Fetus At 22 Weeks Pregnant | Inside Your Second Trimester

If you are looking at a fetus at 22 weeks pregnant, you are in the middle of the second trimester and watching a tiny body grow fast inside the uterus.

This stage often feels more settled than early weeks, yet every scan, kick, and new symptom can raise fresh questions about what is normal and what deserves a call to your care team. This article shares general information and cannot replace care from your own doctor or midwife.

What 22 Weeks Pregnant Means For Your Baby

By week 22, the embryo stage is long past and the little one is firmly in the fetal stage, where organs and body systems grow, practise, and refine their work before birth.

Medical groups describe the second trimester, from about week 13 to week 28, as a time of steady growth for both uterus and fetus, with rapid changes in size and movement patterns.

Clinical guidance from groups such as the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists notes that organs formed earlier in pregnancy now gain function and complexity through this period.

Fetus At 22 Weeks Pregnant: Size, Weight, And Growth

At this point, many references describe the baby as close to the size of a small papaya or bell pepper, long and lean, with more defined body proportions than in earlier weeks.

Data summarised by large obstetric centres show that a fetus around 22 weeks often weighs about one pound, or just under 500 grams, and measures close to 28 or 29 centimetres from head to heel.

Resources such as the Cleveland Clinic fetal development overview and the Mayo Clinic second trimester fetal development article describe fine hair on the head, tiny eyebrows, and lanugo hair on the body, along with a creamy coating of vernix that protects delicate skin from amniotic fluid exposure.

Lanugo helps hold the vernix layer in place, while skin underneath gradually thickens and shifts from almost transparent toward a more opaque look as fat stores begin to build.

Feature	What Is Typical At 22 Weeks	What Parents Often Notice
Length	About 28–29 cm from head to heel in many single pregnancies	Scan reports start to mention head to heel length instead of earlier crown to rump figures
Weight	Around 430–480 g, close to one pound	Providers may talk about growth charts and percentiles during ultrasound review
Skin And Vernix	Thin, reddish skin covered with vernix, held by a layer of fine lanugo hair	Ultrasound images can look clearer as skin thickens and more fat slowly builds
Hair And Brows	Soft hair on the scalp and faint eyebrows are often present	Some scan photos make these features visible, especially with modern imaging
Movements	Kicks, stretches, and rolls grow more frequent and coordinated	Many pregnant people feel regular flutters, taps, or stronger kicks through the day
Heart And Circulation	Strong heartbeat, with blood flow supporting rapid growth of organs and tissues	Doppler checks or scan sound can make the heartbeat easy to hear
Reproductive Organs	Uterus and ovaries are formed in girls; testes start to move down in boys	Sex can often be seen on anatomy scans, if parents choose to know

Fetal Development At 22 Weeks Pregnant: Body Systems

Though the baby still has many weeks left to grow, a large amount of structure is in place at 22 weeks, from tiny tooth buds under the gums to intricate nerve pathways in the spinal cord.

During this time, different organ systems move through their own timelines, and progress can vary slightly from one pregnancy to another while still falling in a healthy range.

Skin, Hair, And Protective Layers

The surface of the body is still thin, almost see through in earlier weeks, but by 22 weeks a white, waxy substance called vernix caseosa coats much of the skin.

This coating, described by resources such as the Mayo Clinic second trimester guide, protects against constant contact with amniotic fluid and helps reduce dryness or damage before birth.

Fine lanugo hair covers much of the body and helps hold the vernix where it needs to stay, though both vernix and lanugo usually reduce later, often leaving only traces at birth.

Brain And Nervous System

Nerve cells formed earlier now create more links, and brain regions start to take on more specialised roles, including those that handle movement and basic sensory processing.

Studies of fetal growth describe surges in head and brain measurements between about 19 and 22 weeks, reflecting this busy period of wiring and growth.

While higher thinking waits for life outside the womb, these early networks prepare the baby to respond to sound, light, and touch as pregnancy continues.

Lungs And Chest

The chest rises and falls in practice movements that look similar to breathing, while the baby still receives oxygen through the placenta and umbilical cord.

Inside the lungs, small airways and early air sacs keep branching and forming, setting up the structure needed for real breathing after birth.

Clinical organisations such as the ACOG page on fetal growth describe this stretch of weeks as a run up to the point where survival outside the womb slowly becomes more likely with intensive care and further lung maturity.

Senses, Hearing, And Movement

The inner ear reaches a stage where balance and hearing improve, and research notes that babies around 22 weeks can respond to loud, low pitched sounds with shifts or kicks.

Eyes sit in place on the face, eyelids can open and close soon, and light filtering through the uterus may trigger small reactions.

