As of 2023, the birth rate for India is 16.949 births per 1000 people 22 Weeks Pregnant. There has been a decline of 1.25% in pregnancy from 2022. In 2022, the birth rate was 17.163 births per 1000 people, again a 1.23% decline from 2021. From what can be seen, there is a decline in the birth rate from previous years.
However, getting proper treatments will ensure you give rise to a healthy baby at the end of the full term. Learning about 22 weeks pregnant scenario is important as that is considered the most crucial part of the pregnancy.
22 weeks pregnant – the second trimester:
In the Pregnancy Calendar, 22 weeks means you are well into your second trimester but not near the third one. During this time, chances are high that you are feeling pretty good. During this stage, your morning sickness has evaporated, and the pregnancy symptoms seem to be a daily part of your life.
What to expect in 22 weeks of pregnancy?
Once you are marked as 22 weeks pregnant, certain major changes happen to your body and your baby. There are certain signs you are expected to feel. Let’s delve into the details.
- At this stage, your baby starts to hear, grow eyebrows, and learn to grasp with his hands.
- This is the perfect time to look for a potential babymoon with your partner.
- You are likely to get relief from the initial pregnancy symptoms. However, some issues like varicose veins, backaches, and hemorrhoids still linger.
- This is when you must check out for some unusual pregnancy symptoms and report them to the doctor.
- However, during this stage, you will feel more energized than before!
The bodily changes you go through:
During this time of the Pregnancy Calendar, you will feel the first flutters of your baby’s movements. That is a picture-perfect feel for the new parents.
- During this time, your pregnancy discomforts have settled down, and the uterus stretches to fit your growing baby.
- It can now stretch to around 2 centimeters right above the belly button.
- During that time, your baby’s belly will start to show that bump.
- During this stage, when you are 22 weeks pregnant, you will notice your feet getting bigger. It is because of a hormone called relaxin, which will loosen the joints and ligaments within your pelvis region.
- This same hormone helps in relaxing other body joints, making the foot joints loose and wide too
Suggest to read:- Are Babies Born From IVF Treatment Healthy?.
The changes in your baby:
At this stage of the Pregnancy Calendar, your baby weighs about 1 pound. It will be closer to 7.5 inches in length. So, you can easily compare your baby’s size to that of papaya! During this stage, your baby will get bigger and go through multiple development changes to look more like an infant.
- Even though your baby has a long journey ahead of him and will continue to put on some more weight, the ultrasound pictures will look more like a baby now.
- During this time of the week, your baby’s eyes will continue to develop. Well, the iris hasn’t developed yet, but other visual parts are present, like tiny eyebrows and eyelids.
- At this stage, the baby will start learning to grasp with his hands and start hearing your actions. He can also feel the bodily changes you are going through.
The right diet plan to follow:
Healthy eating helps in avoiding complications like premature birth, high blood pressure, and more, especially when you are 22 weeks pregnant. During this stage, your body must get sufficient minerals, proteins, vitamins, fats, and carbohydrates. It helps in promoting healthy growth. However, during your second trimester, your body needs extra calories.
- Iron: It forms an essential part of carrying oxygen throughout the body and will help in the baby’s growth. Anaemia is a common symptom that rises during your 22 weeks of pregnancy.
- Protein: Always aim for at least 1.25g of protein per kg of body weight during this time to help cellular growth and brain development.
Things you should not eat:
There are some important food items that you must avoid at any cost during the entire journey of pregnancy. Those are raw meat, raw eggs, raw fish, soft cheese, ready-to-eat meats and seafood, and fish with higher mercury levels.
The final say:
Going through different stages of pregnancy will result in wonderful experiences. But, with a proper diet plan and regular consultation with your doctor, you can make this journey as smooth as possible. Just make sure to check in with experts first.
