22 weeks pregnant
Your baby is practising breathing.
In short
At 22 weeks your baby is about the size of a sweet potato, around 29.0 cm long and 476 g. Your baby is practising breathing.
- Second trimester, week 22 of about 40.
- The anatomy scan is usually done by 22 weeks. If you haven't had one or haven't heard about it, ask your maternity unit.
Your baby's lungs aren't working yet, but they're practising breathing movements. All the oxygen your baby needs still comes from you through the placenta.
How big is my baby at 22 weeks?
At 22 weeks your baby is about the size of a sweet potato, around 29.0 cm long and 476 g. Before about 14 weeks babies are measured from crown to rump; after that the figure is head to heel. These are typical figures from fetal growth charts. Your own baby may be bigger or smaller, and your scans are what count.
What is my baby doing at 22 weeks?
- Your baby's lungs aren't working yet, but they're practising breathing movements.
- All the oxygen your baby needs still comes from you through the placenta.
- Your baby swallows small amounts of fluid, which will form their first dark, sticky poo after birth.
- Taste buds are developing.
What changes for me at 22 weeks pregnant?
- Stretch marks may start to appear on your tummy, thighs or breasts.
- Piles, which are swollen veins around your bottom, can be itchy or sore.
- Your baby is settling into a pattern of sleeping and waking that may not match yours.
What is a good tip for this week?
Plenty of fibre, water and regular activity can help prevent constipation and piles.
What can a partner do this week?
Keep the fruit bowl and water jug stocked and suggest a daily walk together.
What should I know in Ireland at 22 weeks?
- The anatomy scan is usually done by 22 weeks. If you haven't had one or haven't heard about it, ask your maternity unit.
When to get help: If your baby's movements slow down, change or stop, contact your maternity unit straight away and don't wait until the next day or use a home doppler or app to check. HSE: when to get help.
Want these updates on your phone? The Lullagram app has a free pregnancy section with this week-by-week guide, Irish dates worked out from your due date, a contraction timer and more. When your baby arrives, the baby tracker is ready in the same app.
Sources and guidance
This page is written to be consistent with the official guidance below. It is general information for parents in Ireland, not medical advice. Links checked 23 September 2026.