22 weeks pregnant: development, lungs and taste buds
22 weeks pregnant is a stage at which, the NHS says, the baby is around 27.8 cm long from head to toe, about the size of a sweet potato, and doing breathing practice in the womb (NHS, 2026). This page sets out what the NHS and ACOG say about week 22.
Last updated
Medically reviewed by Dr Mary Davidson, Reproductive endocrinologist, checked on
Seek help now if you have any of these symptoms
Bleeding and cramping are common in early pregnancy and often do not mean miscarriage. The symptoms below, however, need to be assessed straight away.
- Soaking two or more sanitary pads per hour, or passing large clots
- Severe lower abdominal pain, especially on one side
- Pain at the tip of the shoulder
- Dizziness, fainting, or collapse
- Signs of shock — pale, clammy, rapid heartbeat, breathlessness
- Pain on opening bowels, or bladder or bowel changes
- Feeling very unwell, or feverish
Showing routes for United States.
How the sources describe development around 22 weeks
- Size and shape, NHS
- The NHS week 22 page in its week-by-week guide (NHS, 2026) gives the baby as around 27.8 cm long from head to toe and compares it to a sweet potato. It says the lungs are developing and the baby will be doing some breathing practice in the womb.
- Swallowing and taste, NHS
- The NHS says the baby is now swallowing small amounts of amniotic fluid, which will usually stay in the bowels and come out after the birth as a dark, sticky first poo called meconium, and that the taste buds are developing and could be influenced by what you eat (NHS, 2026).
- Development, ACOG
- ACOG’s list for weeks 21 to 24 includes kicks and turns getting stronger, the sucking reflex developing, fat forming under the skin, and skin that is wrinkled and reddish because of visible blood vessels (ACOG, How Your Fetus Grows During Pregnancy, 2024). It does not date these to a single week.
Weeks are counted from the first day of the last menstrual period, so about two weeks of the count come before conception (ACOG, How Your Fetus Grows During Pregnancy, 2024). This page covers 22 weeks 0 days to 22 weeks 6 days.
A normal pregnancy lasts about 40 weeks from the first day of the last menstrual period, so at 22 weeks about 18 weeks remain to the estimated due date (ACOG, How Your Fetus Grows During Pregnancy, 2024). Your own due date depends on your last period or a scan, not on the week alone.
Your body at 22 weeks, as the NHS describes it
The NHS says you may start noticing stretch marks, lines or streaks on your skin that usually appear on your tummy, upper thighs or breasts. It says they are common in pregnancy and usually fade after the birth (NHS, 2026).
The NHS says piles, which are swellings inside or around your bottom, can cause itching or soreness around the anus and can be painful when passing a stool (NHS, 2026).
Bonding
The NHS describes this as a good week to talk to your bump and sing to it, and says you might even feel a little flutter in response (NHS, 2026).
Work out which week you are in
The Pregnancy week calculator takes your last period, conception date, scan or IVF transfer and shows how many weeks and days pregnant you are today.
Sources
- NHS Best Start in Life. Week 22 of pregnancy (week-by-week guide to pregnancy). nhs.uk, 2026.
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. How Your Fetus Grows During Pregnancy (FAQ156). ACOG, 2024.
Frequently asked questions
How big is the baby at 22 weeks pregnant?
The NHS says around 27.8 cm long from head to toe, about the size of a sweet potato (NHS, 2026).
Are stretch marks common in pregnancy?
The NHS says stretch marks are common in pregnancy and usually fade after the birth (NHS, 2026). Its week 17 page says they affect up to 8 in 10 women.