Week 22

Additional weight gain around the abdomen during pregnancy can alter your centre of gravity. This can impact physical movement and the distribution of pressure on your feet during movement.² These changes, in addition to increased relaxin that loosens the ligaments in your feet,¹ can lead to your feet increasing slightly in size.^1,2

• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Constipation
• Oedema (swelling, specifically hands or ankles)
• Pelvic girdle pain and back ache
• Leg cramps
• Foetal movement

At 22 weeks gestation, your baby should measure approximately 27.9 cm and weigh around 450 g.¹

At 22 weeks, the spleen, which is the organ that helps fight infection, is becoming more mature. The two immune cells, Type T and Type B lymphocytes, start organising into their own areas that are critical for how they respond to and fight infection.³

• Consistently taking folic acid is recommended,⁴ or if you haven’t already, consider taking a prenatal supplement that has the recommended amounts of vitamin A and D, iron and calcium⁵ which will also help support your oral health⁶
• Book your routine dental check up to help support your oral health during pregnancy⁶
• Staying active and keeping a healthy weight can help support overall health⁷
• Try to avoid alcohol consumption and smoking – both are known as risk factors for miscarriage^8,9
• Nourish your body with pregnancy-safe foods. Try to avoid foods high in mercury, such as mackerel and tuna, raw seafood, undercooked meat, poultry and eggs, unpasteurised foods and cheese with a mould rind such as brie, unwashed fruits and vegetables, and any type of herbal tea¹⁰
• Limit caffeine consumption to no more than 200 mg per day¹¹     
  As a guide:     
  1 mug of coffee contains 100 mg of caffeine     
  1 mug of tea contains 75 mg of caffeine     
  1 can of cola contains up to 40 mg of caffeine     
  1 bar of chocolate contains up to 50 mg of caffeine