{"id":10213,"date":"2021-04-26T10:40:03","date_gmt":"2021-04-26T14:40:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.oviahealth.com\/guide\/10213\/week-22-pregnancy\/"},"modified":"2022-01-06T17:00:49","modified_gmt":"2022-01-06T22:00:49","slug":"week-22-pregnancy","status":"publish","type":"article","link":"https:\/\/www.oviahealth.com\/guide\/10213\/week-22-pregnancy\/","title":{"rendered":"22 weeks pregnant"},"content":{"rendered":"
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For more information about week 22 in a twin or multiple pregnancy, tap here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Baby<\/span> 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. <\/span><\/p>\n

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How\u2019s Baby<\/span>?<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Baby<\/span> is now just under a foot long \u2014 about the size of an ear of corn \u2014 and weighs just over a pound (478 grams). <\/span><\/p>\n

When Baby<\/span> isn\u2019t sleeping the day away (which at this point is 12-14 hours a day), they\u2019re trying to touch anything they can. Whether it\u2019s 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\u2019s inner ear is also developing their sense of balance. While Baby<\/span> 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\u2019ll recognize you!<\/span><\/p>\n

Their eyes are still developing, and right now your little one still lacks pigment in their iris, so doesn\u2019t have an eye color just yet. And their<\/span> pancreas is already busy creating its own hormones, which helps alleviate all of the hormonal heavy-lifting you\u2019ve been doing. <\/span><\/p>\n

What’s new with you?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Your feet and hands may be some of the next places to feel pregnancy\u2019s 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. <\/span><\/p>\n

And your expanding womb may have turned your \u201cinnie\u201d into an \u201coutie\u201d by now. Don\u2019t worry, it\u2019ll 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\u2019s generally nothing to worry about. If, on the other hand, it\u2019s causing you pain, talk to your healthcare provider to make sure that you\u2019re not dealing with an umbilical hernia. <\/span><\/p>\n

Really, as any strange symptoms or discomforts pop up for you, be sure to ask your provider about it. Even if there\u2019s nothing wrong, it never hurts to know exactly what\u2019s going on in your body, and it can help you feel better knowing that whatever\u2019s going on is normal.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Reviewed by the Ovia Health Clinical Team<\/h5>\n
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