How many months is 22 weeks pregnant?

22 weeks pregnant puts you in month 5 of pregnancy. Week 22 is the last week of that month, and month 6 starts at week 23. Providers count in weeks; months are approximate.

How big is the baby at 22 weeks?

At 22 weeks, the baby is about the size of a papaya, roughly 27.8 cm long and around 430 g. That is an average; healthy babies vary.

Can my baby feel me rub my belly at 22 weeks?

Possibly. In a small study using 4D scans, researchers watched 23 babies between 21 and 33 weeks. The babies moved their arms, heads and mouths more when their mother touched her belly than when she didn't. So your baby may respond to your touch, though we can't know what it feels like to them. The same study found the babies moved their arms and heads less while their mother was talking.

What are good signs at 22 weeks pregnant?

No single sign proves all is well, but some things are reassuring. These include feeling your baby move and getting to know their usual pattern, a bump that measures close to your number of weeks, and normal results at your checkups and anatomy scan. Most people feel movements by 24 weeks. If your baby moves less than usual, or the pattern changes, call your midwife or maternity unit straight away, even in the middle of the night.

Is it normal to have cramps or tightening at 22 weeks?

Often, yes. Braxton Hicks contractions can start in the second trimester. They feel like a tightening of the belly or mild period-like cramps. They come at random, don't get stronger, and often stop when you change position, walk, drink water or empty your bladder. Real labour contractions come at regular intervals and get stronger. Call your provider if tightenings become regular, you have bleeding or leaking fluid, or your baby's movements change.

What happens at 22 weeks pregnant with twins?

Twin pregnancies have more checkups and scans. In the NHS, twins with a placenta each are usually scanned every 4 weeks, and twins who share a placenta are scanned more often, because they have higher risks. Your bump will often measure bigger than your weeks. Twins are also more likely to arrive early: around 6 in 10 are born before 37 weeks, so it helps to learn the signs of early labour now.

Can you tell the baby's sex at 22 weeks?

Usually, if you want to know. By now most people have had the anatomy scan, and it can often show the sex, but not always, because it depends on how the baby is lying. If you had cell-free DNA screening earlier, it may also have reported the sex chromosomes. Old tales about carrying low, craving salty food or changes in your skin are not tests and don't predict whether it's a boy or a girl.

22 Weeks Pregnant

At 22 weeks pregnant, your baby is about 27.8 cm long, head to heel, roughly the size of a papaya. It now has eyebrows, eyelashes and nails that reach the fingertips. The baby practises breathing movements and swallows amniotic fluid. Its grip is stronger too, and it may touch its ears or hold the umbilical cord. This week closes the usual window for the anatomy scan. It is also when doctors start to talk about viability. Some babies born this early can survive with intensive care, but the odds are still low. This page covers what a 22-week scan shows, how your bump is changing, Braxton Hicks, twins, and signs that things are on track.

What trimester is 22 weeks?

Week 22 is in the second trimester, which runs from week 13 to week 27 (NHS). It is week 10 of 15 in this trimester, and the third trimester starts at week 28.

Week 22 — second trimester, month 5; 18 weeks to go until your due date.
Baby's size — about a papaya, ~27.8 cm.

Not sure it's 22 weeks? Try our due date calculator.

How big is your baby at 22 weeks?

Size of a

papaya

Length, head to heel

~27.8 cm

Weight

~430 g

Up from a carrot last week to a papaya now.

Baby development at week 22

The fetus is starting to look like a miniature newborn: eyebrows and eyelashes are in place, and the nails reach the fingertips. The grip is getting stronger, and the fetus may hold the umbilical cord or touch its ears. About the size of a papaya.

What an ultrasound shows at 22 weeks

22 weeks is the last week of the usual 18-to-22-week window for the anatomy scan. If you haven't had yours, ask your provider to book it now. In England, if the first attempt didn't get clear pictures, a repeat is offered before 23 weeks.

By this week, fine lanugo hair covers the whole body, and the baby's first stool, called meconium, is forming in the gut. On the scan you may see the baby touching its ears or holding the umbilical cord, as its grip gets stronger. Movements are frequent now, so the baby may shift around while you watch.

