The position of the baby in the abdomen at 22 weeks. Analyzes and medical examinations

Pregnancy is an amazing period in the life of every woman, which she will always remember. The 22nd week of pregnancy is special in that from this period the fetus is considered viable. Therefore, if suddenly, for some reason, he is now born, then the doctors have every chance of releasing him.

Feelings of a woman

What happens to mom at 22 weeks pregnant? Right now you can fully enjoy your condition. Early toxicosis and morning sickness are already far behind, and the feeling of clumsiness, characteristic of late periods, has not yet appeared. Therefore, you can lead your usual way of life.

But the baby now increasingly makes itself felt. Movement at 22 weeks of pregnancy is already clearly audible. And the child in this way can show that something does not suit him (loud sounds, uncomfortable posture of the mother, etc.). Read about how the baby develops during pregnancy in the article Development of the child in the womb >>>

What happens to your body:

At this time, the weight of the expectant mother is constantly increasing, and changes in the figure can already be noted even with the naked eye, so it's time to take care of a new wardrobe. On average, a week, during the second trimester, mommy can gain 400 grams;

And if we compare the weight with that which was before the onset of pregnancy, then normally it should increase by 5-7 kg. But, according to doctors, the weight rate at 22 weeks of pregnancy for each woman is different and depends on her initial weight at the time of conception, the presence of early toxicosis and other factors.

A growing belly at 22 weeks of gestation does not yet affect gait and other movements. Although some may note discomfort in the lower back, the cause of which is the shift in the center of gravity due to the growing uterus;
Also, its increase can cause frequent urination, due to excessive pressure on the bladder;
The skin on the abdomen and thighs begins to stretch, which can lead to stretch marks. To avoid this, use special creams or oils that are designed specifically for the prevention of stretch marks in pregnant women. Read more about the causes of stretch marks and how to deal with them in the article Stretch marks during pregnancy >>>;
And from the positive that awaits you, starting from the 22nd week - an improvement in the condition of the skin, hair and nails. This is associated with a change in the hormonal background of a woman;
The uterus at the 22nd week of pregnancy is located 2 cm above the navel.

Child development

The most important question of all mothers is - what happens to the baby at 22 weeks of gestation? By this time, the fetus had grown to 27 cm and gained 450-500 g of weight. His main achievements include:

Hair starts to grow. But due to the lack of melanin, they have not yet acquired their shade;
The brain continues to develop at a frantic pace. Now its weight is already about 100 g;
From about this week, the baby begins to actively explore himself and the space around him. Tactile sensations help him in this. Now he begins to move his tiny fingers, feel the umbilical cord and the placenta. Therefore, you will surely notice an increase in its activity;
How often should a baby move at 22 weeks pregnant? Each woman is different, but it is believed that, on average, you should feel from 10 to 20 movements during the day;
At week 22, the growth of the fetus in height slows down. Instead, muscles begin to actively develop. The size of a fetus at 22 weeks' gestation can be compared to a medium-sized ear of corn;
The formation of endocrine glands begins;
Bone tissue is actively developing, which begins to accumulate calcium. Therefore, the expectant mother needs to pay attention to the fact that enough of this trace element is present in her diet. If the doctor notices signs of calcium deficiency in the mother's body, he may recommend taking special pharmaceutical preparations;
At week 22, the baby's spine is already formed, it remains only to form the intervertebral discs and cartilage;
On the baby's body, you can see small hairs that are necessary in order to retain the original lubricant on the skin. The main task of this lubricant is to protect the skin from exposure to amniotic fluid, and during childbirth it will help the baby easily pass through the birth canal. For information on how to give birth easily, naturally and without pain, see the seminar Childbirth without pain >>>;
At this time, the baby is actively moving and can spin in different directions. There is still enough free space in the uterus for him, so the breech presentation at the 22nd week of pregnancy does not mean anything, since the fetus still has a lot of time to take the optimal position for childbirth;
The baby's heart increases in size;
The central nervous system continues to actively form;
The development of the lungs, intestines and stomach continues.

Pain and other discomfort at 22 weeks

Although the stomach is not too big yet, the center of gravity has already shifted, so you may experience various discomforts at the 22nd week of pregnancy:

Among the most common problems of this period is pain in the lumbar region (read the current article: Back pain during pregnancy >>>);

To avoid this, you need to do gymnastics for expectant mothers and give up high-heeled shoes. Details on why it is impossible to walk in heels during this period are written in the article Heels during pregnancy >>>.

Those who still continue to work should change their chair in the office to one that will have an orthopedic back. A good prevention of discomfort in the back will be frequent walks. But, having felt pain in the lower back, it is important to undergo an examination to exclude kidney pathology or urolithiasis.

Hemorrhoids become a frequent companion of pregnant women. Its development is due to the fact that the uterus has already increased enough and begins to put pressure on the vessels located in the pelvic area, which can lead to their expansion. To avoid this, you should enrich your diet with foods high in fiber.

By the way, with the help of nutrition, you can reduce the manifestations of hemorrhoids, adjust the stool, and also cope with the manifestations of edema or nausea.

If your stomach hurts at the 22nd week of pregnancy, you should consult a doctor, as this may indicate not only a digestive disorder, but also the possibility of an abortion. Read an important article on this topic: During pregnancy, pulls the lower abdomen >>>;
If you have chronic endocrine pathologies or problems in the work of the heart, then they may worsen during this period. The main sign of such a violation will be the returned toxicosis. To prevent this, it is important to be examined by specialists in the first trimester.
Due to the fact that in pregnant women the volume of blood circulating in the body increases, the pressure may increase. Headache can signal this.

Cold at 22 weeks pregnant

The danger at this time may come from high temperature, as doctors have proven that it can cause disturbances in the development of the baby's nervous system;
If you are expecting a girl, then a high temperature at the 22nd week of pregnancy can cause her infertility in the future. This is due to the fact that right now the formation of eggs begins in the female fetus.

In addition, not every treatment is now suitable for the expectant mother. Most antibacterial and antipyretic drugs are now contraindicated for use, as they can get to the fetus bypassing the placental barrier.

As for herbal medicine, only a doctor should recommend using any medicinal herbs, as some of them can cause uterine contractions, causing premature birth.

To reduce the temperature you need to drink a lot. Suitable tea with raspberries, warm milk, decoctions of berries and dried fruits. It is worth noting that an increase in temperature may indicate an inflammatory process in the body. Therefore, you need to consult a doctor.

You can take any medication only with the permission of a doctor.

Allocations at 22 weeks

Usually, the discharge at the 22nd week of pregnancy does not change. They should be transparent, outwardly resembling the protein of a raw chicken egg with an unobtrusive sour smell. If you notice a change in their color or consistency, you should consult a doctor:

Bloody or brown discharge at 22 weeks of gestation may occur with placental abruption or miscarriage;
Abundant discharge of a normal shade is possible with leakage of amniotic fluid. To be safe, it is better to visit a doctor.

Analyzes and examination

To check the development of the fetus at the 22nd week of pregnancy, you need to visit a doctor who will perform standard procedures:

Measure the weight and pressure of a woman, the volume of her abdomen and the level of uterine rise, listen to how the fetal heart beats;
In addition, it is necessary to pass a clinical analysis of blood and urine;
Additionally, the doctor may prescribe a blood test for sugar levels.

You can visually see the fetus at the 22nd week of pregnancy during an ultrasound scan. During the study, the doctor will check the condition and level of development of the main organs and systems. The main criterion for the development of the child during this period is no longer the coccygeal-parietal size, but the ratio of the proportions of his body. The doctor will also check the presentation of the fetus at 22 weeks of gestation. Read related article: >>>

Additionally, the state of the placenta, the level of amniotic fluid and their transparency will be studied. It is also already possible to determine the sex at the 22nd week of pregnancy.

Some believe that the ultrasound examination method is unsafe for the fetus, so they refuse to undergo it. Of course, it has only recently begun to be used. There is also no scientific evidence of the dangers of such a procedure.

But it is important to remember that such an examination allows you to identify various disorders and deviations in the development of the baby. Thus, doctors have the opportunity to treat an unborn child or be prepared for the fact that immediately after birth, he may need help.

Important for the proper development of the child is the placenta at 22 weeks of gestation. Thanks to her, the fetus has the opportunity to receive oxygen and other nutrients. It is also a kind of barrier to the penetration of toxins and other substances that can have a negative impact on the condition and development of the baby.

During an ultrasound, a low placenta can be detected during pregnancy at 22 weeks. If you are also faced with a similar diagnosis, you need to carefully monitor your well-being (read the article on this topic to study the issue more fully: >>>). If any abnormalities appear (nausea, water leakage, discomfort in the pubic area), it is important to immediately consult a doctor.

Nutrition

During this period, you need to pay special attention to nutrition.

