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!
How Big is Your Baby?
At pregnancy week 23, your baby is the size of a small winter melon or a large mango. He/she is around 28.9 cm and weighs around 498.9 g.
Image courtesy: Pixabay
Your 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 his/her body may darken by now.
- His/her eyes are now completely formed, although they do not have any colour just yet. It is also now when he/she can open his/her eyes inside the womb.
- By this week, you can feel him/her moving through your womb. He/she 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.
- His/her vestibular system, the area in the brain responsible for sensing movement, is developing quickly now. This means he/she is already actively sensing all your physical movements.
- He/she also has developed a stable hearing sense. If before they can only hear sounds from inside your body, now they can hear 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 they are given the right medical care in an intensive care unit.
Pregnancy 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 some discolouration and darkening in some areas of the body, including your nipples.
ALSO READ:
What is Linea Nigra? Is This Dark Line Down the Middle of Your Tummy Permanent?
8 Ways to Cope with Pregnancy Brain
Fibroids During Pregnancy, Questions You Should Ask
Pregnancy Care: Your Checklist For Week 23 of Pregnancy
- To keep the bleeding gums at bay, make good dental hygiene a priority. Due to super active 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 as well as 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 put a strain on 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
Here at theAsianparent Singapore, it’s important for us to give information that is correct, significant, and timely. But this doesn’t serve as an alternative for medical advice or medical treatment. theAsianparent Singapore is not responsible for those that would choose to drink medicines based on information from our website. If you have any doubts, we recommend consulting your doctor for clearer information.
