22 weeks of pregnancy: symptoms, tips and necessary care
It's now the 22nd week of pregnancy and you probably don't feel depressed anymore.. you're in your second trimester, you're not even close to the third trimester and you're probably feeling great now.... have you ever felt your baby's first movements?... if so, you're probably in a better mood.
Although you may have less discomfort during pregnancy now, the uterus continues to grow and expand to accommodate the growing baby.. By now, the uterus has expanded to about 2 cm above the belly button.
Child in the 22nd week of pregnancy
At 22 weeks pregnant, your baby now weighs about 0.5 kg and is about 27 cm long....that's about the size of a spaghetti squash or papaya....your baby is not only getting bigger, but he's grown so much that he looks like a baby now.
Although your baby still needs to grow more and gain weight by the week, these ultrasound images should look more like your baby....your baby's eyes are also growing this week....the iris still has no pigment, but other parts of vision like the eyelids and eyebrows are present.
Formation of twins in the 22nd week
In the 22nd week of pregnancy, your babies are about 19cm from head to seat..and weigh 0.5kg each....two important things happen this week....they can now swallow the fine hair called lanugo that covers most of their body....lanugo helps to maintain the vernix caseosa on the babies skin....vernix caseusa helps to protect the babies skin during the fetal period slow.
Symptoms of the mother in the 22nd week of pregnancy
I hope this week is a good week for you in terms of pregnancy symptoms!.. Most women feel better by the middle of the second trimester, but there are still annoying things that can pop up... The symptoms you may experience in week 22 are:
- varicose veins
- Hemorrhoids Abdominal pain
- back pain
- pelvis pressure
- Change in vaginal secretions
Varicose veins
Increased blood flow during pregnancy can help with varicose veins.. These veins are generally seen in the legs, but they can also appear in other parts of the body such as the arms and trunk..
Hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids, which are painful and swollen veins around the anus, are one of the most common complaints during pregnancy. Excessive pressure from the growing uterus on the anus can lead to hemorrhoids. Pregnancy hormones and stress can also lead to hemorrhoids.
Drinking plenty of fluids and eating fiber-rich foods can prevent piles or hemorrhoids in the 22nd week of pregnancy and beyond....drink at least 8-10 glasses of water and 20-25 grams of dietary fiber a day....exercise can also help.
If your doctor has not imposed activity restrictions on you, try to exercise for 30 minutes a day....Exercising during pregnancy can not only help prevent hemorrhoids, but can also be effective in maintaining a healthy pregnancy.
Preventing constipation....eat high-fiber foods and do so when you feel like having a bowel movement.... Delaying bowel movements can lead to harder and more painful hemorrhoids.
If you develop hemorrhoids, they usually go away on their own.. To help control hemorrhoid pain, sit in warm water several times a day and avoid sitting for long periods of time.. You can also talk to your doctor about over-the-counter hemorrhoid creams or pads.
From the 22nd week of pregnancy onwards, if you have severe and swollen external hemorrhoids with bleeding, you may have thrombotic hemorrhoids.. In such cases, see your doctor, as you may need a minor surgery to get rid of them.
Things you should do this week to have a healthy pregnancy
Take childbirth classes
If this is your first pregnancy, a childbirth class can provide you with some necessary education about what to expect during labor and even after... How long does it usually take?.. and can I bear the pain? What should I do with my child when I bring him home? All these and other issues will be discussed in the childbirth class.
These classes are not only for expectant mothers... bring your wife with you... Not only will they learn the basics of what you're dealing with, but they may also learn some relaxation techniques to help you maintain your confidence and stamina during labor and the early days of parenthood.
Classes can fill up quickly, so you may want to schedule them now... Many hospitals offer general birthing classes as well as more specialized classes such as classes on infant CPR, the basics of breastfeeding, or even specific birthing philosophies like the Bradley Natural Method.
Hospitals may also offer tours of their mother-and-baby unit as part of their childbirth classes, which can help you feel more at ease about your upcoming stay.
If you are looking for classes outside of your local hospital, the International Association for Childbirth Education may be able to help you with this... No matter where you are, schedule any class before 35 weeks to make sure you have time if you go into preterm labor.
Plan a trip with your spouse
From the 22nd week of pregnancy onwards, you're probably feeling pretty good and your belly bulge is more flattering, but it's still not hard to get around.... However, your fatigue will likely return in the third trimester, and your belly bulge will soon be so large that the mere thought of walking around may make you feel tired... Before your stomach makes it difficult to even do everyday things (like putting on socks) and all you want to do is take a nap, you might want to plan a short trip with your partner.
Relaxing with your partner before making a life change to make room for a new family member can be a great way to strengthen your bond..
If you have a healthy pregnancy and are able to fly, commercial air travel is generally considered safe.... However, you should still check with your doctor before boarding a plane.... Some airlines also have policies regarding air travel during pregnancy.... check with the airline about this as well>..
Always drink while on the plane and move around to improve circulation.... If necessary, you may want to consider an aisle seat to make standing up easier.
Call your doctor if you notice vaginal bleeding or fluid leakage, a fever, severe abdominal pain or headache, or blurred vision. If the pain you feel is labor pain and you're not sure if it might be Braxton Hicks contractions or something else, call your doctor for a professional opinion.
If you are pregnant or about to become pregnant, you can make an appointment with a good obstetrician or gynecologist through the GCORP LLC website or consult them online.
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