To avoid anemia, it is important to have enough iron in the diet. It is abundant in apples, green vegetables, dried fruits, beans, eggs, red meat and liver. Current article: What fruits are useful during pregnancy >>>;
To prevent swelling, it is important to get the right amount of protein and drink clean water. Read more about edema during pregnancy >>>;
If you can't live without juice, then make your own, as the store-bought product contains a lot of sugar and preservatives. You should also completely exclude coffee, strong tea, carbonated drinks;
Since during this period the skeletal system is actively formed in the fetus, your menu should have a lot of foods containing calcium (sour-milk products, spinach, beans, sea fish, almonds, apricots);
At the 22nd week of pregnancy, mom needs to increase the amount of easily digestible proteins and reduce the amount of animal fat in food. The average daily energy value for this period is 2500-3000 kcal;
Starting from the second trimester, the expectant mother becomes prone to the development of constipation. To prevent this, you need to consume more natural fiber;
And, of course, we must not forget about vitamins. A huge amount of them is in fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs. Read an important article about what vegetables are good for pregnancy?>>>.

Lifestyle

It is important for a woman who is expecting a baby to find time to relax. The belly at this stage is still not too big and does not prevent you from taking long walks, which should be regular. To do this, it is better to choose forest park areas located away from highways. Read the important article: >>>;
If you are still working, then during the day, take a break more often, during which it is recommended to get up and walk around a bit. If there is an opportunity to lie down, do not deny yourself this;
It's time to start preparing your body and respiratory system for the upcoming birth. It is best to start with the Five Steps to a Successful Childbirth course >>>;

And also, you will get exercises to prepare the body for childbirth, so that you can easily survive contractions and give birth naturally.

Dads may notice an increase in your libido during this period. This is due to the fact that, with the beginning of the second trimester, in the body of the expectant mother, blood flow, vaginal secretion increases and sensitivity increases. In addition, the ailments that you could feel at the very beginning of pregnancy have already passed and you are ready to resume intimacy.

Sex at the 22nd week of pregnancy will give you a lot of positive emotions. And don't worry about the baby. It won't hurt him at all. The only contraindications may be:

feeling unwell;
discharge with blood;
the occurrence of unpleasant sensations;
doctor's ban, which may be associated with any complication.

dangers

Every period of pregnancy has its dangers, and week 22 is no exception. Now the expectant mother may face:

Re-toxicosis. Its cause may be an exacerbation of chronic pathologies. At the same time, such a state is not only unpleasant, but also dangerous;
Anemia associated with an increase in the volume of blood circulating in the body. Read more about anemia during pregnancy >>>;
Isthmic-cervical insufficiency. This condition is due to the fact that the cervix at the 22nd week of pregnancy is unable to support the weight of the fetus and begins to open, which is fraught with premature birth.

What you need to do so that pregnancy delivers only pleasant sensations:

Keep a diary if you haven't already. Here you need to write down all your feelings and emotions;
Communicate with your unborn child. He already perfectly understands the mood of his mother and loves it when she talks to him;
The load that the spine experiences increases, so it is very important to monitor how you sit, stand or walk. It is better to sleep on a hard surface, and while sitting, do not put one foot on the other. Read about >>>;
Pay attention to shoes. It should be comfortable, have an orthopedic insole and be made of natural materials;
Watch your well-being, walk more time on the street and eat right;
Avoid being in a poorly ventilated area, as this will negatively affect your well-being;
A special diet will help to cope with pressure surges;
Watch for weight gain, it should not be sharp and exceed the norm.

And remember that you are now having the best period - enjoy it!

22 obstetric week is the 20th week from conception - the embryonic gestational age, as well as 22 weeks from the start of the last menstruation. If you haven't had your second scheduled ultrasound yet, this week is the deadline! In the following weeks, ultrasound will no longer be so informative.

Child size

What happens to the child

The baby learns the world around him - he constantly feels his face, tummy, walls of the uterus surrounding him with his fingers, making his first discoveries. In response to a loud sound, a sharp call or mother's excitement, the baby may make a displeased grimace. In moments of calm, he sucks his thumb, while developing the muscles that will be useful to him to extract milk from the mother's breast, immediately after birth.

The kid is in constant noise. For association, imagine that you will be sitting in a noisy company in the loudest place. This is the background the baby hears every day. Noises are created: the heartbeat, how the blood goes through the vessels, the work of other organs. However, these sounds create a feeling of comfort and security for the baby, so do not worry!

Good to know

Every mother is interested in how her baby hears. When you speak, sound waves travel throughout the body. Passing through the spine and pelvis, they are transmitted to the child. By the way, he not only hears your voice, but also feels its vibration.

What does a child look like

Your baby already looks like a very, very small newborn. At the 22nd week of pregnancy, the nose and lips become more clear-cut. He already has full eyes, although the pigmentation of the iris is still absent. The kid has finally acquired his own facial features.

He loves to move his lips, wrinkle his forehead, stretch his lips into a kind of barely noticeable smile. The baby opens his mouth - he swallows some amniotic fluid to train his gastrointestinal tract. Eyelashes appear around the eyes. The germinal fluff (lanugo) becomes more visible. The skin of the fetus is still a little wrinkled, like an old man's, but right now the baby is getting prettier and prettier every day. Simultaneously with the accumulation of adipose tissue, facial features are rounded and more and more resemble a newborn baby.

Your baby is commensurate in size with ... corn! Now its weight is about 470 grams, size is 270-280 mm, heart rate is 120-160 bpm.

Fetal development

At a period of 22 weeks, the active growth of the baby's brain slows down. The stage of intensive development begins at the sweat glands and tactile sensations. The fetus studies itself and everything that surrounds it, by touch. His favorite pastime is sucking his fingers and grabbing everything he can reach with his hands. He is already more or less consciously turning his head.

The child still has enough space in the mother's stomach, which he uses, actively changing his position and kicking his mother in all available places. In the morning, he can lie with his ass down, and by night it’s the other way around, which a pregnant woman feels like stirring and pushing.

The child's eyes are already open and react to light - if you direct the light to the anterior abdominal wall, it will turn to its source.

Most of the time the baby sleeps - up to 22 hours during the day. Moreover, in most cases, the periods of wakefulness of the baby fall at night.

The bones of the fetus are strengthened and become more durable. They actively accumulate inorganic compounds (for example, calcium). By the 22nd week of pregnancy, the spine is fully formed. It clearly distinguishes all the vertebrae, as well as the ligaments that hold them in the desired position relative to each other.

The baby continues to form the pancreas, which is responsible for the production of hormones.

In the gum area, the first signs of the formation of future teeth are already visible.

The installation of neural connections is in full swing. The neurons of the brain are formed.

At 22 weeks pregnant, the surface of the baby's brain that was previously smooth begins to wrinkle. This formation of depressions and elevations in the brain continues until the 34th week of pregnancy, when there is already enough surface in the baby's brain to form space for all brain cells.

In the liver, enzymes begin to be produced that convert indirect bilirubin, toxic to the body (formed during the breakdown of hemoglobin), into harmless direct bilirubin, which is excreted from the body. If a child is born prematurely, then his liver is not yet able to completely neutralize indirect bilirubin. And it has a toxic effect on the body of the newborn, which requires treatment.

Reacts to loud sounds and remembers voices. If you put your hand on your stomach, you can respond with a push.

The 22nd week of pregnancy is the period of formation of taste buds in the baby's tongue. He can already distinguish sweet from bitter. The child reacts to the food taken by his mother. When mom uses hot spices, the baby frowns (taste buds in the oral cavity are also already functioning), and when using sweets, she swallows amniotic fluid.

The baby's intestines work actively and push meconium into the colon. The digestive system assimilates amniotic fluid and other substances that enter the body with them.

What happens in a woman's body

The uterus extends beyond the navel. The stomach at the 22nd week of pregnancy still does not bother you very much, the size of the uterus is such that its bottom is determined above the navel, by about 2-4 cm. You may experience discomfort due to stretched ligaments of the uterus, these are pains on the sides of the abdomen, but the longer the period pregnancy, the less likely it will occur. Your body is adapting to carry a baby. The size of the abdomen, at this stage of fetal development, largely depends on the position of the child and the tone of the muscles of the anterior abdominal wall. If the baby lies across the uterus, the tummy will appear lower, and this rule will work until the end of gestation. Strong abdominal muscles support the growing uterus, which is why in primiparas, the belly becomes noticeable later.

Permissible weight gain per week is 300-500 gr., Exceeding these figures may indicate edema. The danger of fluid retention in the body is swelling of the placenta and deterioration of its blood supply, and, therefore, deterioration in the nutrition of the fetus.

Spider veins can also appear on the skin - this is the result of an increase in the level of estrogen in the blood during pregnancy. More often, the expectant mother can notice them on the skin of the face, neck, chest and hands.

