22 Weeks Pregnant

-Time for Those Irritable Stretch Marks!

Now that you are 22 weeks pregnant, you may notice some changes in your skin and in your baby’s development. Edemas can appear on your skin and face and the increasing weight may cause varices to appear on your legs because of the increased blood volume.

Faster paced baby evolution

Your baby goes through impressive changes this week and its movements increase in frequency. The baby in the second trimester pregnancy presents high paced changes and the face features are moving towards the way they will look after delivery.

Week 22 pregnancy symptoms and physical changes that occur in your body

Stretch marks

In the 22nd week of pregnancy, your uterus is probably almost an inch above your navel. The growth in this manner can cause the appearance of the pregnancy stretch marks on your belly and you may feel an unpleasant itchiness around the area of these marks.

Before or after, they begin to form on your breasts, waist, and inner thighs the stretch marks on the belly are the first to appear during pregnancy and most women have to deal with them.

Since stretch marks are similar to scars on the skin, they will not disappear with the use of any topical creams.

This is why it is not recommendable to use any kind of cosmetic solution for stretch marks from week 22 pregnancy since they will not help.

Also, before choosing any kind of new cosmetic, make sure you read the label and consult your doctor in case you stumble upon an unknown ingredient.

Aloe Vera and vitamin E

You can use Aloe-Vera oil to reduce skin irritation. In order to prevent the appearance of stretch marks, you can use cocoa-butter based creams and the creams that contain vitamin E. But, there is no guarantee that stretch marks will not appear because they are a normal consequence of pregnancy.

Genetic predisposition

The development of pregnancy stretch marks also depends on genetic factors. If your mother has stretch marks on her belly, then you are more likely to get them. But, most of the stretch marks disappear after the delivery.

Glucose screening test

Your doctor will recommend you to perform a glucose screening test after 22 weeks of pregnancy. This test is to identify whether or not you are suffering from gestational diabetes to which some women are vulnerable during pregnancy. If the result is positive, you need to make an appointment with your doctor for specific treatment.

If you leave this condition untreated, then it causes the overproduction of fat in your baby and results in high birth weight. This condition finally results in premature birth or birth through cesarean section.

Better sex

When you are in week 22 of pregnancy, sex can be very fulfilling to you because of increased blood flow to your clitoris and increased vaginal lubrication.

But, the decision is totally up to you and your partner. If you have any conditions like recurrent miscarriage, preterm labor, placenta previa, placental abruption or ruptured membranes, then intercourse is not recommended.

Leg cramps and increasing heartbeat

Some of you may experience foot and leg cramps and also mild swelling on the feet and ankles. Fatigue and prolonged standing are the causes for cramping. When you are 22 weeks pregnant, your heart rate may slightly increase. This is a normal condition and it indicates that your body is working a little harder.

What else to expect?

Since your uterus is now about 2 cm above your belly button, your center of gravity will also shift to a new place. Your cheeks will look flushed and you will have an amazing glow on your face, so much so that you will start receiving a lot of compliments.

The Braxton Hicks contractions may manifest. Your baby can feel the contractions but it is not bothered by them. However if you experience more than mild contractions, you notice loss of amniotic fluid or vaginal bleeding you should contact your doctor immediately.

Care you need to take when you are in 22^nd week of pregnancy

Don’t wear high heels, because the extra weight that you gain begins to take its toll on your back. Wearing high heeled shoes can strain your back. Also avoid standing or sitting for longer hours.

Continue doing exercise regularly. Doing regular pregnancy exercises can greatly help you at the time of labor and delivery.

Apply moisturizers or lotions to help your skin feel supple; it also reduces itching that you experience during pregnancy.

Try resting with your feet up to stimulate blood circulation in your legs and avoid edemas.

Changes that occur in the fetus when you are 22 weeks pregnant

By pregnancy 22 weeks, your baby is about the size of a foot in length and weighs about one pound.

• Your baby will be growing each day now.
• Your baby’s fingernails are growing at a fast pace – so much so that you might have to trim them as soon as your baby is born.
• Your baby’s lips are also fully formed and will appear full at the end of week 22.
• The baby’s pancreas is now developed further and the baby may start producing his/her own hormones.
• The inner ear of your baby is has evolved to an extent that the baby can have its own sense of balance.
• More and more wrinkles begin to show up on your baby’s skin with each passing week. No need to worry, all the wrinkles are just their skin’s way of planning.
• Now your 22 week fetus has well developed eyelids and eyebrows and the baby blinks his/her eyelids.
• If the baby is a boy, the testicles descend.
• Your baby is able to hear the sounds from outside.
• The baby experiences the sense of touch.

The thumb suckling becomes a frequent action of the baby, especially during the sleeping time, which can be visible from 22 weeks pregnant ultrasound.

22 weeks pregnancy facts

The recent study showed that smoking mothers pass the carcinogens to their developing babies. This results in development of liver and lung tumors. So, it is better to avoid smoking during pregnancy.

Preeclampsia tests

When you are 22 weeks pregnant, your doctor may ask you for the first set of urine samples to see if you are in danger to develop preeclampsia. You do not have to worry because the tests are something normal, especially if you are young mommy and this is your first pregnancy.

Get more information on what to expect when you are 23 weeks pregnant.

Image source: askamum

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