22 weeks pregnant

Size: 11 inches (28.5 cm)

Weight: almost 1 pound (440 grams)

"Mom finds it pleasant if I gently tap my feet against her abdomen, so that's what I do."


The Baby
You are probably so used to your belly by now and the life that you feel that you notice when there is a radio silence and there's nothing to feel for a while. There are still all kinds of things happening, however, in the factory that is called your uterus. Your baby has lots of fun, reacts to everything that comes from outside and sleeps a lot. He is getting more and more fat on his body and his skin becomes less and less translucent. Now he weighs approximately one pound (440 grams) and he is 11 inches (28.5 centimeters).
It's funny that babies at this stage of growth are also already starting to develop reflexes: the grabbing reflex is clearly in place, your little one catches his umbilical cord or his other hand and plays with it. In that way, twins already get used to each other long before they are born.
Your growing tummy is not yet large enough to get in the way and you should still be able to bend over and sit without much trouble. You might be enjoying your pregnancy more than ever at this point if morning sickness was an issue in the early weeks.


Your baby now shows an extremely rapid brain growth (which lasts until five years after birth). His lips, eyelids, and eyebrows are becoming more distinct, and he's even developing tiny tooth buds beneath his gums. His eyes have formed, but his irises (the colored part of the eye) still lack pigment. If you could see inside your womb, you'd be able to spot the fine hair (lanugo) that covers his body and the deep wrinkles on his skin, which he'll sport until he adds a padding of fat to fill them in. Inside his belly, his pancreas — essential for the production of some important hormones — is developing steadily.The organ systems in your baby's body are becoming specialized for their particular functions.
Your baby's senses are developing daily. The fetus now has a full complement of neurons in the brain and is learning about her body and surroundings through touch. Touch is one of the first senses to mature and your baby may stroke its face or feel her arms and legs.
The ovaries of female fetuses contain primitive egg cells, all of the eggs a woman will have for her entire life. The uterus of female fetuses is also fully formed.


Your blood volume has increased more to meet the demands of your pregnancy. Most of the increase is in the form of plasma, the liquid part of your blood. This has the ability to dilute your blood and give you physiological anemia, which occurs during pregnancy. The measure of blood dilution is called Hematocrit and the levels reach their lowest points this week. You should check with your doctor to make sure you are not developing more serious forms of anemia.