What may change in your body
Heartburn, leg cramps, back pain and trouble finding a comfortable sleeping position may become more common. Some people notice a bigger appetite and feel warmer than usual.
Care for this week
Eat smaller, more frequent meals if heartburn bothers you.
Stretching and appropriate physical activity can help with cramps and posture.
Keep drinking water throughout the day.
Prenatal care focus
- Low-risk prenatal appointments are generally monthly until week 28, with adjustments based on clinical need.
If you're expecting twins
With twins, follow-up is usually closer and may include serial ultrasounds to track growth.
For those by your side
If movements can already be felt from the outside, let the pregnant woman decide when and with whom she wants to share that moment.
Questions for this week
Can the baby hear me yet?
Hearing is developing at this stage; responses to sound become more consistent over the following weeks.
Is it normal for the baby to move more at certain times of day?
It can happen. Fetal activity varies throughout the day and also depends on what the pregnant woman perceives.
When to seek care
- Once movements have become familiar, a significant decrease in the pattern you notice should be evaluated without waiting until the next day.
- After 20 weeks, a severe/persistent headache, vision changes, severe pain in the upper abdomen or sudden swelling deserve evaluation for a possible hypertensive condition.
- Before term, regular contractions, increasing pelvic pressure or signs of labor need prompt advice.
In an emergency, go to the urgent care service in your area. This content does not replace a professional assessment.
The next chapter
In week 22, the skin is still thin and wrinkled, while movements and reflexes keep getting stronger.
See week 22Was this helpful?
Sources and transparency
- Brazil's Ministry of Health — Brazilian Pregnancy Booklet, the official prenatal record (Caderneta Brasileira, updated in 2026)
- Brazil's Ministry of Health — Prenatal care (Ministério da Saúde — Pré-natal)
- Brazil's Ministry of Health — High-Risk Pregnancy Manual — Multiple pregnancy (Manual de Gestação de Alto Risco — Gestação múltipla)
- NHS — Week-by-week guide to pregnancy
- ACOG — How Your Fetus Grows During Pregnancy
- Brazil's Ministry of Health — Prenatal tests and vaccines (Ministério da Saúde — Exames e vacinas no pré-natal)
Nilu editorial content, written from the official sources above. Individual clinical review of each week is in progress — this text is for information and does not replace your prenatal care.