Week 22: Baby's Sense of Touch Is Developing

Your baby's sense of touch is becoming quite refined now — touching their own face, grasping the umbilical cord (gently), and feeling the surrounding amniotic fluid are all part of regular movement and sensory exploration.

Facial features continue refining, with lips, eyelids, and eyebrows becoming more distinct. Your baby's body proportions are now much closer to what you'd expect at birth, though there's still significant growth and weight gain ahead.

Your uterus continues rising, now noticeably above the belly button. Many women start to feel their balance shift further as the bump grows, requiring a bit more mindfulness with movement and standing for long periods.

This week, you might notice:

• Continued strong fetal movement
• Backaches
• Swelling in feet, ankles, and sometimes hands
• Skin changes including stretch marks or itching as skin stretches
• Varicose veins for some women

If you're noticing dry, itchy skin as your belly stretches, staying well hydrated and using a fragrance-free moisturizer can help with comfort, even though it won't prevent stretch marks entirely (these are largely genetic).

If you're on your feet often for work, try to take seated breaks throughout the day and elevate your feet when possible to reduce swelling and varicose vein discomfort.

Consider this week:

• Mentioning any new varicose veins to your doctor, especially if painful
• Continuing skin care routines for comfort, if itching is bothersome
• Reviewing your birth plan preferences, even loosely, to discuss at upcoming visits

Routine visits continue. If you've noticed significant swelling, headaches, or vision changes, mention these promptly, as they can occasionally be early signs of conditions like preeclampsia that need monitoring.