The constant increase in the abdomen leads to stretching of the skin. Often, you may experience an itching sensation. To avoid stretch marks on the skin, you should take care of its regular moisturizing.

From week 22, Braxton-Higgins training contractions may occur, they are irregular, do not cause pain, and are not accompanied by spotting.

Discharge at 22 weeks of gestation remains moderate, light or light gray, with a slight sour smell.

With a significant increase in the load from the beginning of pregnancy, the expectant mother often notices varicose phenomena on the legs. A manifestation of varicose veins in pregnant women can be, for example, hemorrhoids, which causes a lot of trouble for a woman.

Hemorrhoids often accompany pregnancy or occur after childbirth. Hemorrhoids - expansion and swelling of blood vessels near the anus, outside and inside it. It occurs due to increased blood flow in the pelvic area due to the increased weight of the uterus. Hemorrhoids usually get worse towards the end of pregnancy. With each subsequent pregnancy, it becomes more difficult.

If you do not take action, then varicose veins will go very far, resulting in complications for the health of the expectant mother, so the prevention of this disease must be dealt with as early as possible.

Enlargement and darkening of the nipples and areolas. Nipples and areolas - pigmented circles around the nipples - become larger and darker, small bumps on the areola itself - glands that produce substances to fight bacteria and lubricate the skin - become more prominent. Veins become visible through the skin of the chest.

Some pregnant women note that their sexual desire has increased, and the erogenous zones have become more sensitive. The reason lies in the increase in the blood supply to the genitals while waiting for the baby. Expectant mothers notice that sexual sensations have become more vivid, and some women experience an orgasm for the first time during pregnancy.

Good to know

Remember that sex is contraindicated in case of threatened miscarriage, placenta previa, isthmic-cervical insufficiency and some other complications.

Stomach

The belly is not that big. Its dimensions depend on the natural constitution of the mother, on the position of the fetus, on whether this is the first pregnancy or not, on the tone of the muscles of the anterior abdominal wall. If the baby is lying across the womb, the tummy will appear lower, and wider right up until delivery if the baby does not turn.

Video blog

Now you may notice that your weight is steadily increasing - you are adding about 225 grams per week. You will also notice that your appetite also increases. You can occasionally indulge in ice cream, but if you're constantly craving high-calorie foods, try to find healthy alternatives.

During pregnancy, you can keep a diary and then give it to your son or daughter when they grow up. You can even take it with you to the hospital so that you can record your feelings right after giving birth. Keeping a diary will help you capture your feelings and emotions during your pregnancy.

The nature and frequency of the baby's movements should definitely be paid special attention. True, you should not be fanatically zealous and listen to yourself every second: the main thing is to fix the movement of the baby in the morning and evening hours. Keep in mind that the frequency of movements may also indicate certain inconveniences experienced by the baby. So, excessively frequent movements may indicate, say, an insufficient supply of oxygen to the fetus. The absence of movements during the day also becomes an alarming sign, with which you should definitely go to see a doctor.

It is important to walk correctly, stand correctly, sit and lie correctly - everything matters. The load on the spine and lower back is constantly increasing, you are increasingly feeling the heaviness of the “load”, fatigue in the legs, perhaps swelling and other complications have already appeared. Do not cross your legs, try to raise your legs a little higher than usual during rest. You need to sit and lie on firm, even surfaces, without falling into a chair or mattress.

A pregnant woman at week 22, as before, may be bothered by back pain. In order to eliminate the painful symptoms, a woman needs to reconsider all the types of stress that she carries during each day. Perhaps the pain is due to the fact that the expectant mother still walks in high-heeled shoes or is actively working, completely forgetting about the rest. However, a woman needs to re-learn how to sit, stand up, even sleep, choosing the right postures and reducing the load on her back.

To prevent varicose veins, a woman at the 22nd week of pregnancy should wear loose-fitting clothes. Tight underwear, tight jeans and leggings should be avoided, because these things can squeeze the legs under the knees and in the groin area. You should not sit with your legs crossed - this is how blood circulation is disturbed, which also provokes the development of varicose veins. A pregnant woman should lie down several times during the day, but not on her back, but on her side, placing a roller or blanket under her legs to lift them up. On the recommendation of a doctor, with strong varicose formations, the expectant mother can bandage both legs in the morning with an elastic bandage, put on special tight socks. With the progression of varicose veins even after childbirth, with very large vascular lesions, a woman may be prescribed surgical treatment of the disease - removal of the affected veins.

For hemorrhoids, avoid constipation. Eat foods rich in fiber - vegetables, wholemeal bread, lactic acid products; drink more water. If necessary, you can take a mild laxative. Secondly, sitz baths help a lot. Thirdly, you can use special suppositories that are available in pharmacies without a prescription. If hemorrhoids cause you severe pain, see a doctor. Sometimes, when the disease progresses, surgery is required, but in pregnancy such cases are extremely rare.

When the first stretch marks appear, lubricate the skin with a moisturizer. This will help prevent the formation of new ones and prevent existing ones from becoming even more noticeable. A contrast shower will help increase skin elasticity. Alternate between warm and cool water. Do not use very hot or very cold water!

dangers

An immediate response requires the appearance of spotting at 22 weeks of gestation. The separation of blood from the genital tract is a symptom in any case unfavorable. So, spotting can indicate a premature onset of labor, usually abdominal pain or the presence of regular contractions will also tell you about it. The appearance of blood can also be associated with placental abruption or placenta previa - both of these phenomena are classified by doctors as critical and insist on hospitalization of the pregnant woman if they are present. Urgently seek medical help if watery, transparent discharges appear in increased quantities. Significant clear watery discharge is evidence of amniotic fluid leakage. By the way, water can leak in small amounts, in moderate portions, still creating the effect of “wet panties”. But even then, a doctor's consultation is necessary: violation of the integrity of the membranes is dangerous by intrauterine infection of the fetus.

What else is dangerous this period of pregnancy:

uterine hypertonicity,

diabetes mellitus in pregnancy,

phlebeurysm.

By the 22nd week of pregnancy, the uterus begins to train in preparation for childbirth: single "warming" contractions occur, which are called Braxton-Hicks contractions.

Braxton-Hicks contractions are called false contractions. They are very different from the contractions that take place during childbirth.

Good to know

These contractions are usually painless and irregular, and vary in duration and intensity. They do not dilate the cervix.

See what the differences are:
It can be easy to mistake Braxton Hicks contractions for real contractions at first, especially if this is your first pregnancy. If you have more than 6 uterine contractions in one hour, they last at least 30 seconds and don't go away when you start walking, call your doctor.

Analyzes

An obstetrician-gynecologist will examine you, measure your blood pressure, your height, weight. He will also make measurements of the volume of the abdomen that are already familiar to you. Analyze the level of the uterus, and listen to your baby's heartbeat. Why is all this necessary?

Weight measurement - too much weight gain during pregnancy leads to the development of complications. Also, excess weight may indicate the development of gestosis.

Measurement of blood pressure - high blood pressure may indicate arterial hypertension, preeclampsia and other complications of pregnancy.

Measurement of the standing height of the fundus of the uterus and the circumference of the abdomen - the lag of their size from the norm at this time indicates a violation of the course of pregnancy.

Listening to the fetal heartbeat with an obstetric stethoscope. Normally, the doctor hears the rhythmic and clear heartbeat of the baby.

As for the tests, at week 22 you may have to donate urine and blood to determine the level of sugar in your body, the number of red blood cells, white blood cells, protein in the urine.

Good to know

Urinalysis - is necessary to detect diseases of the kidneys and bladder, as well as preeclampsia (a complication of pregnancy, manifested by the appearance of protein in the urine, edema and increased pressure).

Your doctor may advise you to have a screening glucose test. This is the standard test for assessing the presence of gestational diabetes.

ultrasound

At 22 weeks, it is still possible to perform a second screening ultrasound if not done on the 21st.

All organs of the fetus are clearly visible and the specialist carefully evaluates their shape, size, excludes the presence of defects.

If an ultrasound is performed for the first time after the first screening that you performed at week 12, this time you will find not only information about the condition of the fetus, but also a small surprise - information about the sex of the child. Finally, you will know what color of clothes you will need to buy for the baby.

Fetometry (fetal size) is normal

BDP (biparietal size). With ultrasound of the fetus at 22 weeks of gestation, the biparietal size is 48–60 mm.

LZ (fronto-occipital size). With ultrasound of the fetus at 22 weeks of gestation, 64-76 mm.

OG (fetal head circumference). With ultrasound of the fetus at 22 weeks of gestation, the head circumference corresponds to 178–212 mm.

Normal sizes of long bones on ultrasound

Femur 35–43 mm.

Humerus 31–39 mm.

Forearm bones 26–34 mm.

