You are 22 weeks pregnant

Your baby

This week, your baby will start to develop taste buds on his tongue - and his nerve endings have now matured to the point where he can now process the sensation of touch. You may feel your baby str...Read more

Your body

Has your sex drive gone into overdrive lately? It’s common for libido to ramp up at this point in pregnancy - due, in part, to increases in blood flow and secretions to your clitoris and vagi...Read more

Your life right now

You know the toll that stress can take on you - and you’ve probably heard about how it can affect your baby, as well. Studies have linked high, chronic levels of anxiety with premature birth,...Read more

Mums like me

‘Definitely drink enough water and keep your feet up. If they get really swollen or won't go down, I suggest calling your doc.’ – jenihemingson

Meet other mums at the sa...Read more

This week, your baby will start to develop taste buds on his tongue - and his nerve endings have now matured to the point where he can now process the sensation of touch. You may feel your baby stretching as she pushes against the wall of your uterus with her head or her feet. (Whoa, what was that?!) For little boy babies, this is also the stage when the testes begin to descend from the abdomen.

Has your sex drive gone into overdrive lately? It’s common for libido to ramp up at this point in pregnancy - due, in part, to increases in blood flow and secretions to your clitoris and vagina. So not only are you apt to want more sex, it’s likely going to be mind-blowingly better, too. How’s that for a happy pregnancy side effect? Some women also have pregnancy to thank for the emergence of their first wet dreams. Don’t worry, however, if you find the opposite is happening to you - and the last thing you want is to be touched. That’s also 100 percent normal - and understandable, given all the changes that are going on in your body right now. Just be sure to key your partner in to how you’re feeling. And know that if you do find yourself with a supersized libido, sex - even intense orgasms- are safe if you have a generally healthy/normal pregnancy. And we’re willing to bet you’ll find yourself with a more-than-willing partner.

You know the toll that stress can take on you - and you’ve probably heard about how it can affect your baby, as well. Studies have linked high, chronic levels of anxiety with premature birth, low birth weight and even developmental problems once the baby is born, such as trouble paying attention, anxiousness and lower cognitive development. But don’t let a stressful day make you even more stressed about your baby’s health. (Vicious cycle alert!) Most experts agree that a few hellish hours of work - or other temporary stressors like being stuck in traffic or even fretting over a test result for a few days - aren’t harmful. (It’s the biggies in life, like a death in the family or divorce, that may have repercussions. And even then, not always!) That said, it’s a good idea (even when you’re not pregnant!) to find ways to make your life as anxiety-free as possible. Regular exercise is one of the best stress busters. And make sure you’re getting enough sleep and carving out plenty of downtime for yourself to read, relax or do other activities you enjoy and that help you unwind.

‘Definitely drink enough water and keep your feet up. If they get really swollen or won't go down, I suggest calling your doc.’ – jenihemingson

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