Families For Life | Pregnancy: Week 22
Your precious baby now weighs more than your placenta and is about the length of a papaya.
What's happening to your baby?
At between 25 and 31cm, your baby's now the length of a papaya from crown to heel. Baby weighs between 385 and 475g, about as heavy as a large bottle of tomato ketchup. Baby's grip is getting tighter, and your little one might even start playing with the umbilical cord. Your baby weighs more than your placenta, and will continue to grow at a rapid pace until birth. Although still tightly shut, the eyes are sensitive to light.
What's happening to you?
As your belly slowly expands, pressure is increasing on your internal organs. Your bowel movements might become slow, which is a nice way of saying that you might be facing bouts of constipation. Keep up with some light exercise to ease the pressure and make sure you stay hydrated with plenty of water. Some women may report that their once brittle nails are now growing faster and stronger too.
By Associate Professor TAN Thiam Chye Head & Senior Consultant, Dr TAN Shu Qi Senior O&G Resident,
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Women's and Children's Hospital
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