Pregnant in week 22
In week 22 your baby is the size of a courgette. Eyebrows and hair are now visible, and your baby can grab the umbilical cord and explore its little space. Slightly swollen feet are normal – put your feet up when you can.
Your baby in week 22
Your baby measures around 28 centimetres and weighs about 430 grams. The body is still slim, but the proportions look more and more like a newborn's.
Eyebrows, eyelashes and fine hair on the head are now visible. Your baby explores its space with its hands, grabs the umbilical cord and touches its face. The fingerprints are fully complete.
The eyes are fully developed, but the iris still lacks colour. In boys the testicles have begun to descend, and in girls the vagina is forming. The senses sharpen day by day.
Your body and symptoms in week 22
The bump is now clear to everyone, and many enjoy being visibly pregnant. The kicks are strong, and your partner can often feel them from outside now.
Slightly swollen feet and ankles are common, especially late in the day and in heat. It is due to the large blood volume and fluid retention and is usually harmless.
The skin stretches further, and some get itching or stretch marks. You may also experience tender breasts that begin to produce the first colostrum, even though birth is still a long way off.
Good advice for week 22
Put your feet up
Swollen feet are eased by resting with your legs raised, moving regularly and drinking plenty of water. Avoid standing still for a long time.
Watch for sudden swelling
Sudden, severe swelling of the face and hands together with headaches and visual disturbances can be a sign of pre-eclampsia – contact your doctor or midwife.
Share the kicks with your partner
The movements are now strong enough to be felt from outside. It is a lovely way for your partner to feel close to the baby.
Plan birth preparation
The second trimester is a good time to sign up for birth and parenting classes while you have the energy for it.
Checklists for this stage
Tick things off as you go – the list remembers where you got to, and you can share it with your partner.
Relevant with us in week 22
This is what we can offer you at this point in your pregnancy.
Frequently asked questions in week 22
When can my partner feel the kicks?
Often around weeks 22-24, when the movements become strong enough to be felt through the belly. It takes a little patience and a hand on the belly when your baby is active.
Are swollen feet dangerous?
Slight swelling late in the day is normal. If the swelling becomes sudden and severe, especially in the face and hands, and is accompanied by headaches, get it assessed.
What is colostrum?
Colostrum is the first, nourishing milk the breasts produce. A little leaking already now is completely normal and doesn't mean your milk is coming early.
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Read on in week 22
Gender scan – when can you see the sex? Everything you need to know (2026)
Feeling life – when and how do you feel the first fetal movements?