Lower leg bones 31–39 mm.

Good to know

The main goal of an ultrasound scan at 22 weeks is to identify malformations of the baby. In particular, the full development of the child at this stage of pregnancy, the work of internal organs, a sufficient amount of oxygen, as well as the activity of the fetus are evaluated.

When conducting an ultrasound of the fetus at 22 weeks of gestation, a study of the main structures of the brain is carried out. Be sure to examine the cerebellum and its internal structure - the cerebellar vermis to exclude a serious malformation - Bud-Chiari syndrome. Dilated ventricles of the brain indicate hydrocephalus. Normally, their size does not exceed 10 mm in transverse projection. With an ultrasound of the fetus at 22 weeks of gestation, clarity is finally made regarding the presence and normality of the structure of all brain structures, since by this time the final organic formation of the nervous system occurs.

In addition to the brain, a mandatory position for examination is the study of the integrity of the spinal cord and spine of the fetus. With ultrasound of the fetus at 22 weeks of gestation, using volumetric imaging using 4D ultrasound, abnormalities in the development of this area are clearly and clearly excluded. Mom herself sees that everything is fine with her child. It is important to make an accurate assessment of the spine using 4D in the mother's elevated AFP blood levels during second trimester prenatal screening (the "triple test").

The doctor also evaluates the structure of the placenta for possible anomalies in the location, pathologies, the degree of its maturity, and so on. Finally, the quality of blood flow in the vessels of the uterus and umbilical cord is assessed.

If malformations incompatible with life are detected, parents have the opportunity to decide to terminate the pregnancy, since up to 22 weeks inclusive, termination of pregnancy is regarded as an abortion, and already from 23 weeks - as premature birth, when the child must be nursed.

The expectant mother at the 22nd week of pregnancy continues to listen to the baby and study his new perfections in development. And the baby is growing and gaining strength.

Fetal development

Fetal size: your baby has grown well, now he weighs 350 grams and is about 30 cm long.

This week, his habitat has become a little small for him. Now he doesn't move as fast as he doesn't have much room for a fast paced lifestyle. But still he is active. The baby continues to change its location, then straight, then upside down and can even lie across. During this period, his restlessness in one position is normal.

In principle, when compared with last week, the baby's height has not changed much, but the weight is constantly increasing. After all, the baby diligently accumulates subcutaneous fat, which will give him a normal body temperature after birth. Also, his weight increased due to the fact that there is an active growth of the brain.

The brain of the baby has developed to such an extent that your child explores his environment with the help of touch, touches everything around him - the placenta, himself. He also really likes when you stroke your tummy, he feels it and reacts to any touch.

Hair continues to grow, in some children it reaches such a length that it can be seen with the help of ultrasound how they swim around, hairs on the eyebrows are also clearly visible. Nails grow, when the baby is born, you will see how long his nails are. The baby's face is already similar to the parents, the eyes are in place, the ears are already fully formed, the final formation of the nose is underway, the nasal cartilage is being formed.

In boys, this week the testicles begin to gradually descend from the pelvis into the scrotum.

Now your baby is fully beginning to prepare for vitality, that is, he acquires all the necessary skills to live on his own.

How does the baby hear at 22 weeks pregnant?

During this period, perhaps the most interesting thing is that his hearing becomes perfect. How does the child hear? He is inside you and the sound comes to him in a different way.

How can a baby hear sounds from outside through such noise? And what sounds does he hear? The child hears those sounds that drown out the sounds of your body. Before hearing sounds from outside, they pass through the walls of the abdomen, uterus, and amniotic fluid. All the sounds that the baby hears from the outside seem deaf to him, this suggests that he will recognize and listen to his father's voice with pleasure.

Every mother is interested in how her baby hears. When you speak, sound waves travel throughout the body. Passing through the spine and pelvis, they are transmitted to the child. By the way, he not only hears your voice, but also feels its vibration.

Your baby is already making sounds. Distinguishes the voice of the pope from other voices. And if external sounds are unpleasant for you, then he also reacts negatively to them. The child is fully prepared for the study of sounds. Now you can start instilling good habits in him. For example, include classical music for him.

baby movements

So the week of pregnancy has come, when you already definitely feel that your baby is moving, responding to your touch and behaving actively. Since he has grown up, and there is not enough space for him, he moves about 15 times an hour. Of course, not all of his movements you feel.

You are constantly listening to yourself. When the baby is quiet, you may start to panic about why he is quiet and the baby is just sleeping. Most often, he falls asleep during the day when you are in motion, you can say that you rock him. Sleep lasts two to three hours. The active period of stirring in a baby usually occurs closer to 10 pm. When you are already relaxed, lie quietly, he begins to behave actively.

You need to see a doctor if your baby does not move for more than 12 hours. In principle, you feel it periodically for 12 hours, in the morning, in the evening and in the afternoon. Although during the day you may not notice, because you are doing something else, and this distracts attention. In twelve hours you should feel about 10 movements.

The movements of the baby are of an average degree, that is, he is not very active and at the same time does not calm down for a long time. Expectant mothers do not panic, and do not constantly think about the movements of the baby. Get used to the new feeling that your baby is living his life, and sometimes you feel his violent manifestation, that is, tremors. Over time, you will begin to distinguish when the child is active and when he sleeps. Listen to yourself, because you and your baby feel the same way.

Feelings and changes in the expectant mother

On an emotional level, this is a wonderful period for a woman. When there are no fears about future childbirth, the mood is constantly on top. You can already clearly see that you are pregnant, your tummy protrudes well forward, and visually you can already see how your baby is pushing you and rowdy in your stomach.
By this week, you have become accustomed to the symptoms of heartburn, have learned how to deal with it. If you often feel tired legs, then you need to distribute the load: sometimes sit, then walk around, and sometimes it’s worth lying down a bit. If possible, when you lie down, try to lift your legs up. Thus, fatigue in the legs will go away, blood circulation will improve, puffiness will go away.
During this period, you already begin to notice that you are becoming clumsy, your gait is changing. Many people don't even pay attention to it. But there are women who, against the background of this, have complexes. Do not complete - you are now in the best position for a woman. Enjoy every moment that nature has given you.

Nutrition Features

The main point in nutrition remains the same moment as during the whole pregnancy - a healthy diet. Products should be natural, and the diet should be correct. You need to eat in small quantities, but often. Since during this period you have a very large appetite, eating in small portions will help satisfy your hunger and at the same time not gain extra pounds.

First of all, dairy products, fresh fruits and vegetables should be in your diet. The body also lacks iron, so add buckwheat, beef, pomegranate to the diet so that the right amount of iron enters the body. Indeed, due to a lack of iron in the blood, anemia can develop.

Fresh vegetables are healthy!

In order to better control weight, experts recommend removing flour and sweet foods from the diet. Since they have a lot of carbohydrates, which increase your weight.

Due to the fact that now there may be late toxicosis, that is, swelling of the legs, it is recommended to use less salt in the diet. Since salt retains fluid in the body, resulting in swelling.

Weight

During the 22nd week of pregnancy, you should gain no more than 5.7 kg and no less than 5.2 kg. Every time you come to the antenatal clinic, you are weighed and your weight is monitored. But, nevertheless, continue to weigh yourself at home and watch your weight.

In weight gain, consider your pre-pregnancy weight, if you were thin, then you will gain more weight than a larger woman.

Also, at the beginning of pregnancy, for many women it happens that they have lost weight, as there was toxicosis. But by week 22, you should have already gained the amount of weight that you should now have.

From these 7 days, your weight will be gaining smoothly, without any jumps. If the weight has increased sharply or the weight has been in one place for several days, this indicates that the pregnancy is proceeding with deviations.

Video

Photo ultrasound

The 22nd week of pregnancy is a wonderful moment in your life, when you become even closer with the baby, you have new contacts. Now you constantly feel it inside you, protect it and enjoy every moment when it pushes you.

Here you come to the finish line. Pregnancy at 21 weeks is a kind of equator (the middle of your pregnancy). 21 weeks of pregnancy corresponds to 19 weeks of fetal development. So, you are in your sixth month of pregnancy, and you are probably already used to the slight floundering and movement in your stomach (these sensations will accompany you until the end of pregnancy).

How does the expectant mother feel?
First of all, the attention of the future mother at the 21st week of pregnancy is focused on the movements of her beloved child. Sometimes it is overly active, which may raise the question - will the child injure the wall of the uterus, other internal organs of the woman? But, although the walls of the uterus have become much thinner than at the beginning of pregnancy, and the mother now feels well even the slightest movements of the child, they remain very elastic, resilient, and dampen the blows of even a stronger and larger baby - for example, as at the end of pregnancy, before childbirth .

