What pregnancy week 22 means
Hearing and touch. “22 weeks pregnant” means 22 weeks have passed since the first day of the last menstrual period — the standard way pregnancy is dated. Conception usually happened about two weeks after that date, so the baby’s own age (fetal age) is roughly 20 weeks. Week 22 runs from 22 weeks 0 days to 22 weeks 6 days; on the following day the pregnancy is 23 weeks.
Your baby at 22 weeks
The baby’s sense of touch is developing, and the baby may grasp the umbilical cord. Eyebrows and eyelashes are visible, and the lips are more distinct.
A common way to picture it: the baby is now about the size of a papaya — roughly about 28 cm and about 430 g. These are averages; babies grow at different rates, and ultrasound measurements vary.
Your body at 22 weeks
Stretch marks may begin to appear on the abdomen, breasts or thighs. Whether they develop depends largely on genetics.
Care and appointments around week 22
Many care teams talk about the signs of preterm labour around now, so you know when to call — such as regular tightening, fluid leaking or bleeding.
The timing of tests and appointments differs between countries and care providers. If anything worries you — such as bleeding, severe pain, fluid leaking, fever — contact your midwife, doctor or maternity unit straight away rather than waiting for your next appointment.
Week 22 in your pregnancy timeline
Week 22 is in the second trimester (weeks 14–27) and in pregnancy month 5, which covers roughly weeks 18–22. The third trimester begins in 6 weeks.
| Pregnancy start (first day of last period) | |
|---|---|
| Estimated conception | |
| Third trimester begins (28 weeks) | |
| Full term (39 weeks) | |
| Estimated due date (40 weeks) |
Dates assume you are exactly 22 weeks 0 days today. For dates based on your own last period, use the calculator above or the main Pregnancy Calculator.
22 weeks pregnant in days and months
22 weeks is 154 days of pregnancy — 55% of a 40-week pregnancy. Counted in calendar months, 22 weeks is about 5.1 months, which is usually described as month 5 of pregnancy. Months are only a rough grouping; healthcare professionals almost always talk in weeks and days because they are more precise. See Pregnancy Month Calculator for how weeks map to months.