22 Weeks pregnant
22 Weeks pregnant
Zest for life
When you are 22 weeks pregnant your baby can hear well enough to be soothed by your voice and may have settled into a regular pattern of sleep and wakefulness. Vitamin C continues to be an important part of your balanced pregnancy diet due to its role in the production of collagen, which helps to build your baby’s bones, teeth, muscles and skin. Learn how much you need and how to get a healthy intake.
Your baby's development at 22 weeks
Cell development in week 22 of pregnancy
In week 22 of pregnancy, your baby measures roughly 20cm from head to bottom and weighs close to 450g (15oz).
Around this time, their hearing and recognition have improved and they can respond to your voice and to different sounds, rhythms and melodies. Because of this, you could try talking and singing to your baby. Once they’re born they may find the same sound soothing.
At this stage, your baby probably has a sleeping routine, which you may have already noticed. Many mums report their baby becoming more active when they lay down for the night, whereas walking or other activities can soothe your baby to sleep.
Although they’re still practising breathing movements, their lungs aren’t yet functioning properly and they’ll continue to get all the oxygen they need via the placenta until they’re born.
Keeping up with vitamin C
Vitamin C is an essential nutrient throughout pregnancy. It protects cells and keeps them healthy, and helps maintain both the immune and nervous system. Furthermore, it’s needed to make collagen, which forms teeth, skin, gums, cartilage, bones and blood vessels.
Vitamin C also assists in the absorption of iron, which supports cognitive function. This makes it an even more important component of a healthy diet.
The Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) of vitamin C during pregnancy is 80mg per day. It’s possible to get all the vitamin C that you and your baby need from a healthy, balanced diet.
Next steps
Add one of the following vitamin C-rich foods to your mealtimes to increase your absorption of iron:
- Fruit, e.g. oranges, kiwi fruit, strawberries, blueberries
- A squeeze of lemon or lime
- Fresh fruit juice
- Steamed broccoli
- Raw spinach leaves
- Tomatoes
- Brussels sprouts
Your baby, this week
Discover the science behind your baby's developments, week-by-week
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