The breast of a pregnant woman remains enlarged, and maybe even more. If the expectant mother puts on weight much more than the norm suggests, the mammary glands can also grow rapidly due to the very thick subcutaneous fat layer. The peripapillary areola has become much darker and larger in area, the nipple stands out sharply on the chest, it has become much harder and more sensitive. From the nipple at the 21st week of pregnancy, colostrum can ooze - a clear, yellowish or whitish mucous liquid. In order to avoid embarrassment due to strong secretions of colostrum on clothes, a pregnant woman should already now wear loose, and not tight-fitting, clothes, have supportive, but not squeezing underwear of a larger size than before, and put special napkins in a bra.

A woman's legs can swell, especially if she spends all day on her feet and drinks a lot of fluids. If the swelling is persistent, you should tell your doctor about it. A woman needs to rest in a prone position several times a day, it is advisable to put her legs on a roller at these moments in order to eliminate puffiness. The expectant mother needs to give up heels, and give preference to comfortable shoes with low, stable soles so as not to provoke swelling and eliminate leg fatigue.

Your appetites may start to increase because the baby is getting fat and needs extra calories. Eat enough to not go hungry, and by all means a variety of food rich in various nutrients. However, in no case do not overeat and do not overeat at night, keep your weight and allowable gains under control. By 21 weeks, you could gain an additional 4.5 to 6.5 kg. Calmly perceive your bizarre gastronomic desires - a perversion of appetite in this period is quite common.
Remember that the muscular and skeletal system of the fetus is strengthened, which means that the need for calcium increases. But be careful with medications: an excess of calcium can lead to premature overgrowth of the fontanel, and this is unacceptable for natural childbirth. Therefore, additional calcium inside can be taken only on the recommendation of a doctor.

As your mass increases, the load on the spine and lower back will increase. To avoid back pain, avoid long walking and sitting, do not sit on chairs without a back, learn how to get out of bed correctly (first lower your legs to the floor, and only then get up yourself), lift and carry weights: it is better to distribute the load equally in two hands, and bending down, slightly spread your legs to the sides and sit down, bending them at the knees; if lifting heavy, distribute the load on the buttocks, hips and shoulders.

Do not raise your hands above your head, and if you had to do this, do not keep them in this state for a long time.

So, let's put together all the unpleasant moments that you, dear women, may have, and which you should not be too afraid of.

Pulls the stomach (cause: tension of the ligaments of the uterus and expansion of the pelvis)
The appearance of hemorrhoids and bleeding from the anus
Back pain
Profuse vaginal discharge
The appearance of colostrum
Increased appetite (will accompany the expectant mother up to 30 weeks)
The appearance of shortness of breath
Frequent visits to the toilet, especially at night
Heartburn
Swelling of the legs

As for external changes, they take place here:
A sharp weight gain (about half of the weight that you have already gained);
Increased growth of hair and nails;
increased sweating;
Increasing the size of the legs;
The appearance of stretch marks.

However, do not forget that at the same time, if your pregnancy is desired, proceeds normally, the 21st week is the heyday of a pregnant woman. You look great and you most likely enjoy looking at yourself in the mirror. Such trifles as skin pigmentation, a growing tummy and a missing waist are not very upsetting.
Women at this time have beautiful strong hair, clean skin (well, maybe only age spots spoil it), and large, full breasts are especially pleasing to those who could not boast of voluminous forms before.

And all the unpleasant moments brighten up, which have already become quite tangible and constant, the movements of your crumbs. By this time, most pregnant women already feel the movements of the fetus. The baby still has enough space to perform complex acrobatic stunts. During the day, he can change his position in the uterus several times. This is normal, there is still enough time before the birth to be in the head presentation. Periods of activity last from a few minutes and are repeated 10-15 times a day. The rest of the time - from 16 to 20 hours a day, the baby sleeps. Sleeping and growing.

Is it possible to play sports at 21 weeks pregnant?
If a woman went in for sports on a regular basis before pregnancy, she is unlikely to lead a passive lifestyle with her onset. Yes, this is not necessary, because a reasonable sports load during pregnancy is a boon that strengthens the body of the expectant mother, as well as delivering more oxygen to the baby. But sports are different sports, and every woman knows that extreme sports, too much physical activity can, on the contrary, make the baby experience hypoxia, and in frequent cases, provoke premature termination of pregnancy.

Doctors rightly point out that the safest and most beneficial sport, from the beginning of pregnancy to childbirth, is swimming. It is swimming that unloads the spine, helps to relax all muscle groups, eliminate spasms and back pain. If a woman does not know how to swim, you can perform smooth aqua aerobics exercises under the guidance of an experienced instructor. A pregnant woman can be engaged in sports simulators, but only on those that do not involve a load on the back or stomach. For example, you can do “skiing”, “ride” on an exercise bike, walk at a fast pace, without bouncing, on a treadmill.

Not every pregnant woman has the opportunity to visit the gym, swimming pool or the "School of Expectant Mothers". But absolutely every expectant mother can afford daily walks, which are also a good physical activity that brings a woman's body into tone. You can walk in the evening, before going to bed. Walking is an occasion to be alone with your husband, to talk about something important and sincere. Every evening, the expectant mother in the middle of pregnancy can walk about 4 km.

Undesirable sports during pregnancy include, for example, running, jumping, weight lifting - barbell, kettlebell lifting. Equestrian sports, skiing, skating can have a negative impact on the course of pregnancy.

Considering the fact that the last few weeks the external changes in your body are not inferior to the internal ones, it's time to update your wardrobe. What does a future mother need?

Underwear for pregnant women.

Choose underwear made from natural, hypoallergenic fabrics. It should allow air to pass freely, not press or press. Doctors recommend choosing a bra with wide straps without bone inserts, and shorts with a low waist, or, conversely, supporting the stomach.
A bandage is a support belt. It helps relieve tension in the lower back and support a growing belly. Its function is to redistribute the load. Bandages for pregnant women are available in the form of panties and belts, which can change size as the belly grows.
Tights for pregnant women differ from the usual ones by the presence of a special insert. There are also therapeutic tights for the prevention of varicose veins, which improve blood circulation, relieve swelling of the legs, and reduce the load on the heart.

Ultrasound at 21 weeks pregnant.

The 21st week of pregnancy is for sure the period that you have been looking forward to. Time of the second scheduled ultrasound. The doctor will carefully measure the parameters of the fetus, the size of its body parts, the functioning of the organs and the condition of the placenta, and possibly tell you the sex of the baby. As a rule, fetal anomalies incompatible with life are detected at the first ultrasound, and at 21 weeks of gestation, the study is aimed at identifying possible intrauterine infections, fetal growth retardation, studying the structure of the placenta, identifying polyhydramnios or oligohydramnios. Less often, congenital malformations of the fetus are also determined, which, however, should not be taken as a sentence, rather as a reason for consulting a geneticist.

In order for you to independently draw a conclusion about the condition of the baby by looking at the ultrasound data, we present here the normal indicators of the study at this time. So, the 21st week of pregnancy is characterized by the following parameters: BDP (biparietal head size) - 51 mm, abdominal circumference - 144 mm and DB (femur length) - 37 mm. These are the main indicators by which the doctor can even determine the gestational age with an accuracy of several days. According to the ratio of the size of the head and abdomen of the fetus, it is judged whether there is growth retardation. According to the medical classification, there are several types of this deviation - symmetrical and asymmetric IUGR (intrauterine growth retardation). The symmetrical form indicates severe disorders, manifests itself as the same lag of all fetal parameters from the age norm, and can even serve as a basis for early delivery. The asymmetric form is observed more often and its prognosis is more optimistic.

Fetal development at 21 weeks of gestation

Fruit appearance:
Your child is already growing to an impressive size of 18-28 cm, and already weighs about 400 grams;
The skin becomes smoother and acquires a natural color due to subcutaneous fatty tissue;
The baby's body becomes more rounded;
The formation of eyebrows and eyelashes is finally completed (he already knows how to blink);
The rudiments of milk teeth are already appearing in the gums.

Formation and functioning of organs and systems:

By the 21st week, the internal organs of the fetus are completing their formation, but they have not yet been debugged;
Almost all endocrine glands are already performing their functions: the pituitary, pancreas, thyroid, adrenal glands and sex glands;
The spleen is included in the work;
The central nervous system (CNS) improves and the child is awake during the period of activity and rests during sleep;
The digestive system is so developed that the baby can swallow amniotic fluid, and the stomach, in turn, separates water and sugar from them and passes it all the way to the rectum;
Taste buds develop on the tongue of the bladder; very soon the baby will be able to distinguish sweet from salty, bitter from sour. (Attention: the taste of the amniotic fluid is directly related to the mother's nutrition. If the mother is fond of sweets, then the liquid will be sweet, and the baby will grow up sweet);
Leukocytes are formed, which are responsible for protecting the baby from infections;
The kidneys are already able to pass up to 0.5 ml of filtered fluid excreted in the form of urine;
All "extra" elements begin to accumulate in the large intestine, turning into meconium;
The growth of lanugo on the baby's head continues.

