Almost ready for the world

How is your baby growing?

At 22 weeks of pregnancy, your baby is almost 'ready,' lacking only a little protective fat and a little color for the hair, eyelashes, eyebrows, and iris. Now it just needs to grow, grow, grow.  

Your baby has already developed many motor skills: it exercises, sucks its thumb, and clenches its little hands into fists. You probably feel this very clearly, especially when you want to rest.  

Why is your baby particularly active when you are resting? We don't know for sure, but it may be because your movement has a calming effect on your baby, so they prefer to sleep. Or you may feel your baby more when you are calm than when you are active. Either way, enjoy the contact with your baby.  

A tip from mom Christine:  

Feel your baby. In the evening, lie down comfortably in bed and consciously feel the movements in your belly. It's something very special and relaxing, and it will often make you laugh because your belly takes on strange shapes.  

How is your belly growing?

At 22 weeks of pregnancy, your little tenant is already eating a lot and growing accordingly. A weight gain of about 250 to 300 grams per week is normal in the sixth month.  

If you notice small bumps around your nipple, these are Montgomery's glands. These small sebaceous glands produce an oily secretion that protects the nipple from injury, makes it soft, and is therefore very useful during breastfeeding. In addition, the glands secrete aromatic substances that help your baby find its way to the 'food source' later on.

Have you ever heard of pelvic floor exercises? The pelvic floor is the muscle plate that extends from the pubic bone to the spine and supports the abdominal and pelvic organs. Especially now during pregnancy, these muscles help carry the extra weight. In addition, the pelvic floor supports the sphincters of the bladder and anus. A strong pelvic floor is also important for preventing pain, incontinence, and hemorrhoids.  

More information can be found here.

Here you will find a collection of good exercises for the pelvic floor.

What helps you grow as a family?

How about nuts as an evening snack? Your baby needs not only energy but also magnesium to grow. You may notice this from muscle spasms and stomach cramps. Since nuts are a valuable source of magnesium, you can try to meet your additional needs with nuts. However, if the symptoms become too severe, consult your doctor, as a serious magnesium deficiency should not be ignored under any circumstances, as it can, for example, cause premature labor, which must be avoided at this stage.