22 weeks pregnant
For information about weeks 20 to 23 of a twin or multiple pregnancy, tap here.
Baby spends most of their time resting as you rock them to sleep with the movement of your day-to-day activities. And while your little bundle of joy may already warm your heart, unfortunately your heartburn might still be lingering.
How’s Baby?
Baby is now just under a foot long — about the size of an ear of corn — and weighs just over a pound (478 grams).
When Baby isn’t sleeping the day away (which at this point is 12-14 hours a day), they’re trying to touch anything they can. Whether it’s their face, body, or umbilical cord, your baby is working on their physical abilities and motor skills by practicing movement and getting a feel for things. Your little one’s inner ear is also developing their sense of balance. While Baby may not be using that sense of balance on any gymnastics equipment yet, the more their ears develop, the better the chance that your baby is hearing you when you talk, and learning your voice, so that when they arrive, they’ll recognize you!
Their eyes are still developing, and right now your little one still lacks pigment in their iris, so doesn’t have an eye color just yet. And her pancreas is already busy creating its own hormones, which helps alleviate all of the hormonal heavy-lifting you’ve been doing.
What's new with you?
Your feet and hands may be some of the next places to feel pregnancy’s side effects, as some swelling is not uncommon during these months. You might notice that any rings you wear on your fingers might start to feel tighter, and your feet could grow a whole size bigger. Wearing maternity compression stockings may help improve your circulation and reduce swelling in your feet and legs, in addition to helping with varicose veins if those have been an issue for you.
And your expanding womb may have turned your “innie” into an “outie” by now. Don’t worry, it’ll go back to normal after you give birth. Your newly out-facing belly button might be a little sensitive, especially as it rubs against your clothes, but that’s generally nothing to worry about. If, on the other hand, it’s causing you pain, talk to your healthcare provider to make sure that you’re not dealing with an umbilical hernia.
Really, as any strange symptoms or discomforts pop up for you, be sure to ask your provider about it. Even if there’s nothing wrong, it never hurts to know exactly what’s going on in your body, and it can help you feel better knowing that whatever’s going on is normal.
Reviewed by the Ovia Health Clinical Team
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Sources
- K Desdicioglu, MA Malas, EH Evcil. "Foetal development of the pancreas." Folia Morphologica. 69, 4: 216-224. Web. 2010.
- Karin Bilich. "Baby's Alertness in the Womb." Parents Magazine. American Baby, 11/2/2015. Web.
- "Hair changes." March of Dimes. March of Dimes, 6/9/2015. Web.
- Linda Conlin. "Embryonic Eye Development." 20/20 Magazine. 20/20, 11/12/2015. Web.
- Roger W. Harms, M.D. "What causes ankle swelling during pregnancy - and what can I do about it?" Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic, 8/5/2014. Web.
- "Gestational Diabetes: FAQ177." ACOG. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 9/13/2015. Web.
- Mark A Curran, M.D. “Fetal Development.” Perinatology.com. Perinatology.com. March 31, 2019. https://www.perinatology.com/Reference/Fetal%20development.htm#1.