22 week

22 weeks of pregnancy corresponds to 20 weeks from conception. The expectant mother is still quite active, her mood is cheerful and her condition is also not satisfactory. Libido increases, which is an absolutely normal reaction of the body for this trimester.

At 22 weeks, a woman is already a little more than halfway to the long-awaited moment of the birth of a child. The connection between the child and mother is already quite strong, the baby moves a lot and gradually prepares for a separate existence.

How does the expectant mother feel?
A pregnant woman at 22 weeks, as before, may be disturbed back pain. In order to eliminate the painful symptoms, a woman needs to reconsider all the types of stress that she carries during each day. Perhaps the pain is due to the fact that the expectant mother still walks in high-heeled shoes or is actively working, completely forgetting about the rest. However, a woman needs to re-learn how to sit, stand up, even sleep, choosing the right postures and reducing the load on her back.

A woman may notice that her favorite and familiar shoes suddenly become tight. This is due to swelling of the legs, as well as the fact that the foot of the expectant mother increases in the transverse and longitudinal direction due to the effect of hormones on the joints and ligaments, relaxing and softening them. In the body of the expectant mother, preparations for childbirth take place, the tissues become more elastic, more extensible. At the beginning of the second half of pregnancy, a woman and the people around her may notice a significant change in her gait - this is due to the softening of the pubic articulation, the tissues of the joints and tendons. The woman begins to walk, shaking the body from side to side - the so-called "duck" gait. This is especially pronounced in the last weeks of pregnancy.

Varicose veins in pregnancy
With a significant increase in the load from the beginning of pregnancy, the expectant mother often notices varicose phenomena on the legs. Heaviness appears in the legs, sometimes cramps and muscle pain, especially at night. We must not forget that varicose veins are not only the appearance of tortuous vascular formations on the legs. A manifestation of varicose veins in pregnant women can be, for example, hemorrhoids, which causes a lot of trouble for a woman. If you do not take action, then varicose veins will go very far, resulting in complications for the health of the expectant mother, so the prevention of this disease must be dealt with as early as possible.

The risk group for varicose veins is people whose professional activities or lifestyle are associated with great activity, standing for hours on their feet, or, conversely, sitting in an office chair. Basically, these are people who suffer from physical inactivity, some of them are overweight, loose physique. Signs of varicose veins are the appearance of vascular nodes under the skin. These formations consist of dilated, blood-filled vessels, in which congestion is subsequently noted.

Varicose nodes can be not only on the legs - they can be in the rectum and on the genitals, because these places of the body have an abundant blood supply, and a very branched vascular network. With the course of pregnancy, varicose phenomena only progress, the nodes become larger, new formations appear. The legs of a pregnant woman begin to hurt even after a short walk, they swell, they feel heaviness, sometimes itching and burning on the skin.

On the recommendation of a doctor, with strong varicose formations, the expectant mother can bandage both legs in the morning with an elastic bandage, put on special tight socks. With the progression of varicose veins even after childbirth, with very large vascular lesions, a woman may be prescribed surgical treatment for the disease - removal of the affected veins.

Feelings of a woman at the 22nd week of pregnancy

The feelings of the expectant mother at the 22nd week of pregnancy do not yet overshadow her condition and do not prevent her from enjoying life. The tummy is already a decent size, but you can still see your legs and tie the laces on your shoes yourself. But a number of new features are still present:
The movements of the baby become more active and frequent. Sometimes you can even guess what parts of the body he kicks. During the day, at least ten movements of the child should be felt;
It becomes difficult to find a comfortable position to rest;
The woman becomes extremely sensitive to events, words, as well as smells and tastes.
What happens in a woman's body at the 22nd week of pregnancy?
At this stage of pregnancy, a woman may be disturbed by the abundance of discharge. The reason to be examined by a doctor is an unpleasant odor and a greenish (brown) tint of discharge. Their transparency in the absence of itching is a normal phenomenon, solved by daily pads;
There is a possibility of soreness and bleeding of the gums. You should select a special toothpaste and take multivitamin preparations (of course, consulting your doctor before use);
Nasal congestion may also appear at this stage of pregnancy. This is fine. Bleeding of the nose requires a doctor's check for high blood pressure. Facilitate the state of congestion drops based on sea salt;
Attacks of weakness and dizziness are possible. The reason for the increased sensitivity that develops by this time is physiological anemia. The volume of blood grows, and the cells do not have time to form in the required amount;
There is a significant increase in appetite;
Weight gain - more than 300-500 grams during the week. Exceeding these indicators may indicate fluid retention in the body;
Sex is especially pleasant at the 22nd week of pregnancy. It is during this period that women often experience their first orgasm in their lives;
Useful sports.

Ultrasound at 22 weeks pregnant

Starting from the twenty-second week of pregnancy, you need to increase your visits to the antenatal clinic. If in the first half of pregnancy you visited the doctor once a month, now you will have to go for an examination twice, unless additional studies are scheduled. At this time, the fetus is already formed enough to be able to identify possible malformations or abnormalities in the functioning of organs. At the same time, a relatively large amount of amniotic fluid makes it easy to determine impurities, the state of the umbilical cord, placenta. That is why the 22nd week of pregnancy is the right time to perform a second ultrasound. The coccygeal-parietal size of the fetus (KTR) is no longer of decisive importance; instead, the parameters of individual parts of the fetal body and their ratio are determined. The normal indicators for this period are the following: the biparietal size of the fetal head (BDP) is from 54 to 56 mm, the dimensions of the chest are 50 and 53 mm, the perimeter of the abdominal cavity is 162 mm. The length of the femur is 40 mm, and the shoulder is 39 mm. Of particular importance is not so much the measurement of the limbs, head and torso, but the calculation of their ratio and the correspondence of the obtained proportions to the gestational age. Also, during an ultrasound scan at the twenty-second week of pregnancy, the amount and transparency of amniotic fluid is determined. In the medical opinion, the results obtained are denoted by the abbreviation IAF - amniotic fluid index. Its normal indicators vary from 5 to 25 cm, a deviation in one direction or another indicates a lot or oligohydramnios.

Fetal development at 22 weeks of gestation

The weight of the baby already reaches 420-500 grams, which gives him the opportunity, in case of premature birth, to survive. The length from the crown of the baby to his sacrum is about 27-27.5 cm.
At a period of 22 weeks, the active growth of the baby's brain slows down. The stage of intensive development begins at the sweat glands and tactile sensations. The fetus studies itself and everything that surrounds it, by touch. His favorite pastime is sucking his fingers and grabbing with his hands everything that he can reach;
The child still has enough space in the mother's stomach, which he uses, actively changing his position and kicking his mother in all available places. In the morning, he can lie with his ass down, and by night it is already the other way around, which is felt by a pregnant woman as movements and jolts;
Most of the time the baby sleeps - up to 22 hours during the day. Moreover, in most cases, the periods of wakefulness of the baby fall at night;
The child's eyes are already open and react to light - if you direct the light to the anterior abdominal wall, it will turn to its source;
The installation of neural connections is in full swing. Brain neurons are formed;
The child reacts to the food taken by the mother. When mom uses hot spices, the baby frowns (taste buds in the oral cavity are also already functioning), and when using sweets, she swallows amniotic fluid;
Responds to loud sounds and remembers voices;
If you put your hand on your stomach, you can respond with a push.

23 weeks pregnant

23 obstetric weeks is 21 weeks from conception. If you count the usual months, then you are now at the beginning of the sixth month of pregnancy.
By the 23rd week of pregnancy, the uterus is already raised by 3.75 cm above the navel, and its height at the pubic symphysis is 23 cm. By this time, the figure of the expectant mother has already noticeably rounded, weight gain should reach from 5 to 6.7 kg.

Often, the expectant mother at this time complains of pain in the abdomen, in particular on the sides, especially when she gets up, sneezes, coughs. This is from overstretching of the muscles that support the uterus. Also from this period you may feel false training contractions. To relieve back pain and reduce abdominal pain, wear a prenatal bandage, do not walk in heels, do not sleep on your stomach, stay off your feet for a long time, learn how to lie and sit properly. But if abdominal pain is accompanied by additional symptoms (like fever, bloody vaginal discharge and others), you should immediately consult a doctor.

