In its 22nd week, a pregnancy involves various symptoms, hormonal changes, and the baby's notable growth and development.
During the 22nd week of pregnancy, expectant mothers and their developing babies experience significant changes. This stage marks a period of rapid fetal growth, increased activity, and several normal physical changes for the mother.
At 22 weeks, the baby is approximately the size of a sweet potato, measuring around 27.8 cm in length and weighing around 460 grams. The lungs are rapidly developing, although they are not yet ready for life outside the womb. The baby practices breathing movements, working the diaphragm and breathing muscles in preparation for birth.
The baby's eyes are fully formed but lack colour in the iris. The eyelids remain shut, and the eyes continue developing. Lips become more prominent, and tooth buds develop underneath the gums. The baby swallows amniotic fluid, which will later form meconium—the baby’s first poop after birth.
The skin looks wrinkled due to the baby not yet accumulating enough fat to fill it out. However, the baby starts becoming more active, with movements such as kicks and somersaults that mothers might see or feel in their belly. Taste buds are forming, allowing the baby to possibly sense flavors from the amniotic fluid influenced by what the mother eats.
Mothers may experience several common symptoms during this stage. Stretch marks may appear on the belly, breasts, or thighs due to skin stretching and hormonal changes. These marks are normal, harmless, and usually fade postpartum. Swollen feet and hands (edema) are common due to fluid retention. Mild swelling is expected, but sudden or severe swelling, especially of the face, hands, or feet, warrants immediate medical advice.
Other symptoms to watch for that require urgent care include a severe headache, vision issues (blurring or flashing), pain just below the ribs, and vomiting, as these can be signs of pre-eclampsia. Expectant mothers may also experience backaches or round ligament pain due to the growing belly, an increased appetite, higher energy levels, and a rapidly expanding belly, with the belly button starting to protrude soon.
During this stage, the woman's bump may be showing, and feeling her baby's kicks and movements becomes more frequent and pronounced. The fetal fibronectin (fFN) test may be conducted if the doctor has concerns about preterm labor. Braxton-Hicks contractions, which are different from labor pains, may start around the 22nd week of pregnancy.
For those planning to travel during pregnancy, it is essential to ensure all necessary vaccinations are up-to-date before traveling, and to avoid traveling to locations with a risk of dangerous infections, such as the Zika virus. It is recommended to travel between weeks 14-28 of pregnancy, as advised by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).
When booking travel, choose a refundable or alterable ticket in case you need to change your plans. Some airlines may require a doctor's certificate after a certain stage of pregnancy, and it is advisable to have travel insurance that covers pregnancy.
In summary, the 22nd week of pregnancy is an exciting time of rapid fetal growth and lung development, increased baby activity, and several normal physical changes and mild discomforts in the mother, with some symptoms signaling the need for medical attention. Expectant mothers should consult their healthcare providers before traveling and take necessary precautions to ensure a safe and enjoyable journey.
[1] Mayo Clinic. (2021). Pregnancy week by week: 22 weeks. [online] Available at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/pregnancy-week-by-week/week-by-week-calendars/22-weeks
[2] American Pregnancy Association. (2021). Fetal Development: Week 22. [online] Available at: https://americanpregnancy.org/pregnancy-complications/fetal-development-week-22/
[3] What to Expect. (2021). Week 22: Your Baby's Development. [online] Available at: https://www.whattoexpect.com/pregnancy/week-by-week/week-22/
[4] BabyCenter. (2021). Week 22: Your baby's development. [online] Available at: https://www.babycenter.com/c0309048/week-22-your-babys-development
- In the realm of science and health-and-wellness, the 22nd week of a woman's pregnancy marks the start of a trimester that sees rapid fetal growth, including the development of tooth buds under the baby's gums and the formation of taste buds, allowing the baby to start sensing flavors from the amniotic fluid.
- During this trimester, expectant mothers may experience symptoms such as stretch marks, swollen feet and hands (edema), backaches, and round ligament pain, while some symptoms like severe headache, vision issues, pain just below the ribs, and vomiting may require urgent medical attention and might be signs of pre-eclampsia.
- Mothers planning to travel during this stage should ensure they have up-to-date vaccinations, avoid traveling to locations with a risk of dangerous infections, such as the Zika virus, and choose refundable or alterable tickets. It is also advisable for them to have travel insurance that covers pregnancy and obtain a doctor's certificate if necessary as their baby bump may become more visible.
