Overview of Week 23 of pregnancy
During week 23 of pregnancy:
- Your baby is 11.5 inches long
- You are in trimester two
- 17 more weeks to go
- Movements may be felt by your partner
At 23 weeks pregnant, birth may still seem like it’s forever away. However, now is a good time to start preparing for the arrival of your baby. If you haven’t already, you should call your insurance providers, if necessary, to make sure you are going to be covered for birth. You should also decide on your maternity leave. How long of a leave will your employer give you? How long would you actually like to have off before going back to work? And how about your partner? Will he also be taking time off? How will you split tasks when the baby comes? These are just a few questions you should start to consider at this time in pregnancy.
How many months pregnant is 23 weeks?
At 23 weeks pregnant, you are now 5 months and 1 week pregnant. You are in the second trimester and have only 4 more months left to go.
How big is baby at 23 weeks pregnant?
At 23 weeks pregnant, your baby is roughly the size of an eggplant; approximately 11.5 inches long. Your baby is expected to go through a big growth spurt over the next month or so. In fact, your little one will likely double in size.
Baby development during week 23 of pregnancy
Heart
Your baby’s heart continues to grow and beat harder. You have likely heard your baby’s heartbeat many times with a doppler at your doctor’s appointments; but, at 23 weeks pregnant, you may be able to hear it with just a stethoscope.
Movement
By 23 weeks pregnant, you should be feeling your little one move around in your uterus. Your baby is growing bigger and stronger and those movements might even be able to be felt by your partner. You might even be able to see those movements if you stay really still.
Pregnancy Week 23 Symptoms
Braxton-Hicks
Braxton-Hick contractions are false labor pains caused by the contraction of the uterus. They are not contractions that indicate that labor is coming; instead, they prepare your body for labor. Unlike labor contractions, these contractions come irregularly and do not increase in length or strength. They can feel uncomfortable and like mild menstrual cramps. You may start to feel Braxton-Hicks at any time in your pregnancy from now on.
Stretch marks
You may have started to notice stretch marks forming on your belly and breasts. These indented, purple, red, or blue lines occur when skin is stretched quickly. It is difficult to avoid stretch marks during pregnancy and they are usually permanent scars. You may not be able to avoid them completely, but you can start to use lotions and oils on your belly and breasts to help reduce the severity of the marks.
Protruding belly button
Don’t be surprised if your normally ‘innie’ belly button starts to protrude from your abdomen. Although it doesn’t happen to all women, sometimes the uterus and fetus put so much pressure on the abdomen that it pushes out the belly button. Generally, this will go back to normal after the baby is born.
Back pain
Now that your baby bump is growing, you might start to experience back pain. Back pain in pregnancy usually begins in the second trimester and is characterized as a dull or achy pain in the lower back. To relieve pain, try to keep a good posture. If your belly is bigger, you may want to try a pregnancy band to relieve some of the pressure out of your back. Heat pads or massage may also help to relieve some pain.
Swelling
Swelling in pregnancy is a normal symptom that usually starts in the second trimester and may worsen towards the end of pregnancy. Excess fluids in the body and pressure from your growing uterus can cause water retention in the feet, ankles, and hands. If you notice your fingers starting to swell, you should remove any rings until the swelling goes down. Let your doctor or midwife know if the swelling worsens or if there is a large amount in your face or around your eyes.
Pregnancy brain
You may notice that you seem to forget more things nowadays. You may not remember specific details, dates, or things on your to-do list. Perhaps you may not be able to focus on tasks and your mind seems to wonder. This is a common occurrence in pregnancy. In order to combat this, writing yourself notes and leaving them around your home might be a beneficial idea.
Pregnancy week 23 tips
Take pictures
Have you taken your weekly baby bump photo yet? These pictures will be a good memory to look back on and it is a fun way to show your belly growing throughout your pregnancy.
Prenatal classes
Take some time and research any prenatal classes in your area that may be of interest to you. Not only are birthing classes something to look into, but you may not have considered the other options available to you. Prenatal yoga or exercise classes are fun ways to get in some movement and meet other expecting moms. Your area may also have a special prenatal women’s group for expecting mothers to meet up and socialize.
Look into childcare
It may seem silly to look into daycare for a child who isn’t even born yet; however, daycares often have long waitlists. If you wait too long, you may find that there will be no available daycares for when you need them. It doesn’t hurt to get on a list now, at least you will know that you have a secured spot.
