At 22 weeks your baby is developing sharper hearing — they can pick out your voice from background noise and may kick or startle at sudden loud sounds. Your bump is now unmistakable and eyebrows have appeared.
Common symptoms at 22 weeks pregnant
- Braxton-Hicks — irregular, painless practice contractions
- Leg cramps at night
- Skin darkening on the face (melasma) or the linea nigra deepening
- Faster hair growth
- Mild swelling of the feet by the end of the day
Tips for week 22
- Drink extra water and stretch your calves before bed to soften night-time leg cramps.
- Use daily sunscreen — pregnancy hormones make melasma worse in the sun.
- Track kick patterns loosely so you notice your baby’s active windows.
- Continue pelvic-floor exercises and add gentle glute strengthening (bridges, clamshells) for a stronger core.
This week's checklist
- Sign up for a childbirth class
- Start a nightly calf-stretch routine
- Choose a maternity-photo photographer
Frequently asked questions
Are Braxton-Hicks contractions safe?
Yes. They are your uterus practising for labour and usually stop with rest, hydration, and a change of position. Call your doctor if they become regular, painful, or come more than four an hour.
Why do my feet look swollen?
Blood volume is now up around 45 percent and your uterus presses on the veins returning blood from your legs. Elevate feet, avoid tight socks, and mention severe or one-sided swelling to your doctor.
Can loud music affect my baby?
Everyday noise is safe. Avoid prolonged exposure to loud environments (>85 dB) — sound reaches the amniotic fluid muffled but at high volumes it can disturb baby.
When to call your provider
Most weeks of pregnancy pass without alarm, but a small set of symptoms always deserves urgent attention. Call your doctor or head to the nearest maternity emergency room straight away for any of the following:
- Heavy, bright-red vaginal bleeding or the passage of clots
- Severe headache with visual changes, upper-abdominal pain, or sudden facial swelling
- Any leaking of fluid before 37 weeks or a sudden gush of fluid at any week
- Severe one-sided lower-abdominal or shoulder-tip pain (possible ectopic in early pregnancy)
- Fever above 38 °C, painful urination, or one-sided calf swelling
Where week 22 sits in the second trimester
The second trimester covers weeks 13 to 27 and is often called the honeymoon of pregnancy. Energy comes back, morning sickness fades, and this is the phase when you feel the first kicks, complete the anatomy scan, and start planning practical things — nursery, maternity clothes, and childbirth classes. Week 22 sits comfortably in this window.
Educational content — not a substitute for medical care. Contact your obstetric provider urgently for heavy bleeding, severe headache with visual changes, one-sided leg swelling, upper-abdominal pain, reduced fetal movement, or any concern that feels wrong to you.