Week 22 of pregnancy

Your baby now truly looks like a miniature newborn, about 27.8 cm long and weighing about 430 grams, roughly the size of an aubergine.

The central nervous system is developing. Your little one is starting to move more noticeably, such as kicking, turning and twisting.

Your baby can now hear sounds and sense light. Try shining a light on your tummy to see if your baby responds :D Be ready when your baby reacts! It may be gentle movements, or maybe more than that...

Your baby's fingers are learning to grasp their nose, ears or even the umbilical cord.

In this week you may face a delicate problem: haemorrhoids. These are swollen veins in the anus and are common in pregnancy. Don't worry too much, as haemorrhoids do not affect your baby's health.

Your bump now reaches above your belly button, your feet are bigger too, and your shoes may no longer fit. Heartburn or indigestion has eased a lot. Constipation may increase because the large uterus presses on your intestines. It also puts pressure on blood vessels, reducing blood flow to the brain and causing mild headaches or dizziness.

At this stage you may feel tightenings in your lower tummy. These tightenings are called Braxton - Hicks contractions. These physiological contractions are not painful; your uterus is just practising for labour.

Your weight continues to increase by 0.5kg a week. Your appetite increases too, which makes it hard for many mums to control their weight.

Limit other people touching your bump, as it can trigger tightenings. Eat plenty of vegetables and do light exercise. Drinking plenty of water helps improve blood flow to your brain. You need to manage your diet to make sure you get enough nutrition for both of you without gaining too much weight.

Besides strengthening your baby's bones and teeth, magnesium also stimulates enzyme function and regulates insulin and blood sugar. A lack of magnesium can cause muscle fatigue. Make sure you get enough magnesium.

Scientific research shows that you are not the only one who benefits from exercising during pregnancy. Apparently, on average, babies of mums who exercised throughout pregnancy scored higher on general intelligence tests at age 4. A good exercise routine not only boosts your physical strength, but also boosts your baby's brain power.