Due to the fact that the hormonal background of the female body during pregnancy undergoes great changes and rises many times, the expectant mother at the 23rd week of her interesting position may notice changes that occur with her appearance. The lips of a woman become much fuller, the nose may increase. A woman may have pregnancy pigment spots on her face, neck, chest, abdomen, which will quickly disappear after childbirth. The excess of hormones provokes hair growth - the expectant mother notices that they have become much better looking, shiny and do not fall out as before. In addition, hair can suddenly begin to grow on the shoulders, face, legs, back, abdomen. The expectant mother does not need to remove this hair right now, because after childbirth, when the hormonal background returns to normal, these hairs will disappear again. Pregnancy progresses, the baby takes on a significant part of calcium and other substances. Do not start dental problems and contact the dentist in time. Perform daily hygiene, due to increased sweating, you may have to go to the shower more often. Don't forget to prevent stretch marks.

Of course, eat right, move a lot, get enough rest and enjoy this fertile time: it is slowly coming to an end.

Fetal development in the 23rd week of pregnancy

By the twenty-third week of pregnancy, the weight of the child is about 520 grams, height is 28-30 centimeters. Further, the longer the gestational age is, the more the weight and height of the child will vary within very large limits, and the more children will differ from each other. As a result, for childbirth, the weight of the fetus in some women can be 2500 grams, and in others 4500 grams. And all this is within the normal range.
At the twenty-third week, literally all women already feel movements. These are very tangible jolts, sometimes hiccups, which will be felt as rhythmic shudders in the stomach. At week 23, the fetus can still move quite freely in the uterus. However, his somersaults can cause you significant discomfort. You can clearly feel your heels and elbows.

By week 23, your baby will also experience the following changes:

The buildup of fat begins. Despite this, so far your baby looks shriveled and red. The reason is that the skin is formed much faster than sufficient fat deposits can form under it. It is because of this that the skin of the child is slightly saggy. Redness, in turn, is a consequence of the accumulation of pigments in the skin. They make it not so transparent;
The fetus is more active. As mentioned above, every week your baby becomes more energetic, although he pushes very gently. With endoscopy of the fetus at this time, you can see how the child pushes into the water shell and grabs the umbilical cord with his hands;
The digestive system is well developed. The child continues to swallow small amounts of amniotic fluid. At 23 weeks, the baby can swallow it up to 500 ml. It removes it from the body in the form of urine. Since the amniotic fluid contains flakes of the epidermis, particles of a protective lubricant, fluffy hair, the child periodically swallows them along with the water. The liquid part of the amniotic fluid is absorbed into the blood, and a dark olive-colored substance called meconium remains in the intestines. Meconium is formed from the second half of pregnancy, but is normally released only after birth;
The central nervous system of the baby develops. At this time, with the help of devices, it is already possible to register brain activity, which is similar to that of born children and even adults. Also, at the 23rd week of pregnancy, the baby can dream;
The eyes are already open. Now the baby sees light and darkness and can react to them. The child already hears very well, he reacts to various sounds, increases his activity with sharp noises and calms down with gentle conversation and stroking his tummy.

At week 23, you must definitely do an ultrasound scan, if this was not done by you two weeks ago. Remember that if you do not pass this test now, then it will be much more difficult to identify any fetal pathologies, if any, later. Naturally, you need to be outdoors more often, eat properly and balanced, follow all the recommendations of your doctor.

24 weeks pregnant

One of the most comfortable weeks of pregnancy. You look great and feel happy and satisfied. If until this week you have not gained the required weight, then it's time to catch up. Now you are starting to look pregnant and outwardly. What does the gestational age mean - 24 weeks?
So, the gynecologist tells you the term - 24 weeks of pregnancy. This is an obstetric period. This means that you are 22 weeks from conception and 20 weeks from missing your period.

Feelings of a woman at the 24th week of pregnancy

Your well-being is excellent, your appearance pleases, and your mood has returned to normal. Now it remains only to enjoy your position and prepare for childbirth. Your tummy is growing rapidly, your hips are growing, and with them your breasts are preparing for feeding.
You will feel a surge of strength. Mood swings are no longer so strong and may even disappear completely; It's time to start attending courses for pregnant women.
Most likely, your well-being and appearance will improve: your hair will shine, your skin will become clean and tender, your cheeks will turn pink. But sometimes it happens differently: oily hair becomes greasy, dry hair begins to break and fall out, the skin condition can also worsen, and the nails become more brittle;
The light movements of the baby develop into pushes and even kicks. Some mothers experience acute pain if their baby presses particularly hard on the sciatic nerve, which runs along the back of the leg;
You may have slight facial swelling, and "extra" water in your body. To avoid this, it is worth reducing the amount of water consumed for a while, not getting carried away with salty and spicy dishes;
A completely normal phenomenon for this week is a sharp weight gain;
From now on, you need looser clothing. Time to go shopping;
There may be a problem with heavy sweating. Shower more often, drink more water (if there is no swelling) and do not wear synthetics;
By week 24, weight gain should be 4.5 kg. Then weekly you will gain an average of 0.5 kg.

Fetal development at 24 weeks of gestation

By this time, the sense organs are practically formed. Three months ago, the baby had the first skin sensitivity, two - taste - lingual papillae formed on the tongue. A month ago, vestibular sensitivity began to form, providing the ability to maintain balance. Hearing and vision develop. At the twenty-fourth week, the baby hears how the mother's heart beats, voices, music. The perception of various sounds is associated with irritation of the auditory nerves, which causes a more intensive development of the brain regions that are responsible for speech and musical hearing.

If a bright light falls on the stomach, then the child closes his eyelids tightly and tries to turn away from him. If a mother sees something beautiful and experiences positive emotions, she produces pleasure hormones that are transmitted to the baby. This strong emotional connection lasts throughout pregnancy and during the first year of a baby's life. The first visual sensations of the child, which he receives in the uterus, are divided into "light" and "dark". For this reason, child psychologists and doctors recommend giving babies black and white toys in the first months of life.

The fetus at the 24th week of pregnancy is rapidly gaining weight, during this week it will add up to 600 grams in weight from 500-520 grams.

The weight of the fetus is added at 24 weeks, mainly due to the active accumulation of brown adipose tissue. This fat is deposited on the tummy and in the area of the shoulder blades, it is special, almost all of it will be used in the first days after childbirth as a powerful source of energy. Immediately after birth, the baby does not get enough food, the mother does not have milk, there is only a little colostrum, and it is very difficult for him to maintain body temperature. It is this fat that will give the baby all the necessary energy to adapt immediately after birth and in the first days, this is a kind of highly concentrated fuel, without which the child cannot do without.

A child at the 24th week of pregnancy begins to respond to a large extent to the mood and well-being of the mother. All your worries are transferred to him, he is able to get scared and experience stress. And for the fetus itself, sharp sounds also create stressful situations, it can react with motor anxiety to clapping and loud sounds from outside. What happens when you are worried and nervous? Stress hormones are produced in your body, and they all go to the fetus, your baby feels the same as you, only unlike you, he is not able to understand the reasons for what is happening, which means that he perceives everything more painfully. That is why pregnant women need only positive emotions, this is necessary first of all for the belly-maker.

At 24 weeks pregnant, the size of the fetus is already large enough to limit its ability to move in the uterus. Usually, by this time, children already lie in the uterus correctly, head down, taking a position of minimal volume, while the legs are crossed and pressed to the tummy, the head is tilted forward and pressed with the chin to the chest, and the arms are crossed near the chest.

At 24 weeks of pregnancy, the position of the fetus may still change, if the child lies incorrectly, you should not worry, the ability to turn around without problems.

At the 24th week of pregnancy, the movements of the baby become more noticeable. There may be both tremors and a feeling of shuddering in the abdomen (hiccups). Usually, movements are episodes, and are replaced by periods of rest.

At 24 weeks gestation, the development of the child is almost complete in the sense that he is already viable. His lungs were formed, they began the formation of surfactant, a substance responsible for the opening of the alveoli after childbirth. From this period, he has a small chance of surviving a premature birth. However, the state of health in any case will be violated in the future, it is too early for him to be born ...

A calm second trimester continues, during which a woman can fully enjoy her position. Her figure has already changed enough to make it clear to everyone that replenishment is expected soon, but her stomach is not yet so huge as to cause significant inconvenience. According to the obstetric calendar, the 22nd week of pregnancy is a continuation of the sixth month. What happens at this time and what complications may appear?

Many expectant mothers remember the first few weeks of gestation as a nightmare, because they were constantly sick and sleepy. But with the onset of the second trimester, the discomfort, as a rule, passes, and a woman can finally understand what a miracle it is to carry a new life in herself. The 22nd week of pregnancy is unlikely to bring any changes compared to the previous week, although the baby continues to actively gain weight and develop.

Feel

Let's figure out what happens at the 22nd week of pregnancy with a woman's body. Despite the fact that until the moment of meeting with the baby is still far away, the body is already beginning to gradually prepare for childbirth. The baby regularly reminds her mother of her existence, actively pushing, and women listen to these shocks with bated breath.

