Pregnancy Week By Week: 22 Weeks Pregnant
According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the second trimester takes place from 14 weeks and zero days to 27 weeks and six days of pregnancy, which means that when someone is 22 weeks pregnant, they are generally well into the second trimester. This period tends to be a time of rapid development and growth, and both the fetus and your body may change in many ways. You may also notice changes to your mental health. If you’re having trouble navigating this period of life, consider reaching out to a licensed mental health professional for support and guidance.
Fetal development at 22 weeks
At 22 weeks pregnant, your growing baby is usually about the size of a papaya, coconut, or sweet potato. They typically have eyebrows, fingernails, eyelashes, and lips, and they may start to touch things by feeling their face or grabbing the umbilical cord. Thin, fine hair may begin to form on your baby’s head, and they may also have soft, fine hair called lanugo on their forehead, ears, shoulders, and back.
Many of your baby’s organs are likely developing during this time, and their muscles may be getting stronger, so you may start to feel some real kicks around the 22-week mark. While your baby is usually still fairly thin with wrinkly skin at this point in the pregnancy, a layer of fat typically begins to form under their skin that will continue to grow over the next few months.
Your baby may begin sleeping in regular cycles for about 12 to 14 hours every day, and their hearing is generally developed enough to hear your heartbeat, breathing, and stomach rumbling. Your baby’s taste buds may also develop at this time, and their preferences later in life may be affected by what you eat.
During this time, your baby's lungs normally begin to develop, but they are still not ready to function outside of the womb. The baby’s gastrointestinal system may develop as well, and they may start swallowing small amounts of amniotic fluid. This fluid typically stays in their digestive system until they are born, at which point it usually comes out as a dark, sticky stool called meconium.
Somewhere between 18 and 22 weeks, your doctor will likely order an ultrasound to ensure that your baby’s organs and other body parts are developing properly. You can usually find out the sex of the baby at this time. In boys, the testes may have already begun to descend from the abdomen, and in girls, the vagina is usually formed, and the ovaries and uterus may be in place.
How being 22 weeks pregnant affects the body
When you are 22 weeks or about five months pregnant, you may notice new changes in your body.
Stretch marks may begin to appear, usually on the upper thighs, abdomen, and breasts. At first, these marks may appear red, purple, pink, reddish-brown, or dark brown, but they usually fade and become lighter over time.
As your baby bump grows, it may take up more space. Around this time, you may experience some shortness of breath as your lungs have less and less room to expand, and you may develop an “outie” belly button, even if you usually have an “innie.”
You may also start experiencing round ligament pain. The round ligaments can be described as the bands on either side of your uterus that connect it to the abdominal wall. As your uterus grows, it tends to put pressure on these bands, which can lead to pain in the groin, abdomen, and hips. Round ligament pain can be common during pregnancy, and it may improve with rest or by changing positions.
This type of pain usually occurs with sudden movements and can begin at any time during the second trimester. It can feel crampy, achy, sharp, stabbing, or pulling.
If you are experiencing round ligament pain that does not subside with rest or changing positions, or if the pain is accompanied by contractions or bleeding, call your doctor immediately or seek emergency care.
You may also begin to experience pain in your pelvic floor muscles as the baby grows and your uterus puts pressure on the area between your pubic bone and the bottom of your spine. Weak pelvic floor muscles can make it difficult to control your bladder, especially as you progress into your third trimester. Simple exercises, like squeezing these muscles and holding for 10 seconds, relaxing for a few seconds, and squeezing again for 10 repetitions, can help.
Other pregnancy symptoms you may experience at 22 weeks include the following:
- Hemorrhoids
- Nosebleeds
- Backaches
- Headaches
- Heartburn
- Indigestion
- Constipation
- Bloating
- Leg cramps
- Feeling hot
- Swollen hands and feet
- Dizziness
- Chloasma, or darkened skin on the face
- Greasy skin
- Breakouts
- Thicker, shinier hair
Symptoms from previous weeks may continue into this phase of pregnancy, including morning sickness, mood swings, food cravings, and breast pain.
How pregnancy can affect mental health
The body usually goes through many hormonal and physical changes during pregnancy, and these changes can have an impact on your mental health.
Meanwhile, other research has found that about 35% of women experience high levels of anxiety during pregnancy. Conditions like obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder may develop.
Some women may worry about things like pregnancy complications or whether they have everything they need for the baby. In mild cases, anxiety and depression symptoms may be manageable with support from friends and family members, as well as diversions like taking warm baths or going for outdoor walks. However, if you’re experiencing symptoms of depression or anxiety that are more pervasive and do not respond to these approaches, talk to your doctor about possible treatment approaches.
Psychotherapy can be an effective way to manage mental health challenges during pregnancy and after the baby arrives. Working with a mental health professional can help you understand what you’re experiencing and learn coping skills that can be used both while you are pregnant and during the months and years after giving birth.
Online therapy can be a convenient, cost-effective way to receive treatment from the comfort of your own home. With an online therapy platform like BetterHelp, you can meet with a qualified mental health professional via video conference, phone call, or online chat. In most cases, you’re matched with a therapist within 48 hours of signing up. There are more than 30,000 providers available on the platform, and you can change therapists at any time for no additional fee until you find the right fit.
In addition to being flexible and accessible, research has found that online therapy can be effective. A 2018 review of 14 studies found that online cognitive behavioral therapy typically led to a 50% improvement in symptoms of a variety of mental health challenges, including generalized anxiety disorder, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and panic disorder.
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