At the gestation period of 22 weeks the future baby is already similar to a miniature newborn, his height is 27.5 cm, and weight - 350 - 420 grams. His skin is wrinkled and will remain so until he gains the right amount of subcutaneous fat. The fluff (lanugo) that covers his body became noticeable. Lips are more distinct, this week the baby's eyes continue to develop, but there is still little pigment in the iris. There is a development of the pancreas, which is responsible for the production of hormones.
Pregnancy calendar : baby changes
The baby's skin is still wrinkled, but under it the formation of fat deposits begins. His head is still large, but his face is already made out. Eyes are well formed, eyelashes develop on the eyelids, and eyebrows are distinguishable above the eyes. The kid moves for centuries, opens and closes his eyes. At its spout appear more clearly outlines, the ears become larger and the final shape. All of the body is covered with gun hair and damp grease.
By this week of pregnancy the organs and systems of the child become more developed. The kid's liver performs other functions in the body, in contrast to the adult. In the liver of the newborn there is the production of enzymes necessary for the vital activity of the organism, they also exist in the liver of the fetus, but less of them.
The main function of the liver is the process of processing "indirect" or toxic bilirubin in "direct", that is, harmless. Toxic bilirubin is a product of the breakdown of hemoglobin, which is contained in blood cells. These cells in the fetus are destroyed faster than in humans, so the fetus also produces more such bilirubin. This substance gets into the liver with blood, and there, thanks to enzymes, is processed into "direct", and then it is excreted from the body. Bilirubin comes from the fetal blood in the placenta, and then into the blood of the mother. If the baby is born before the term, his liver has not developed to the end and can not remove bilirubin from the blood. When a newborn has a higher bilirubin content in the blood, physiological jaundice appears. Signs of this diagnosis are yellow skin and eye proteins. It is treated by phototherapeutic methods: irradiation with light, which penetrates the blood and destroys bilirubin.
Pregnancy calendar 22 weeks: changes in the future mother
By this week there may be red marks on the skin - stretch marks. They are pink, dark brown and become more noticeable with increasing duration, can appear on the abdomen, chest, buttocks. Another "trouble" of the skin, manifested at week 22 - "vascular spiders", which appear mainly on the face, hands, neck, upper chest. The reason for their appearance is an increase in estrogen levels during pregnancy. And after childbirth they disappear.
When approaching the second trimester, improving the well-being of a pregnant woman, her sexuality rises. The sex drive becomes stronger. As the total blood flow in the body becomes greater and secretion in the vagina is intensified. Therefore, the woman's ability to achieve orgasm during sexual intercourse is increased. Many women have multiorganism in this period.
Other changes in pregnant women
During pregnancy changes the size of the chest, abdomen, but there are other changes
- hair becomes more shiny and thick. During pregnancy, the body loses its hair very slowly. It is worth enjoying this period, because after the birth the hair will begin to fall at a double speed. But this does not mean that there are not enough trace elements, just drop out the hair that did not fall out in due time during pregnancy.
- hairiness rises not only on the head. Androgens provoke hair growth on the face, abdomen, chest.
- faster nails grow, their texture and thickness are improved. But some will become thicker, while others will be brittle and soft.
- skin changes. One can be lucky and the skin will become purer and healthier than before, while the rest will have to reconcile with the deterioration of the skin, acne will appear.
- stretch marks. Despite the commercials of many drugs from stretch marks, there are no creams, oils and lotions from stretch marks confirmed by medicine. The most effective tool is to consume more water and do not lift weights.
- discoloration of the skin. Increases the content of melanin, which can lead to the appearance of a line running from the navel to the pubic bone, and also on the face of the so-called "pregnancy mask."
- darkening and enlargement of the nipples and areola around them. Nipples and areoles are the pigmented circles around the nipples - they become bigger and darker, small knobs on the areola - glands that lubricate the skin and produce substances in order to fight bacteria - will become more prominent. Through the skin, you can see the veins.
- increase in foot size. The reason for this problem is, first, swelling, and secondly, more relaxed muscles and ligaments.
The big problem of pregnant women
Hemorrhoids often occur in pregnant women or after childbirth. Hemorrhoids are the enlargement and swelling of the blood vessels near the anus, both outside and inside it. It appears as a result of the outflow of blood, which has increased in the pelvis due to the increase in the weight of the uterus. The aggravation of this disease mainly occurs at the end of pregnancy.
Measures used for hemorrhoids. First, you do not need to allow constipation. It is worth eating food that is rich in fiber (vegetables, lactic acid foods), drink more water. You can use a laxative. Secondly, a good remedy is sedentary baths. Third, you can use suppositories. If the hemorrhoids excruciates very much, it is necessary to go to a specialist. There are cases when surgical intervention is necessary.
After childbirth, everything usually returns to normal, but the hemorrhoids may not disappear completely. In this case, the funds listed above can help.
22 weeks of pregnancy: lessons
You can check your rings. At pregnancy fingers on hands swell a little. If the rings are denser than before, it's worth removing them now. Before it's too late. If a woman finds it difficult to part with her ring, you can put it on a chain and wear it around your neck.
Does it often occur with a pregnancy of liver disease?
In pregnant women, spidery angiomas can appear, and palms can blush. About two-thirds of white women and only 10% of dark-skinned women experience these changes. Women can also decrease albumin concentration in blood serum, increased phosphate activity of blood salts and increased cholesterol level. All this is a sign of liver damage, but not in pregnant women.