Pregnancy Week 22: Growing Eyebrows and Hair

Week 22 has a specific charm. If you've seen 20-week ultrasound photos where baby looked a bit alien and abstract, week 22 is when the features start rearranging into something clearly newborn-shaped. Eyebrows appear. Eyelashes appear. Fine, soft hair — called lanugo — starts covering the body. It's a quietly cinematic week.

You're now roughly 55% of the way through pregnancy, still comfortably inside the second trimester, and (for many people) still enjoying the "middle sweet spot" before the third-trimester bulk arrives. This guide walks through what's happening for baby, what your body is up to, what to eat, how to move safely, and what to bring to your next appointment.

A quick note on us: we're the team building Vyve, a private AI pregnancy tracker. Consider the source, but nothing here is medical advice — it's educational content. Your obstetrician or midwife knows your specific pregnancy and is the one to trust for anything personal.

Your baby this week

At 22 weeks, your baby is roughly the size of a papaya — or, if the papaya-in-your-fridge visualization isn't working, a small spaghetti squash. That's about 11 inches (27.8 cm) from head to heel and about 15.2 ounces (430 grams).

Development highlights this week:

• Eyebrows and eyelashes appear. They may still be very fine and pale, but the outlines are there. Ultrasound pictures around now often show a much more expressive-looking face.
• Lanugo covers the body. A soft, fine layer of hair helps hold the waxy vernix on baby's skin, protecting them in the amniotic fluid. Most of the lanugo sheds before birth (some babies still have a bit of it at delivery — completely normal, and it disappears in the first weeks).
• Skin still translucent. Blood vessels show through, and the skin looks red and wrinkly. It fills out over the next couple of months as baby lays down fat.
• Sense of touch. Baby may grasp the umbilical cord, touch their face, and explore their body. That's a real, developing sense of touch.
• Hearing is sharpening. Baby can hear your heartbeat, your voice, and louder outside sounds. Talking, reading and singing all count as input, and they may even react (with a kick) to a loud noise.
• Lungs are practicing. Baby "breathes" amniotic fluid in tiny movements — practice runs for actual breathing after birth.
• Sleep-wake cycles. Baby now has recognizable sleep and awake periods, though they may not match yours (yet — or ever, honestly).

Curious about the arc? Our guides on week 21 and week 23 pick up either side of this one.

Eyebrows, eyelashes and lanugo

The signature story of week 22 is that hair is happening. It's not what most people picture — a lush head of newborn hair still isn't quite here — but the underlying scaffolding is being built.

• Eyebrows and eyelashes. The tiny follicles that will hold these hairs are laid down, and the first, very fine hairs begin to appear. On a good scan angle you can sometimes see the shape of eyebrows this week.
• Lanugo. This fine, soft, downy hair covers most of baby's body. Its main job appears to be helping the vernix (the waxy protective coating on baby's skin) stick, so the skin is protected from long-term exposure to amniotic fluid.
• Scalp hair. The follicles for head hair are also active, but any hair that grows now is often transparent white ("lanugo-like"). The eventual color usually develops later.

The reason all this matters isn't just cute — it's another example of how carefully the body prepares for life outside the womb. Skin protection, temperature regulation, sensory awareness: it's all being staged in the background.

Mom's body & symptoms

Your uterus is now about an inch above your belly button, and the bump is showing clearly for most people. Common week-22 symptoms include:

• Strong, obvious movement. Kicks, rolls, stretches, and occasional rhythmic hiccups. Watch for patterns — when baby tends to be busier or quieter across the day.
• Braxton Hicks contractions. Occasional painless tightenings of the uterus can start around now. Practice contractions, not labor. They should be irregular and go away with rest, hydration or a change of position.
• Back pain and pelvic pressure. Your growing uterus and shifting center of gravity mean lower back and pelvic aches are common. Supportive shoes, gentle stretching and side-sleeping help.
• Swelling in feet, ankles, hands. Mild swelling is normal from higher blood volume. Sudden, severe or asymmetric swelling — especially in the face or hands — deserves a call to your doctor.
• Skin changes. Stretch marks may appear on belly, breasts, hips or thighs. The dark line down the belly (linea nigra) and darkened areolas continue. Melasma (patches on the face) is common. Most of these fade after birth.
• Heartburn. Smaller, more frequent meals help.
• Stronger, thicker hair and nails. A pregnancy perk for many — enjoy while it lasts.
• Vivid dreams. Lighter, more interrupted sleep plus hormonal shifts makes for weirder dreams. Very common.
• Increased vaginal discharge. Thin, milky and mild-smelling is typical; anything itchy, burning, strong-smelling or unusually colored deserves a call.
• Constipation and bloating. Progesterone slows digestion. Fiber, fluids and movement all help.

Signals worth calling your doctor about: severe or persistent belly pain, heavy bleeding, gushing fluid, sudden facial or hand swelling, bad headache with visual changes, calf pain and swelling, high fever, regular painful contractions, or a real change in your baby's movement pattern once you've established one. Better to call for reassurance than to sit worried.

Nutrition tips for week 22

The second-trimester rule of thumb is roughly 300 to 350 extra calories a day, but your clinician can personalize this. Focus on quality more than quantity.

• Iron. Blood volume continues to expand and iron needs are up. Lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, lentils, tofu, fortified cereals and dark leafy greens all help. Pair plant iron with vitamin C for absorption.
• Calcium and vitamin D. Baby's bones and teeth are building. Dairy, fortified plant milks, tofu, sardines with bones, leafy greens. Vitamin D supports absorption.
• Omega-3s (DHA). For brain and eye development. Low-mercury fish like salmon or sardines twice a week, walnuts, chia, flax, or a doctor-approved supplement.
• Fiber. Second-trimester constipation is common. Vegetables, fruit, whole grains, chia, oats and legumes plus enough water.
• Steady blood sugar. The glucose test is coming up in the next few weeks. Balanced meals — protein + fiber + healthy fats + moderate carbs — help you feel steadier and are a good habit regardless.
• Hydration. Aim for steady water intake through the day. It also helps with headaches, cramps and swelling.

