during this phase of pregnancy is increased. Cramps in the calves or even in the uterus can indicate a deficiency. By maintaining a magnesium-rich diet with plenty of whole grain products, fish, legumes, nuts, and vegetables, you usually meet your magnesium needs. If the symptoms persist, consult your doctor about a dietary supplement.
Don't worry about your weight, a gain of about 250 grams per week is now completely normal. You can also feel that your energy needs are increasing through increased hunger attacks . Try to satisfy your appetite with as many nutrient-rich foods as possible – exceptions are of course allowed. ;)
Tip from LILLYDOO Midwife Sissi
With your friends and family, you have probably already shared your pregnancy full of anticipation. But now, as it is gradually becoming more visible from the outside as well, people from your environment will likely approach you more often about your pregnancy. Besides congratulations and best wishes, there may also be one or two well-meant but unwanted pieces of advice. Don’t let it drive you crazy or even unsettle you: over time, you will automatically learn to distinguish helpful from useless advice and simply smile at the latter.
With our pregnancy calendar, we want to accompany you through this exciting time and provide you with relevant information, which also in exchange with our
LILLYDOO experts are being created. Nevertheless, the ones listed here can still
Never replace personal consultation with your doctor or midwife with advice. Always contact your healthcare professional for questions and professional care.