22 weeks fetal development? What tests do you need to do?

At 22 weeks pregnant, you will find your body becoming more rounded than ever with a rapid rate of weight gain. This is completely normal to provide nutrition to help the fetus grow healthy. How does the baby at this stage develop, how will the mother's body change?

The 22-week antenatal visit is an important milestone for the fetus. To know what condition the baby is in, pregnant women should have a pregnancy ultrasound and do basic tests during this 22-week mark. So what tests should be done at 22 weeks?

How will 22 weeks fetus develop?

The 22nd week of pregnancy is the time when the fetus is gradually perfecting the functions inside the body and the necessary organs. The baby is gradually formed into the basic shape of a miniature infant. By the 22nd week of pregnancy, the baby's limbs also become stronger, allowing the mother to clearly feel the baby's movements in the abdomen such as kicking, twisting, turning, etc. Mothers should not overdo it. surprised to notice hair appearing on the baby's face. These hairs help to safely protect the baby's skin from the amniotic fluid and will quickly disappear when the baby is ready to be born. Your baby's lips, eyelids and eyebrows also become more visible and fat accumulates under the skin. 

The senses at 22 weeks of pregnancy begin to become more sensitive to the mother's touches or movements. This is also the best time to have your baby checked for birth defects.

Changes in pregnant women at 22 weeks

When the fetus is 22 weeks pregnant, the mother's body gradually has certain changes such as:

• The mother's weight can add up quickly. This is your body's way of storing energy and nutrients for your baby, so don't worry too much about it. However, to ensure the health of themselves and their children, mothers should monitor and control their weight within the allowable threshold to avoid obesity.
• Stretch marks appear on your thighs, belly, hips and even arms. The cause lies in the collagen fibers in the skin being stretched and torn.
• By the 22nd week of pregnancy, physiological contractions may occur. This can affect the mother's health. However, if this pain occurs more often than usual or the pain is severe, it is necessary to have a timely prenatal examination to find the cause and treat it promptly.
• Swollen feet are common in most women at 22 weeks of pregnancy. If the swelling is abnormal, it could be a sign of preeclampsia in a pregnant woman. At this time, the mother should go to the hospital for an examination and an accurate diagnosis of the disease.
• Mothers also experience other disorders such as fatigue, difficulty sleeping, back pain, increased vaginal discharge, nasal congestion, oral health problems, etc. In addition, mothers will also experience psychological changes. .

Stretch marks are a common sign in pregnant women, caused by stretched collagen fibers leading to tearing

Tests for pregnant women should be done at 22 weeks of pregnancy

Blood biochemistry test

A blood chemistry test is a basic test done during pregnancy. Pregnant women should perform some basic checks such as blood type, infectious diseases from mother to child. At 22 weeks, this test plays an important role because the results help doctors give the best advice to pregnant women, for example, need iron supplements, gestational anemia, hepatitis B, ... to take early intervention.

Triple Test

Triple test is a fetal malformation test that must be performed at 22 weeks of pregnancy. Pregnant women can have this test at 22 weeks, but it should not be done later. This type of non-invasive test is done to confirm the diagnosis of chromosomal abnormalities, detect down syndrome, the risk of neural tube defects, ... 

Urine test

During pregnancy, pregnant women are often at risk of diseases such as urinary tract infections, gynecological infections, diabetes or kidney diseases, etc. The above diseases are detected through periodic urine tests during examination. pregnant. In addition, urinalysis provides results on the risk of preeclampsia.

4D, 5D . Ultrasound

At 22 weeks pregnant, the mother can have 4D, 5D ultrasound and see the eyes, lips, umbilical cord, skin, spine and internal organs of the fetus, and can see the placenta, uterus, and neck. mother's uterus and vagina. In many cases, it helps to detect problems like a shortened cervix or birth defects in the mother's uterus. 

At 22 weeks pregnant, you can have 4D, 5D ultrasound to see the face and organs clearly and this is what the baby will look like after birth

Measure fetal heart rate

Fetal heart rate monitoring is performed from the 9th week onwards when the fetal heart is present. Fetal heart rate measurement is performed regularly at each prenatal visit to know if the fetus is healthy or not. If your heart rhythm is abnormal, your doctor will order other tests to make a diagnosis.

Measure the parameters of the fetus

At 22 weeks pregnant, doctors check fetal indexes such as length, weight, bone length, head diameter, chest circumference,... At 22 weeks of pregnancy, doctors check the index. amniotic fluid to give appropriate indications for pregnant women.

Advice for pregnant women at 22 weeks pregnant

At 22 weeks pregnant, pregnant women should pay attention to the following: 

• Routine antenatal check-ups and ultrasounds to diagnose birth defects.
• You should also call or contact your doctor if you notice any unusual signs.
• Mothers need to control their sugar intake to limit the risk of gestational diabetes. You can also ask your doctor for advice on how to screen for diabetes in your baby.
• Mothers should have a comfortable mind, should not be stressed or worried too much.
• Complete nutritional supplement for both mother and baby.
• Do gentle exercise every day like nature, walking, yoga,...
• You should drink plenty of water to maintain stable amniotic fluid .
• If you have trouble sleeping, you should change your position often to find the most comfortable position for a good night's sleep.
• Mothers can attend classes during pregnancy to prepare psychologically in the best way before welcoming the baby.

Mothers must go for regular antenatal check-ups to monitor the health status of their babies in each stage

Not only the 22-week fetus , all pregnancy periods are very important and extremely sensitive. Ensuring the health of mother and baby is the most important thing, so mothers should learn about relevant knowledge and do not forget to have regular antenatal check-ups to monitor and monitor the baby's development in each stage.