Week 22: A Precious Papaya

Your precious baby now weighs more than your placenta and is about the length of a papaya

By Dr Tan Shu Qi, Consultant and Associate Professor Tan Thiam Chye, Visiting Consultant, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, KK Women's and Children's Hospital

a whole papaya and a split papaya in a basket

What's Happening to Your Baby?

At between 25 and 31cm, your baby's now the length of a papaya from crown to heel. Baby weighs between 385 and 475g, about as heavy as a large bottle of tomato ketchup. Baby's grip is getting tighter, and your little one might even start playing with the umbilical cord. Your baby weighs more than your placenta, and will continue to grow at a rapid pace until birth. Although still tightly shut, the eyes are sensitive to light.

What's Happening to You?

As your belly slowly expands, pressure is increasing on your internal organs. Your bowel movements might become slow, which is a nice way of saying that you might be facing bouts of constipation. Keep up with some light exercise to ease the pressure and make sure you stay hydrated with plenty of water. Some women may report that their once brittle nails are now growing faster and stronger too.

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This article was last reviewed on 22 Nov 2023