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Pregnancy Week 22

Pregnancy Week 22

Your Baby's Development This Week

The baby is now doll-sized, approximately 10 inches long and weighing almost one pound. The facial features are becoming more defined, with brows and eyelids in position, lips distinct, and eyes have formed completely, yet the iris still lacks pigment. The fingernails have grown to the ends of the fingertips and the hair is without pigment and is a shade of striking white. The liver is beginning to break down bilirubin with help from Mom, and the pancreas is maturing. Baby boys’ testes are descending into the scrotum, primitive sperm has formed, and testosterone is being produced. The brain is entering a stage of rapid growth. Hearing is sharper, and the baby can pick out voices, the sounds of your rumbling stomach and blood circulating.

Pregnancy Symptoms You May Feel During Week 22

The uterus is now one inch above the belly button. A common complaint at this time in the pregnancy is swelling. This is most obvious where gravity affects you most, your feet and ankles. This is more pronounced in warmer temperatures and later in the day. Swelling is a typical and harmless symptom, unless it becomes extreme and persistent. If it doesn’t improve for over one day straight, and the face becomes puffy, consult your physician immediately. This could mean pre-clampsia. To combat swelling, avoid long periods of either sitting or standing. Take frequent breaks. Rest with your feet up. Take short walks, or stretch. Don’t wear tight stockings or socks, with the exception of support hose which can be helpful. Make sure you drink plenty of water throughout the day.

Visit With the Obstetrician

Urinary tract infections are rather common during pregnancy. The hormones make you more susceptible to them. The symptoms of a UTI include urgency to urinate, more frequent urination, difficulty emptying the bladder or starting urination, burning while urinating, urine that is cloudy or has strong odor, and cramping in the lower abdomen or back. If you think you may have a UTI contact your doctor. Most likely you’ll need to give urine sample for a culture and an antibiotic will be prescribed. To avoid UTI’s be certain to completely void your bladder while urinating, don’t wait too long to go to the bathroom, use good hygiene when wiping, always front to back to avoid bacteria being spread, and wash hands frequently. Staying hydrated is important too.

Preparing for Baby

Now is the time to get signed up for childbirth classes. Do some investigating to find out which classes are available in your area, and to see which method you find most appealing and appropriate for you. Your choices might include Lamaze, Bradley, International Childbirth Education Association classes, or perhaps something else such as the Gamper method, Leboyer, or Odent. However, many classes will take a smorgasbord approach and include methods from a variety of backgrounds and give you a wealth of information and techniques to pull from in order to find what works best for you.

Pregnancy Lifestyle

Smokers who become pregnant face added stress in pregnancy. Trying to quit smoking is an obvious and wise choice, however it is not a simple feat for most, even when faced with this most motivating reason. For those struggling to quit, don’t allow guilt to keep you from being honest with your doctor. Let him/her know how you are doing and be honest in order to get the best information and support in your struggle against nicotine. Also, be honest about how quitting is affecting your life. Are you struggling more with stress now? Let the doctor know and find out how you might deal more effectively with the stress. It’s worth it for both you and your baby.

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