By pregnancy week 22, your hormones pretty much start raging, going into a complete overdrive. You’ll often find yourself crying or fretting over little things. By now, your baby is big enough to invade your personal space which is why your back must be aching and you must be feeling short of breath. The increasing stretch marks can be depressing but rest assured, they won’t be as dark as they are forever. Some other not-so-cool symptoms would also mess up your charm, but you shouldn’t worry much about it.
How’s the Baby Doing At Pregnancy Week 22?
By pregnancy week 22, your baby is almost the size of a papaya, weighing somewhere between 12.7 and 20.8 ounces. The average height of the fetus by now is usually 10.5 to 11.8 inches. The difference in weight and measurement is not alarming until it goes well below this average. By now, your baby will have developed features like lips and eyelids, looking more like a newborn. The baby will sleep in cycles for about 14 hours a day and that’s when you won’t feel it kicking.
The Symptoms At Pregnancy Week 22
The common symptoms you will experience this week include the following:
- Your stretch marks might increase and get darker and your belly button might start protruding out.
- You will have an increased libido so you might as well enjoy it!
- You will start gaining weight steadily, your hair will grow fast and you will have trouble breathing.
- You might experience minor swelling in hands and feet, and backaches due to increased pressure.
By this week, it’s important that you stop straining your back completely by bending down or picking heavy objects. Stop with extensive exercises as well but keep up with your pelvic floor exercises. It’s time for you to relax so you can consider planning a holiday and start relishing your bath time. If you haven’t already done that, schedule your glucose screen test immediately. Start looking for childcare options and schedule a maternity portrait session if you want.