We continue with our Weekly Weekly Pregnancy review to stop at the week 22 of pregnancy.
By now you will know, almost certainly, if you expect a boy or a girl, so it is a good time to start thinking about the baby's name. It is your fifth month of pregnancy, an ideal stage to fully enjoy your baby's movements in the gut and communicate with him through caresses, voice and music.
Changes in the baby in the 22nd week of pregnancy
In the week 22 of pregnancy (20 weeks from conception) your baby It measures 27 centimeters and weighs almost 500 grams.
You can perceive your eyelids, nails and eyebrows, although the latter still have no color, they are white fluffs that are seen above the eyes.
Looking at it, it almost looks like a full-term baby, but you still need to gain weight. Your body fat represents 1% of your body, but from now on you will gain layers of fat, which will help you regulate your body temperature.
Also needs complete the development of vital organs like the heart, the brain and the lungs. This week, your brain experiences great progress in the limbic system, the middle brain, which manages physiological responses to the stimuli it receives from outside. Start feeling emotions and even suffer mood swings.
It is therefore very important that you start make contact with your baby, if you haven't done it yet. The baby can feel your touch, your voice and the way you communicate with him generating an emotional response.
Even if you can't see it or touch it directly, it's the first form of communication between you and your baby. And of course, also with his father.
Changes in the mother in the 22nd week of pregnancy
If you have not yet started, it is time to start caring for your skin to prevent, as far as possible, stretch marks in pregnancy caused by skin distention. It is essential to always keep the skin well hydrated by applying a moisturizer twice a day, in the morning and at night.
The skin also experiences other changes during pregnancy. Dark spots may appear on the face, known as chloasma or pregnancy mask. To do this, always try apply a cream with high protection factor, since when coming into contact with the sun, the effect of hormones causes the activation of melanin, responsible for hyperpigmentation of the skin.
Maybe also due to the effect of hormones, you notice your skin more oily and with acne tendency. To prevent it, wash your face with soft products, keep it clean with a daily cleaning and exfoliation once a week. If possible, avoid makeup or if it is not possible, remove your makeup before going to sleep.
If you already suffer from swelling of your feet and legs, lie down with your legs a little high and apply refreshing gels. They help a lot to improve circulation.
To sleep, try to always lie on the left side and place a pillow between your legs to rest.
These are, broadly speaking, the changes that mother and baby experience in the week 22 of pregnancy. In the following posts we will continue with our journey through Pregnancy Week by Week.
