bookmarks-menu1st TrimesterWeek 3Week 4Week 5Week 6Week 7Week 8Week 9Week 10Week 11Week 12Week 13Week 142nd TrimesterWeek 15Week 16Week 17Week 18Week 19Week 20Week 21Week 22Week 23Week 24Week 25Week 26Week 273rd TrimesterWeek 28Week 29Week 30Week 31Week 32Week 33Week 34Week 35Week 36Week 37Week 38Week 39Week 40Welcome to Week 22Your Baby: The Eyes Have ItYour baby weighs about 12 to 13 ounces (350 g) and measures 7.5 to 8 inches (19 cm) in length. Your baby is really starting to look like a baby now! Baby's senses are becoming more defined and taste buds are formed. Also, nerve endings have developed enough that baby's hands can feel things. Baby is more active, and eyebrows and eyelids are now complete. Your Body: A Is for AnemiaWhat is it? Anemia occurs when you have too few red blood cells. This means that your body must boost its iron stores to help produce red blood cells. In your pre-pregnancy state, you needed about 15 milligrams (mg) of iron a day. Thanks to your growing fetus, you now require about 30 mg.How is it diagnosed? At your first prenatal visit, your health care provider does a blood test to detect anemia. Most women pass this initial check for iron deficiency with flying colors. In fact, most expectant mothers start pregnancy with enough iron stores to last until week 20. At this point in your pregnancy, your blood volume increases a lot. With the increased volume, often the hemoglobin (the chemical that carries the iron) in your bloodstream drops, due to the dilution of your blood.You may be at higher risk for anemia if:You have severe nausea and vomiting early in your pregnancy You are carrying more than one baby You are not getting enough nutrients and are not taking an iron supplement You have had another baby relatively recent to this pregnancy You have a genetic disorder that causes anemia Symptoms of anemia may include: Feeling very tired all the time Shortness of breath Dizziness Exhaustion However, these symptoms also often occur normally as a result of pregnancy. So it's not easy to know you have anemia from these symptoms alone.Severe anemia increases the risk of pregnancy problems, such as prematurity, low birth weight, and stillbirth. Even mild anemia is risky because all women loose a fair amount of blood at delivery. So it's not good to start out with low blood counts.Your best bet is to avoid anemia during pregnancy by taking your prenatal vitamins, and any iron supplements your health care provider recommends.On a Different Note: Looking Into Labor and DeliveryWith 22 weeks down and 18 more to go, it's time to start thinking about labor and delivery. Learn about the stages of labor to understand the in's and out's (and do's and don'ts) of the birthing process. Weekly TipIron can be tricky for your system. To make sure that your body absorbs enough of this important mineral, take your iron pills with your morning OJ or other vitamin C-rich foods. Steer clear of caffeine, which blocks iron absorption. If your iron supplement makes you constipated, talk to your provider about safe ways to stay regular. Review Date: 8/20/2019Reviewed ByLaQuita Martinez, MD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Emory Johns Creek Hospital, Alpharetta, GA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.Disclaimer The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.