22 Weeks Pregnant: Life Insurance, a Will, and a Guardian
The baby's lips, eyelids and eyebrows are more distinct, grip is getting stronger, and the pancreas is developing steadily.
Your to-do list this week
- Get term life insurance quotes for both of you. Healthy adults can often get coverage quickly, and it's usually cheaper the younger you are.
- Book an appointment with an estate attorney or use a reputable online will service. Write the will.
- Decide who would raise your child if you both died. Ask them before you put them in the will.
- Make a list of your accounts and passwords somewhere your partner could find in an emergency.
"If something happened to both of us, who would we want to raise our kid, and why?" It's a heavy conversation. Have it over dinner, not at midnight.
The baby this week
About the size of a papaya, the baby is looking more like a newborn in miniature: lips, eyelids and eyebrows are more distinct, and the grip is getting stronger (Mayo Clinic; NHS).
How she may be feeling
Her skin is stretching fast, so stretch marks and itchy skin are common. Some people start noticing Braxton Hicks contractions, a tightening of the belly that comes and goes and usually isn’t painful. Intense or regular contractions this early need a call to her provider.
The unglamorous week: protect your family
This is the most important “boring” task of the pregnancy. It takes a few evenings and could matter more than anything else on this list.
1. Term life insurance
Life insurance replaces your income if you die. For most young families, term life (coverage for a set number of years, like 20 or 30) is the affordable option. The NAIC has a plain-language guide to how policies work. Get quotes for both of you; a stay-at-home parent’s work has real replacement cost too. Check what your employer offers, but don’t rely on it alone, since it usually ends if you leave the job.
2. A will, with a guardian
A will lets you name who would raise your child if both of you died. Without one, a court decides. You can work with an estate attorney or use a reputable online service. While you’re at it, check beneficiaries on retirement accounts and life insurance, which override the will.
3. An emergency file
Where are the accounts, policies, and passwords? Make one secure list your partner could use if you were in the hospital. A password manager with emergency access is an easy way to do it.
It’s a heavy topic. Do it anyway, then go do something lighter. More in the new dad money checklist.
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Frequently asked questions
How much life insurance do new parents need?
A common rule of thumb is enough to replace your income for the years your kids depend on you, plus debts like a mortgage and future costs like childcare and education. Term life insurance is usually the most affordable way to get that coverage. A fee-only financial planner can help you size it.
Do we really need a will if we're young?
If you have a child, yes. A will is how you name a guardian for your child. Without one, a court decides who raises your child and how your assets are handled.
Sources
- Fetal development: The 2nd trimester, Mayo Clinic
- Life Insurance, National Association of Insurance Commissioners
- Week 22: Your baby and your body, NHS
We link to the original source for every medical and safety claim. Guidance changes; if a source has been updated since our last review, the source wins. How we research.