At checkups, the heartbeat can now be heard with a simple stethoscope, not only with a handheld Doppler. Home Doppler kits are a different matter. The NHS advises against using one to check on your baby, because hearing a heartbeat at home is not a reliable sign that all is well.

Your body at 22 weeks

Frequent, vigorous movements
Swelling in the hands and feet
Backache
Stronger Braxton Hicks (practice contractions) for some

Your belly at 22 weeks

At 22 weeks, the top of your uterus has risen a little above your belly button, and a fundal height of about 22 cm, give or take 2 cm, is typical. What a 22-week bump looks like varies a lot. A petite frame or strong belly muscles can make it measure smaller, and a twin pregnancy can make it measure bigger.

Swollen feet and ankles are common, and they tend to get worse later in pregnancy, at the end of the day, in hot weather, or after standing a long time. Putting your feet up and wearing comfortable shoes can help. Sudden swelling of the face, hands or feet is different, especially with a bad headache or problems with your vision. Get checked the same day, because it can be a sign of pre-eclampsia.

Tips for week 22

Elevate your feet to reduce swelling
Stay hydrated
Note Braxton Hicks — irregular tightening is normal; regular contractions are not

22 Weeks Pregnant: your questions

What trimester is 22 weeks?: Week 22 is in the second trimester, which runs from week 13 to week 27 (NHS). It is week 10 of 15 in this trimester, and the third trimester starts at week 28.
How many months is 22 weeks pregnant?: 22 weeks pregnant puts you in month 5 of pregnancy. Week 22 is the last week of that month, and month 6 starts at week 23. Providers count in weeks; months are approximate.
How big is the baby at 22 weeks?: At 22 weeks, the baby is about the size of a papaya, roughly 27.8 cm long and around 430 g. That is an average; healthy babies vary.
Can my baby feel me rub my belly at 22 weeks?: Possibly. In a small study using 4D scans, researchers watched 23 babies between 21 and 33 weeks. The babies moved their arms, heads and mouths more when their mother touched her belly than when she didn't. So your baby may respond to your touch, though we can't know what it feels like to them. The same study found the babies moved their arms and heads less while their mother was talking.
What are good signs at 22 weeks pregnant?: No single sign proves all is well, but some things are reassuring. These include feeling your baby move and getting to know their usual pattern, a bump that measures close to your number of weeks, and normal results at your checkups and anatomy scan. Most people feel movements by 24 weeks. If your baby moves less than usual, or the pattern changes, call your midwife or maternity unit straight away, even in the middle of the night.
Is it normal to have cramps or tightening at 22 weeks?: Often, yes. Braxton Hicks contractions can start in the second trimester. They feel like a tightening of the belly or mild period-like cramps. They come at random, don't get stronger, and often stop when you change position, walk, drink water or empty your bladder. Real labour contractions come at regular intervals and get stronger. Call your provider if tightenings become regular, you have bleeding or leaking fluid, or your baby's movements change.
What happens at 22 weeks pregnant with twins?: Twin pregnancies have more checkups and scans. In the NHS, twins with a placenta each are usually scanned every 4 weeks, and twins who share a placenta are scanned more often, because they have higher risks. Your bump will often measure bigger than your weeks. Twins are also more likely to arrive early: around 6 in 10 are born before 37 weeks, so it helps to learn the signs of early labour now.
Can you tell the baby's sex at 22 weeks?: Usually, if you want to know. By now most people have had the anatomy scan, and it can often show the sex, but not always, because it depends on how the baby is lying. If you had cell-free DNA screening earlier, it may also have reported the sex chromosomes. Old tales about carrying low, craving salty food or changes in your skin are not tests and don't predict whether it's a boy or a girl.

Useful at week 22

Fetal viability — what survival looks like from 22 weeks, and what affects it
Pregnancy discharge by trimester — how to tell normal discharge from leaking fluid
Pregnancy weeks to months — 22 weeks is the last week of month 5
Flying while pregnant — planning a trip before the third trimester
Pregnancy weight gain calculator — check your gain at 22 weeks

← All weeks: the full pregnancy week-by-week guide

Sources

Checked against the following public guidance on October 2, 2026. Advice can differ between countries; your doctor, nurse or midwife can apply it to you.