Mum, you may be experiencing frequent urination because your expanding uterus sits on your bladder. Take this as a sign that your baby’s growth is on track as you enter week 23 of pregnancy!
Pregnancy Week 23: Baby
You’re almost in the final stretch of your pregnancy now! You’ve made it to week 23, and things are starting to get exciting. While still over a month away, you are given an estimated due date, and a feeling of excitement begins to build.
The growth of your bump is slowing down, but this is the week you’ll probably start to feel the first flutters of movement.
Baby’s Growth
At pregnancy week 23, your baby is the size of a small winter melon or a large mango. They are around 28.9 cm and weighs around 498.9 g.
As your baby grows, there will be more noticeable changes. Your baby is now around 7 inches long and weighs about 1 pound. The top of your uterus is about halfway between your belly button and rib cage. You may feel the baby move for the first time this week!
It’s important to keep up with your prenatal care appointments at this point in your pregnancy. You’ll be getting an ultrasound around this time to check on your baby’s growth and organs and limbs. Your doctor will also check for any abnormalities or problems that may have developed since you last saw them.
Image courtesy: Pixabay
Baby’s Development
The day you’ve been waiting for is getting closer and closer. But as you prepare for the baby’s arrival, your baby’s development is also ongoing to prepare them for the real world. In this week-by-week pregnancy guide, you’ll learn that:
- Your baby’s lungs are developing to prepare for breathing.
- The lanugo, or the fine hair that covers their body, may darken by now.
- Their eyes are now completely formed, although they do not have any colour yet. It is also now when they can open their eyes inside the womb.
- By this week, you can feel them moving through your womb. They may be doing somersaults, too… but not for long. Also, at week 23 of pregnancy, you can already form a pattern of your baby’s movements. Are they more active after a meal? Do they seem awake to you in the middle of the night? Go ahead and talk to your little one whenever you feel them moving.
- Their vestibular system, the area in the brain responsible for sensing movement, is developing quickly now. This means they are already actively sensing all your physical movements.
- They have also developed a stable hearing sense. If before they could only hear sounds from inside your body, now they can listen to from outside your body too! So encourage your partner and other family members to talk to the baby from your tummy.
- Babies born at 23 weeks can sometimes survive if given the right medical care in an intensive care unit.
Baby’s Hearing
Your baby is starting to hear more and more.
You’ve probably heard that newborns can’t hear very well, but that’s not quite true. Your baby may have some trouble telling the difference between sounds, but he or she can already hear the loudest noises around you—like your voice or the sound of your heartbeat.
Baby’s Teeth
At week 23 of pregnancy, your little one is developing teeth. Don’t worry if you don’t see them yet—they’re tucked away behind gums and won’t be visible until they break through the membranes that cover them.
You can help your baby’s teeth develop by eating foods high in calcium, like yoghurt and cheese. Get enough calcium while pregnant—your baby will take what she needs from you!
Baby’s Movement
If you’ve felt your baby move around inside you, you’ll be happy to know that your little one’s movements are getting stronger and more purposeful—you’ll probably notice that they’re more like fluttering than just random jabs at this point.
You may have noticed your baby’s movements changing in the last few weeks. As your baby grows, he or she will begin to move less frequently. This change is because your baby has more room to move around in your uterus.
Pregnancy Week 23: Your Body
23 weeks pregnant and wow, your body is sure starting to show the signs! You’ve got that cute belly now that you’re so proud of, but what else are you noticing? Your body is changing as more weight is put onto your legs. Are you getting tired more easily and getting more aches and pains? Learn more about pregnancy week 23 and what’s going on with your body.
Symptoms
- Boy, are you showing! Your uterus extends 3.8 cm above your belly button and you would have gained anything between 5.4 kg to 6.8 kg.
- You are peeing frequently because your uterus sits above your bladder. You may even experience leaking of fluids.
- This time around you will be checked for preterm labour. The anxiety levels will heighten during this week and you will go through varied emotions and even pregnancy brain.
- At week 23 of pregnancy, you might experience bleeding gums and nosebleeds.
- You may also notice discolouration and darkening in some areas of the body, including your nipples.
Maternal Weight Gain
This week, you’ll notice that your belly is getting bigger and bigger!
You may be starting to feel more tired than usual by now, but that’s not all bad news—it means your body is using its energy resources wisely. It’s a sign that you’re doing everything right regarding diet and exercise during pregnancy.
Your doctor will also ask whether you’ve been feeling nauseous or vomiting recently. If so, it may be helpful for them to know if certain smells or foods have triggered these symptoms—these can help them diagnose potential causes for morning sickness.
Nutrition
Pregnancy week 23 is when mothers’ nutritional needs are at their greatest.
During this period, the baby is growing rapidly and requires a huge amount of energy to do so. It’s important for mothers-to-be to eat lots of healthy foods and avoid unhealthy ones to ensure that the baby has the best start in life possible.
It’s also important that mothers-to-be get enough iron and calcium in their diet, as these minerals help with bone development and overall health. Iron helps prevent anaemia, while calcium helps build strong bones.
In addition to eating a balanced diet with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, mothers should consider taking a prenatal vitamin supplement, which will provide them with all the extra nutrients they need throughout pregnancy week 23.
Image Source: iStock
Pregnancy Care: Your Checklist For Week 23 of Pregnancy
- To keep the bleeding gums at bay, prioritise good dental hygiene. Due to superactive hormones, your gums will suffer inflammation and bleeding, particularly while brushing your teeth.
- You are peeing constantly, and how! But that’s pretty normal at this stage. Continue drinking water, vegetable juices, herbal teas, fruit juice, and milk.
- When using public toilets, sanitise the seats and maintain minimal contact to avoid infections.
- Speak to your company, and plan your maternity leave.
- You may have a hard time getting things done around the house, so make sure your baby’s nursery or room is set up. You can also do house chores, except the ones that require handling chemicals and will strain your back.
- Have you already thought of a name for your baby? Check out our selection for inspiration.
- Get a new wardrobe!
Your next week: 24 weeks pregnant
Your previous week: 22 weeks pregnant
Updates from Pheona Ilagan
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