Week 22 of Pregnancy: A Papaya, and a Genuinely Settled Week
Key takeaways
- By week 22, the baby is about 27.8cm long, roughly the size of a papaya, and starting breathing practice movements.
- The baby is now swallowing small amounts of amniotic fluid, which builds up as meconium, passed after birth.
- Taste buds are developing, and some research suggests what you eat may shape early taste preferences.
- A quiet, routine week without anything dramatic to report is completely normal at this stage.
- Consistency — in movement, appetite, and daily routine — is generally a good sign, not something to worry about.
Week 21 brought a real sense of pattern to the baby’s movement. Week 22 mostly continued in that same settled rhythm, without much new to add.
What’s actually happening in your body
The baby is now around 27.8cm long, roughly the size of a papaya. The lungs are developing, and the baby has started practising breathing movements inside the womb — not actual breathing, since there’s no air, but the physical motion that prepares the lungs for it. Small amounts of amniotic fluid are being swallowed too, which builds up in the bowels and is eventually passed after birth as meconium. Taste buds are also developing around now, and what you eat may start shaping early taste preferences, according to NHS guidance on week 22 of pregnancy.
What I actually felt
We continued all the same careful observations and routine from the previous week — nothing major stood out in week 22 specifically. If your week 22 feels like more of the same rather than a new milestone, that lines up with how it went for us too.
Nutrition focus this week
No changes from earlier weeks. Keep up with your prenatal vitamin and the general guidance in our foods and drinks to limit or avoid during pregnancy — and if you’re curious, this is also around when what you eat may start influencing your baby’s early taste preferences.
What to discuss with your doctor or midwife
Nothing specific is required this week beyond your usual routine questions and continuing to note your baby’s movement pattern.
Frequently asked questions
Is it normal to have nothing new to report at week 22?
Yes, completely. A settled, uneventful week like this is a common and reassuring part of the second trimester.
Can the baby actually “breathe” this early?
Not in the sense of breathing air — there’s none in the womb — but the baby is practising the physical breathing motions that will be needed after birth.
What is meconium?
It’s the dark, sticky substance that builds up in the baby’s bowels from swallowed amniotic fluid and other matter, and it’s typically passed shortly after birth.
Does what I eat really affect my baby’s taste preferences later?
Some research suggests flavours from the mother’s diet can reach the amniotic fluid and may influence early taste preferences, though this is an evolving area of research rather than a settled fact.
References
- NHS — Your Pregnancy and Baby Guide, Week 22. nhs.uk
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