Welcome to Week 22 of Your Pregnancy!
Your Baby in Week 22 of Pregnancy
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Your baby’s skin will begin to turn from transparent to opaque during week 22 of pregnancy. No longer could one see all of the blood vessels and interior contents of your baby. The skin isn’t quite how it will look at birth, but it is getting closer. It is changing to a pinkish, whitish color and soon will have wrinkles and creases. It is also getting thicker, with more fat deposits going in place under the skin.
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If your little bundle of joy is a boy, his testes will begin their descent around week 22 of pregnancy. They will travel from their position in the pelvic region and be visible externally in the groin area. They are still small, but a 3D ultrasound will pick them up with no problem!
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The boys also have primitive sperm present in their system, even though they are not fully developed or functioning. The little swimmers are immature at this point. Testosterone is also present, although in small amounts, but is affecting the development of your little boy.
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Your baby is swallowing much more now in week 22 of pregnancy than he or she did before. They are working those mouth muscles a lot since their first, and really their only activity after birth is drinking. Well, they will poop and cry too, but those aren’t nearly as much fun to watch. They may suck on a pacifier after birth, but it is the same motion with the tongue, roof of the mouth and face muscles that perform. Every swallow they take from week 22 of pregnancy forward builds their muscles stronger so it will be easier for them to suckle in the future. And even though they are little, you will find that they will eat a lot!
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The brain has entered a rapid growth stage. During week 22 of pregnancy, your baby’s brain will work hard to develop its signal-sending capabilities. Whether it is in the form of processing a sensory detail or an urge to move, your baby’s brain is hard at work developing the decoders. Even though the brain is rapidly developing, it is not growing rapidly outward. The growth is all internal with developing neurons, and all kinds of complicated structures.
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This week your baby’s liver is beginning to learn how to break down bilirubin. Bilirubin is a waste product from your blood. In short, blood enters the liver where the bilirubin is “caught.” The liver breaks it down so it can be processed out as urine and bowel material. Yuck. Just know that the liver is doing a lot of work practicing this week. All of the practice will be evident by all of the diapers you will begin changing in the near future!
Your Body in Week 22 of Pregnancy
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Don’t worry about all of that activity inside of you. No matter how hard your baby kicks, flips or twists, your uterus will not rupture. You may wonder how it can possibly withstand all of the constant action – but it will. The uterus is very elastic and durable – more durable than most man-made products even. What other body part do you know that has the capability to stretch to ten times (or more) its normal size, and then shrink back to normal afterwards? None! The baby’s movements may be driving you nuts, especially at night, but at least you can rest assured knowing that he or she is safe and sound.
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Your lower body is growing larger and may be affecting your upper body. Do you have backaches? It’s all part of the process, unfortunately. With weight gain and size changes that occur quickly with pregnancy, your body has to adapt. It may not adapt as fast as you wish it would though, and this may cause you some discomfort. Your back will probably be the first casualty. Here are some tips to prevent aches in pains in your lower and upper back:
- Try to alternate between periods of sitting and standing regularly. If you have a job that requires you to be on your feet all day, ask for a chair or stool to be placed near you so you can take the weight off your feet every so often. For instance, a cashier can have a stool placed near her and still do her job efficiently.
- Stand tall, even though the weight of your stomach may try to pull your back down.
- Avoid high heels on your shoes. Not only can the heels make your balance more precarious, they might hurt your feet!
- Try using a heating pad at night before you got to bed. This may relax your back muscles and ease any tension from them.
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Don’t forget to document your journey through pregnancy whether in a journal book or through a Womb to Bloom Pregnancy Showcase. Now that you are showing, take a picture each week with you in the same pose so that you can see your growth. Hold a sign to tell what week you are in so years later, you aren’t trying to guess the date or week number in all of the pictures. You will be amazed at the differences from month to month. It will be a fun thing to put in your baby’s book and look upon in the future too. It only takes 5-10 minutes a week to do and the memories will last a lifetime.
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