Second trimester
Week 22 of Pregnancy
🎃
About the size of a spaghetti squash
10.9 in · 27.8 cm · 15.2 oz · 430 g (head to heel)
Your baby this week
- The grip strengthens — the baby may grab and pull the umbilical cord, which is completely normal.
- Lips, eyebrows and eyelids are now fully distinct.
- Tooth enamel is developing beneath the gum line.
What you may be feeling
- Backache
- Stretching, itchy abdominal skin
- Increased vaginal discharge
Gentle tips for this week
- Mind your posture when sitting and lifting.
- Keep moisturizing stretched skin — it helps with the itch.
Common question for week 22
Is it dangerous if the baby grabs the umbilical cord?
No. Babies routinely hold, tug and even somersault around the umbilical cord. The cord's jelly-like filling (Wharton's jelly) protects the blood vessels from compression during ordinary movement.
Every pregnancy is different. Sizes are averages, symptoms vary widely, and none of this replaces the guidance of your own provider.