What's happening with your baby at 22 weeks
At 22 weeks, your baby is about the size of a papaya — roughly 27.5 cm from head to heel and around 430 grams. Their features are becoming more distinct: eyebrows and eyelids are visible, and the lips are more defined.
Skin is still thin and wrinkled, but a waxy protective coating called vernix caseosa and a fine layer of body hair called lanugo help protect it from the amniotic fluid. Your baby's sense of touch is developing quickly, and they can now grip with their fingers.
Practice movements like sucking and swallowing continue, which helps the digestive system mature. Weight and length vary a fair amount between babies at this stage, so don't worry if your scan measurements differ slightly from these averages.
What symptoms are normal at 22 weeks pregnant?
Common symptoms at 22 weeks include occasional Braxton Hicks tightenings, back pain, swelling in your feet and ankles, and stretch marks starting to appear on your belly. Heartburn, leg cramps, and dizziness are also common as your body adapts to a growing uterus.
Braxton Hicks are irregular, usually painless tightenings that come and go — your uterus practicing, not labor. If they become regular, painful, or frequent before 37 weeks, call your provider to be checked.
You may also notice skin changes like a dark line down your belly (linea nigra) or darker patches on your face (melasma). These are common pigment changes driven by pregnancy hormones and usually fade after birth.
How much weight should you have gained by 22 weeks?
There's no single right number — healthy weight gain by 22 weeks depends on your pre-pregnancy BMI, and your provider is the best judge of what's right for you. As a rough guide, many people with an average starting BMI have gained somewhere around 5 to 7 kilograms (11 to 15 pounds) by this point.
If you started pregnancy underweight or overweight, your target range will look different, and that's normal. Focus on eating regularly and following your provider's guidance rather than chasing a specific number on a scale.
What should you do this week?
Start preparing for your glucose screening test, which is typically scheduled between 24 and 28 weeks to check for gestational diabetes. Ask your provider now about the exact timing and whether you'll need to fast beforehand.
If back pain or round ligament pain is bothering you, a maternity support belt or a warm compress can help. Keep up any pregnancy-safe exercise you enjoy, and drink plenty of water — dehydration can make leg cramps worse.
If you haven't already, this is a reasonable time to look into childbirth classes and start sketching out a loose birth plan. You don't need every detail decided yet.
When should you call your provider?
Call the same day for regular contractions before 37 weeks, a sudden increase in vaginal discharge or fluid leakage, or new and persistent pelvic pressure — these can be early signs of preterm labor. Also call for heavy vaginal bleeding.
Other reasons to call promptly: a severe or persistent headache, sudden swelling in your face or hands, vision changes, or a noticeable, sustained drop in your baby's movement once you're used to feeling regular activity. None of these automatically mean something is wrong, but they do need to be checked.