22 weeks

In the 22nd week we are still in the fifth month of pregnancy. If your baby were born today, he would be perfect, but with low weight. He already has eyelashes, eyebrows, and his full facial features, including the dental buds¹ that are in place, ready to emerge when the time comes. However, the weight in this week is still very low, reaching only about 250 grams.

23 weeks

When we reach the 23rd week, the main development is of the pulmonary blood vessels, which are preparing for breathing outside the womb². The baby’s skin is all wrinkled, which will normalize by birth as weight is gained and the skin stretches. At this stage, it’s common for women to start experiencing swelling in the legs and feet. For this reason, it is recommended to rest with legs elevated to improve blood circulation.

24 weeks

By the 24th week, fetal growth is very fast, reaching up to 500 grams. The space inside the belly gets tighter and the baby’s movements get stronger, sometimes causing even painful sensations for the mother. The baby’s lungs are increasingly mature and getting ready for breathing once born. Many mothers are unsure of how many months they are at 24 weeks; there is little left before completing the 6th month.

25 weeks

In the 25th week of pregnancy, the tiny baby already responds to visual stimuli. When a light is shone toward the belly, the baby turns his head away from the brightness. At this stage, his hair is already formed, including the color and texture he will have at birth.

At this stage, women tend to feel more anxious and experience mood swings due to hormones in full swing. Light exercise, a good diet, and plenty of rest can help the mother in this final stretch, keeping her calmer until delivery.

26 weeks

A common question: 26 weeks is how many months? In the 26th week we are still in the 6th month of pregnancy and the baby has reached an average weight of 1 kg, meaning the weight has quadrupled in recent weeks. From this point, the body will start to store fat to cope with temperatures outside the womb and serve as an energy source in the first days of life after birth³.

Due to weight gain, it is natural for women in the sixth month of pregnancy to experience lower back pain because posture changes as the belly grows. The recommendation is to avoid staying too long in the same position and to stretch to help improve blood circulation and avoid swelling. Thus ends the second trimester of pregnancy.

Reader questions

What is the baby like at 6 months of pregnancy?

At 6 months, the baby already looks just the same as he will on the day he’s born, but still weighs less. Everything is already formed, including eyelashes and eyebrows, giving the baby his full facial appearance. The main focus from now on is weight gain, which will increase by about 500 grams per week.

When do I reach 6 months of pregnancy?

This is a very natural question for most pregnant women—keeping track of each month can be confusing. At 22 weeks, the woman is still in the 5th month, and at 24 weeks, she completes 6 months of pregnancy, thus starting the 6th month.

At 6 months pregnant, what is the ideal baby weight?

Every baby develops differently, and both weight and size can vary, so there is no single “correct” weight. Normally, at the start of the 6th month, the baby weighs about 1 kg, and from here will just keep gaining weight until birth.

Photo: woodleywonderworks