Many parents notice a pattern to kicks by this week, with certain times of day bringing more flutters, and the location of the placenta can shape how strong those movements feel on the outside.

How Your Body Feels At 22 Weeks Pregnant

By 22 weeks, the uterus has grown upward, often reaching just above the belly button, and clothing may feel snugger around the waist and hips.

Many pregnant people describe more energy than in the first trimester, though the growing bump can bring new aches, pressure, or changes in balance.

Common Physical Changes

As blood volume rises to meet the needs of both parent and baby, some people notice a warm flush in the face, easier shortness of breath with activity, or visible veins on the chest and legs.

Skin over the abdomen stretches, which can lead to itchiness or stretch marks, and mild swelling in the feet or ankles may appear after long periods of standing.

Round ligament pain, felt as a sharp or pulling sensation near the sides of the lower belly or groin, can show up when changing position quickly, coughing, or standing after sitting.

Many notice more clear vaginal discharge, which helps protect against infection, though any strong odour, itching, or blood streaks should prompt a call to a healthcare professional.

Symptom Around 22 Weeks	Likely Cause	Simple Home Strategies
Mild Swelling In Feet Or Ankles	Increased blood volume and pressure from the growing uterus on pelvic veins	Rest with feet raised, change position often, drink enough fluids unless told otherwise
Round Ligament Pain	Stretching bands of tissue that help hold the uterus	Stand up more slowly, wear a belly band if suggested, mention sharp pain to your doctor or midwife
Backache	Shifts in posture and centre of gravity as the bump grows	Use solid chairs, gentle stretches, and rest breaks through the day
Shortness Of Breath With Effort	Uterus pressing upward on the diaphragm and higher oxygen needs	Slow the pace, sleep slightly propped, contact a clinician if breathing feels difficult at rest
Heartburn	Relaxed valve between stomach and oesophagus plus crowding from the uterus	Eat smaller meals, avoid lying flat after eating, follow any medicine plan set by your care team
Leg Cramps	Circulation changes and strain on leg muscles	Gentle calf stretches, staying hydrated, and walking breaks often help
Trouble Sleeping	Physical discomfort and more frequent trips to the bathroom	Use pillows for belly and back comfort and keep a regular bedtime routine

Emotional Changes And Mood

Hormones, body changes, and life planning can stir many feelings around this time, from joy and anticipation to worry or tearfulness.

Light swings in mood can come and go, though ongoing sadness, loss of interest in daily life, or persistent anxiety deserve prompt attention from a healthcare professional.

Public health agencies such as the CDC pregnancy guidance share information on mental health during pregnancy and encourage screening and treatment for depression and anxiety.

Prenatal Care And Monitoring At 22 Weeks

Most care plans include regular visits through the second trimester, often every four weeks, where caregivers check blood pressure, weight trend, urine tests, and the baby’s heartbeat.

Anatomy scans usually occur between about 18 and 22 weeks, when ultrasound can assess major organs, spine, brain structures, limbs, and the placenta in detail.

Resources from groups such as the NICHD overview of pregnancy stages describe this period as a time to review growth, screen for certain conditions, and plan any extra monitoring that might be needed later on.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also provide advice on vaccines, nutrition, and steps that lower the risk of complications such as gestational diabetes or high blood pressure during pregnancy.

Questions To Raise At Your Visit

To make the most of an appointment around 22 weeks, arrive with a short list of topics that matter to you right now.

You might ask how your baby’s measurements line up on growth charts, whether your symptoms fit the patterns they expect, and when to call outside visit hours.

It also helps to ask which warning signs should send you straight to emergency care in your local setting.

When To Get Urgent Medical Help

No article can describe every situation, and any instinct that something feels wrong deserves attention.

Emergency care is needed right away if you have heavy vaginal bleeding, sudden fluid gush that suggests your waters may have broken, severe or one sided abdominal pain, or signs of preterm labour such as regular painful contractions before 37 weeks.

Other red flags include severe headache, vision changes, chest pain, or shortness of breath that does not ease with rest, which can signal conditions that affect both parent and baby.

If you notice that movements from your baby have slowed or stopped and you are past the point where you usually feel regular kicks, contact your maternity unit or healthcare provider for urgent assessment.

What Comes After Week 22

The weeks after 22 bring further growth in weight and length, thicker skin, and more defined sleep and wake cycles for the baby.

Lungs continue to build tiny air sacs and blood vessels, and each extra day inside the uterus, when health allows, tends to improve breathing strength and outcomes after birth.

Parents often find it helpful to learn about infant care, feeding options, and safe sleep practices during this stage, so those topics feel less overwhelming when the baby arrives.

Above all, stay tuned in to your own body, keep up with scheduled prenatal visits, and reach out quickly if symptoms change in a way that worries you.