The 22nd obstetric week of pregnancy is a period when a close emotional connection has already been established between the baby and the mother. Therefore, it is important that a woman be upset and stressed as little as possible. Positive emotions and a calm, joyful mood are very important for a pregnant woman.

The baby at the 22nd week of pregnancy continues to move actively, and the mother perfectly feels his movements. Attentive women may notice that the child has his own regime, most of the day he sleeps quietly, and during periods of wakefulness he shows enviable activity. The baby can also push in various non-standard situations, for example, with loud sounds.

Many mothers at 22 weeks of pregnancy feel strange vibrations in their stomach for the first time. These sensations are caused by the fact that the baby, having swallowed amniotic fluid, begins to hiccup. This phenomenon is absolutely normal, you should not be afraid of it. Neither the woman nor the baby is in danger.

Stomach

During a planned visit to the gynecologist, the doctor will definitely measure the belly of the pregnant woman. It is measured in two ways:

circle;
the height of the uterine fundus.

The results obtained at this time depend on many parameters. It is clear that if twins are expected, then the volume of the abdomen will be significantly larger than with a normal singleton pregnancy.

The size of the abdomen also depends on the body weight of the pregnant woman. In slender women, it is less than in those who have gained significant excess weight.

But in any case, the belly at the 22nd week of pregnancy is already so large that it becomes uncomfortable to wear ordinary clothes, even if they are loose-fitting. But the still enlarged tummy does not prevent the woman from moving freely - bending over, turning, etc.

Due to the active growth of the abdomen, the skin begins to stretch strongly, while the woman may experience itching. During this period, stretch marks can appear on the skin of the abdomen, so it is better to start applying moisturizers to the body in advance to reduce the risk of their formation.

State uterus

The 22nd week of pregnancy is the time when the uterus is already large enough, it has risen 2 centimeters above the navel. The enlarged uterus rests against the diaphragm and can cause shortness of breath. In addition, the digestive organs are also squeezed, so many mothers have to deal with such unpleasant phenomena as heartburn and constipation.

At this time, some women begin to feel irregular cramping pains in the lower abdomen. These are the so-called training contractions, they are not too painful and irregular. Such contractions are a kind of training that prepares the body for childbirth. Training contractions, periodically appearing pain in the lower abdomen - this is normal. But you need to know that they are only safe if:

pain is weak;
no more than 15 contractions are noted during the day, and they are irregular.

If cramping pains are strong and appear every few minutes, then you need to urgently call an ambulance. Perhaps this is the beginning of preterm labor and the woman needs urgent medical care to maintain her pregnancy.

Child's condition

Let's figure out what happens to the baby at 22 weeks of gestation. It is already almost fully formed, but it is not yet ready for an independent life. Although now they have already learned how to nurse babies born after 22-23 weeks, although, of course, there are no guarantees, so the expectant mother needs to be careful.

The weight of a child at 22 weeks of gestation is 430-500 grams, and the length of his body from the crown to the heels is about 30 cm. Some babies at this time are already in the position in which they will be before childbirth (most often, head down).

But the size of the fetus at the 22nd week of pregnancy still allows it to change position, so if during an ultrasound the doctor notes that the baby is head up, you should not be upset. There is still time for the baby to take the correct position.

When conducting an ultrasound scan at the 22nd week of pregnancy with twins, it often turns out that children have different weights. This is normal, when twins are born, it almost always turns out that one baby is slightly larger than the second.

At this time, twins can have a total weight of about 850-900 grams, while one baby can weigh 430 grams, and the second - 470. The difference in weight between the fruits, if you have twins, can be 30-50 grams. At the 22nd week of pregnancy, the development of the fetus continues quite actively, the following changes can be noted:

a layer of subcutaneous tissue has formed under the skin, so at the 22nd week of pregnancy, the baby looks much more attractive than before, it becomes more and more like a baby;
facial features become clearer, in the photo obtained during an ultrasound scan at the 22nd week of pregnancy, you can see a fully formed face, which already has eyebrows and cilia;
the baby's body is completely covered with primordial fluff and lubricant, and hairs begin to grow on the head;
bilirubin, a special digestive enzyme, begins to be synthesized in the liver. It is bilirubin that provokes such a condition as the physiological jaundice of newborns. This condition is not dangerous and goes away without treatment;

at the 22nd week of pregnancy, the movements are quite active, during the day the fetus makes about 200 different movements. Moreover, this is not a senseless floundering, but quite coordinated gestures. The child can suck his thumb, play with the umbilical cord, grab his legs, etc.;
at the 22nd week of pregnancy, the fetus already has a fully formed spinal column, its bones continue to grow and acquire hardness, so at this time a woman needs to consume more foods containing calcium;

Thus, the development of the fetus at week 22 is to improve existing organs and systems.

Surveys

If the pregnancy proceeds without complications, then the woman only needs regular visits to the gynecologist. At the appointment, the doctor will measure the volume of the abdomen, offer the pregnant woman to weigh herself, measure blood pressure.

In addition, the baby's heartbeat is heard. As a rule, a woman is prescribed directions for laboratory tests of blood and urine. A general analysis is assigned to determine the level of content:

sugar and leukocytes in the blood;
protein in the urine.

At the 22nd week of pregnancy, an ultrasound scan is performed if the woman did not undergo this examination in the previous weeks.

During the survey, it is determined:

fetal weight;
the length of his body;
circumference of the abdomen and head;
the length of the bones of the limbs;
condition of internal organs;
the level of development of the placenta;
amount of amniotic fluid.

Possible problems

Pregnancy at 22 weeks should not cause significant discomfort to a woman. But the appearance of unpleasant short-term sensations is not excluded. Most often, these are not dangerous phenomena, but a violation of well-being can be a sign of the development of a serious complication.

Toxicosis

One of the rather alarming signs is nausea at 22 weeks of gestation. Of course, the appearance of this symptom may also be associated with diseases of the digestive tract (for example, with an exacerbation of gastritis).

But, perhaps, the appearance of nausea is a sign of the development of late toxicosis (gestosis). And if toxicosis in the early stages is considered quite normal, then preeclampsia is a serious complication. This condition is manifested by the following symptoms:

vomit;
dizziness;
swelling;
the appearance of protein in the urine.

Toxicosis, which began to manifest itself at the twenty-second week, can cause fetal hypoxia and its developmental delay. Therefore, it is necessary to consult a gynecologist and undergo the necessary treatment.

infections

Normal discharge at 22 weeks of gestation should be moderate, clear or whitish, odorless. The appearance of unusual discharge may be a symptom of an infection. Most often, women at this time are faced with manifestations of thrush.

This disease manifests itself:

the appearance of abundant secretions with the inclusion of whitish grains, similar to cottage cheese, with a sour smell;
sensations of itching, burning, pain;
mucosal edema.

It is necessary to treat thrush under the supervision of a gynecologist, in no case do not self-medicate.

oligohydramnios

This pathology is diagnosed during an ultrasound. On average, the volume of amniotic fluid at this time should be 800 ml. If they are less than a widow, then oligohydramnios is diagnosed. This condition is dangerous for the fetus and can even cause his death.

To prescribe the right treatment, the doctor must first find out the cause of this condition. If oligohydramnios is mild, then the woman is recommended to follow the regimen, rest more, eat fully. In some cases, medical treatment is required.

Weight gain

Many pregnant women during this period have excellent appetite, which contributes to rapid weight gain. Obesity in the mother negatively affects the development of the baby. Therefore, you need to monitor your weight and nutrition. So, the weekly weight gain should be no more than 500 grams.

If the weight gain is large, then you will need to reconsider the diet. Nutrition at the 22nd week of pregnancy should be complete, the daily calorie content should be no more than 3000 kcal. Moreover, the menu should have more low-fat protein products, cereals, fresh fruits.

Not always, the ongoing weight gain is associated with malnutrition. Sharp jumps in weight may be associated with the formation of internal edema, which may be a sign of preeclampsia.

So, the 22nd week of pregnancy is the second week of the sixth obstetric month. Normally, this period is quite calm. Most women at this time look great and feel great, enjoying their condition and happily listening to the pushes of their baby.

Feelings of a woman

Child development

Pain and other discomfort at 22 weeks

Cold at 22 weeks pregnant

Allocations at 22 weeks

Analyzes and examination

Nutrition

Lifestyle

dangers

Child size

What happens to the child

What does a child look like

Fetal development

What happens in a woman's body

Stomach

Video blog

dangers

Analyzes

ultrasound

Fetometry (fetal size) is normal

Normal sizes of long bones on ultrasound

Fetal development

How does the baby hear at 22 weeks pregnant?

baby movements

Feelings and changes in the expectant mother

Nutrition Features

Weight

Video

Photo ultrasound

Feel

Stomach

State uterus

Child's condition

Surveys

Possible problems

Toxicosis

infections

oligohydramnios

Weight gain

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