Pregnancy Week 22: Leg Cramps, Nightmares, and Baby's Development

Mom may be losing sleep by her twenty-second week of pregnancy. There are so many changes going on in her body that sleep just seems elusive. Leg cramps and nightmares may be waking her up at night by the twenty-second week of pregnancy.

Pregnancy Week 22: Baby's Development

Your baby is now over 7 ½ inches long and weighs just over 1 pound. Brown fat development is complete so your baby will be better able to maintain his body temperature once he is born. In male babies, the testes will start to descend from the abdomen and in females, the ovaries begin to develop during pregnancy week twenty-two.

Your baby's umbilical cord is pumping blood rapidly to and from his body. Blood flow through the umbilical cord runs at four miles per hour.

Pregnancy Week 22: Leg Cramps

Your body may be causing you some trouble. As you gain weight, you may start to experience leg cramps. Leg cramps happen because your baby and expanding uterus are sitting on your major blood vessels that are taking oxygenated blood to and from your legs. When your muscles do not get this oxygen, they cramp up.

To help ease leg cramps, try not to remain in any one position for any length of time. If you are sitting, get up and walk around at least once an hour. The important part is to change positions often. This will take the added pressure off the blood vessels in your legs and help the blood flow better.

Remember to keep drinking plenty of water and make sure that you are still taking your prenatal vitamins to prevent an electrolyte imbalance. At night, use a full body pillow or a positioner to help take some of the pressure off of your hips and legs.

Pregnancy Week 22: Vivid Dreams and Nightmares

As if leg cramps weren't enough, you may also be waking up throughout the night because of vivid dreams and nightmares. Your mind is buzzing with concerns and tasks that need to be done and it doesn't want to rest when you go to sleep. Add in some hormones, and these dreams can be downright scary.

I had nightmares with both of my pregnancies. They impacted me to the point where I still vividly remember those dreams years later. For the most part, my dreams focused on my insecurities and always centered on leaving my baby somewhere unattended. It may not sound like a nightmare, but to a pregnant woman it is a very scary dream.

Some of your dreams may be focused on your insecurities about being mommy. You can ease your insecurities by talking to friends, other moms, or your husband. They will have the reassurances that you need and be able to convince you that it's only a dream.

For more pregnancy weeks and fetal development you can read:
Pregnancy Week 18

Pregnancy Week 19

Pregnancy Week 20

Pregnancy Week 21

Click here to find more information on your pregnancy and baby's development.

Sources:

Personal Experience

Fit Pregnancy (2009). Pregnancy Calendar. Retrieved: April 8, 9, 2009. Web Site: fitpregnancy.com/calendar/40251887.html

Myers-Gorrie, Trula, Slone-McKinney, Emily, & Smith-Murray, Sharon (1998). Foundations of Maternal-Newborn Nursing (2^nd ed.). Philadelphia, PA: W. B. Saunders Company.

What to Expect (2009). Weekly Pregnancy Calendar. Retrieved:April 8, 9, 2009. Web Site: whattoexpect.com/pregnancy/week-by-week/landing.aspx