Keep skipping the usual list: high-mercury fish, raw or undercooked meat and eggs, unpasteurized dairy, unheated deli meats, and alcohol. If food aversions or heartburn are around, smaller frequent meals usually beat three big ones.

Safe exercise this week

Movement continues to be one of the best supports for your body right now — for back pain, energy, sleep, mood, and preparation for labor. Most healthy pregnancies can aim for around 150 minutes of moderate activity a week. Personalize with your clinician, especially if you have any complications.

• Walking. The single most reliable low-impact option, adjustable at any energy level.
• Swimming and water aerobics. The water takes weight off your back and joints — often the most comfortable movement this trimester.
• Prenatal yoga. Great for hips, back, breath and stress. Skip deep twists, inversions and long stretches lying flat on your back.
• Stationary cycling. Lower fall risk than road cycling, easy on the joints.
• Light strength training. Keeps you strong for the third trimester and postpartum. Focus on posture, glutes, back and pregnancy-safe core work.
• Pelvic floor work. Kegels done well (with proper relaxation between contractions) support both birth and recovery.

Skip contact sports, activities with fall risk, scuba diving, hot yoga, and long stretches flat on your back. Stop and check in with your doctor if you notice bleeding, fluid leaking, dizziness, chest pain, severe shortness of breath, calf pain or swelling, or persistent contractions.

Questions to ask your doctor

Second-trimester visits are typically every four weeks. Bring a running list — it's easy to forget things once you're in the room.

• Is my weight gain and blood pressure on track?
• When is the glucose challenge test scheduled, and how should I prepare?
• Should I start counting fetal movements, and how do you want me to do it?
• Is my iron level okay, and do you recommend any supplement changes?
• Which symptoms warrant a call, and which are okay to bring up at next visit?
• How is my baby's growth so far compared to the anatomy scan projections?
• What childbirth, breastfeeding or newborn care classes do you recommend, and when should I sign up?
• How do you want me to reach you outside office hours if something feels wrong?

*Week 20 is often measured crown-to-rump; from week 21 onward, head-to-heel is more common — which is why length seems to jump.

3 practical tips for week 22

1. Learn baby's rhythm. You don't need to formally count kicks yet, but noticing when baby tends to be busier vs. quieter across the day sets a personal baseline. That baseline is what makes a real change noticeable later.

2. Prep for the glucose test. It's coming in the next few weeks. You don't need to do anything drastic, but starting to notice which snacks and meals leave you feeling stable vs. crashy is useful information — and steady blood sugar is a habit worth building anyway.

3. Do the "boring next thing." Book a childbirth class, tour the hospital, start the registry, pick a pediatrician, or fill out a piece of maternity leave paperwork. Third-trimester logistics creep up fast, and one small task now buys real peace of mind later.

How Vyve helps you track pregnancy privately

Pregnancy generates a shocking amount of personal data — symptoms, weight, blood pressure, baby's movement, sleep, mood. Most apps monetize that data. We built Vyve because it should be possible to track your pregnancy carefully without your body becoming an advertising asset.

Vyve's AI runs on-device, keeps your data encrypted, and never sells or shares it. Week to week, your entries build into a pattern view — when symptoms tend to cluster, how your energy is trending, when baby is most active, what came up at your last appointment. It exports a clean, doctor-ready summary so your next visit starts from facts, not a vague recollection. And because it handles the messy, irregular reality of pregnancy honestly — without forcing you into a template — it holds up when the textbook stops matching your body.

Frequently asked questions

How big is my baby at 22 weeks?

At 22 weeks, your baby is about the size of a papaya or a small spaghetti squash — roughly 11 inches (27.8 cm) from head to heel and about 15.2 ounces (430 grams). This week baby is starting to look much more like a newborn, just miniature. If you're piecing together the timeline from earlier, our due date calculator lays out how the weeks are counted.

Does my baby have eyebrows and hair at 22 weeks?

Yes — this is the classic week for it. Around 22 weeks your baby is developing eyebrows, eyelashes and a fine, soft layer of body hair called lanugo. The lanugo helps hold the protective waxy vernix on the skin. Head hair may still be transparent white for now, and its final color often shows up later.

When is the glucose test for gestational diabetes?

The initial glucose challenge screening for gestational diabetes is usually scheduled between about 24 and 28 weeks. You'll drink a sugary liquid at the clinic and have your blood drawn about an hour later. If that first screen is abnormal, a longer follow-up test may be done. Your clinician will tell you exactly when to come in and how to prepare.

Why do I feel so much movement at 22 weeks?

Baby is bigger and stronger, and there's still enough room for full kicks, rolls, stretches and even hiccups. Many people find that movement peaks in the evening or after meals. Patterns are starting to emerge — noticing them now makes it easier to spot a real change later. If you're curious about how movement started, our guide on pregnancy week 20 covers early quickening.

Is it normal to have Braxton Hicks contractions at 22 weeks?

Yes, occasional painless tightenings called Braxton Hicks contractions are common from around this stage onward — they're your uterus practicing, not real labor. They should be irregular, mild, and go away with rest, hydration or a change of position. Contact your clinician if contractions become regular, painful, closer together, or come with bleeding, fluid leaking, or lower back pressure.

Educational, not medical advice. Consult your obstetrician for anything specific to your pregnancy.