With the advancement of technology, it is now possible to follow your baby’s journey in the womb and learn about the developments at each stage of pregnancy. A normal pregnancy lasts for about 40 weeks and is divided into 3 trimesters. Week 23 of the pregnancy falls under the second trimester which is a crucial period for both, mother and the baby.
At week 23, you are halfway through the pregnancy journey. At this stage of pregnancy, the body undergoes considerable physical and hormonal changes as the foetus is growing and developing critical organs. As the baby grows, the bump becomes evident and this is the time when you can feel your baby moving inside.
Week 23 is the time from when your baby starts gaining considerable weight. At this juncture, the skin of the baby is saggy as it grows a lot faster than the fat. At week 23, blood vessels in the lungs are developing to aid breathing and billions of brain cells will develop over the next few weeks. The sense of movement is well developed and the baby can feel you move.
At this juncture, your baby is around 11 inches long and a little over one pound in weight. 23 weeks pregnant baby size is similar to the size of a mango. The baby is growing very rapidly at this stage and will double in weight in the next four weeks.
A pregnant woman undergoes several noticeable body changes during pregnancy. These changes become more evident as the delivery approaches. At week 23 of pregnancy, you may feel clumsy as the baby bump gets larger and your centre of gravity starts shifting. The belly button might pop out in case you had a belly button coiled inside. You might have clear or yellowish vaginal discharge that has a faint smell. Due to the increase in weight of your baby, you will experience swollen feet and pain in knees. The soles of your feet and palms of the hand might be red and the body is prone to heat rashes and skin tags.
At this stage, the stretch marks become more evident and you might notice a dark line on the centre of your belly which is called linea nigra. The linea nigra is caused by the same hormones that cause skin discolourations during pregnancy and runs down from the belly button to the pubic area. Some woman might also notice discolouration on the face, especially in the area around the nose, cheeks, eyes, and forehead.
The symptoms of pregnancy in the second trimester are different from that of the first trimester. While the first trimester is marked by nausea and fatigue, the second trimester has the following symptoms:
At 23 weeks, the belly will measure about 21 to 25 centimetres when measured from the pubic bone to the top of the uterus making the bump evident. The weight gain at this stage ranges from 12 to 15 pounds, but if you are pregnant with twins, then the weight gain would be at least 23 pounds.
The ultrasound at 23 weeks would reveal the extent to which your baby has already developed. By the 23rd week, the foetus’ face is fully formed and there are tiny little nipples which are forming on the baby’s chest. The baby can now listen to your heartbeat and sounds like car honking and barking dogs.
The baby is fast gaining weight and the critical organs are taking shape. It is important for the mother to ensure that the baby receives sufficient nutrients through her. The food intake should be high in essential nutrients such as vitamins, proteins, calcium, iron and unhealthy food items containing excess oil, fats, sugar or salt should be avoided. Food items such as dairy products, nuts, and seeds, fish, figs or apricots, green vegetables like spinach, cereals should form a part of your 23rd week pregnancy food list as they provide you with iron, calcium and other essential supplements necessary to maintain your health.
Halfway through the pregnancy, you are bound to be both excited and nervous and the body changes coupled with anxiety might lead to stress. In such a situation, it is important to keep calm and take care of yourself. Avoid activities that would increase stress and engage in a routine which will de-stress you, such as exercising, doing yoga or meditation. Here is a list of dos and don’ts that will help you through the journey:
In the second trimester, your belly is growing and life is going through significant changes. Here is a list of items that you will need to shop for in order to stay apace with the developments.
You can also start preparing for the baby to come by shopping for newborn clothes, changing table, crib with mattress, baby bedding, and nursery accessories.
Keep in mind that early preparation and proper care is the key to having a stress-free pregnancy.
Read this article in Arabic: الأسبوع 23 من الحمل