What is happening in week 22
Doctors count pregnancy weeks from the first day of your last period, so week 22 sits in the second trimester (week 14 to week 27). That is about 18 weeks to go until week 40, and about 5.1 months by a rough conversion. At about 27.8cm in week 22, the baby is practising breathing and swallowing.
Your baby
The NHS guide gives about 27.8cm, roughly a sweet potato. The lungs are developing and the baby practises breathing. It swallows small amounts of amniotic fluid, which becomes meconium (the first poo) after birth, and its taste buds are developing.
Your body
Stretch marks, piles and round ligament pains are common. You may also have headaches, backache, nosebleeds and swollen hands and feet.
This week’s to-do
- Remember stretch marks are harmless and usually fade after birth, as the NHS notes.
- Eat fibre and drink water to ease piles and constipation.
- Ask about antenatal classes.
When to call
Call your doctor or hospital immediately if you have severe pain or vaginal bleeding.
Chaitanya Hospital in Kadapa, near RTC Bus Stand, Simhapuri Colony, provides delivery and emergency care 24/7. Our antenatal check-ups team can answer questions about your own pregnancy.
Use the week-by-week guide to jump to your week, or the due date calculator to work out your dates. Timings for scans and tests come from NHS guidance in the UK and can differ from your doctor’s schedule, so always follow your own doctor’s advice. This page is educational and not a substitute for a doctor.
Sources
Text on this page is paraphrased from the sources above. Sizes are averages and vary between babies.