Welcome to the 23rd week of your pregnancy journey, week over week, your baby gets bigger and bigger, he probably even started practicing some essential life skills such as sucking, breathing, and even having sleeping patterns which might not be the same as yours.
Your baby is now throwing punches and kicks more than he ever used to, his tiny legs and arms can be even seen poking through from the outside of your belly, are you carrying the world’s next karate kid? Maybe!
Baby’s skin is now a bit saggy but it will not stay like that for too long as his body fats are now beginning to form. Meanwhile, the placenta is still doing its amazing job by delivering nutrients and removing waste from your baby’s system.
Changes Happening in Your Body by Your 23rd Week
By your 23rd week, you can notice how big your breasts have become! They are now huge compared to their size before pregnancy. They also might be leaking colostrum which is a type of early milk production.
You can easily fix the leaking issue by using breast pads which you will need a whole stock of once you start breastfeeding.
This week, you might start feeling some pain in your ribs due to the expansion in your rib cage to accommodate the bigger bump you are now having. You might even feel a bit out of breath, as the baby grows he puts more and more pressure on your lungs.
The best home remedy you can do is elevate your feet and relax! However, if you felt like the pain was too much or you have tried lifting your feet and could still feel discomforting pain, make sure to contact your midwife or doctor as soon as you can to make sure you and your baby are safe.
Thinking About Breastfeeding?
Breastfeeding gives your baby a huge immunity boost so he can fight off infections in his early years, it also has plenty of benefits to you as well as it reduces your chances of getting breast cancer and even helps you stay in shape as it burns around 300 calories per day!
Sun Sensitivity
As your skin is now more sensitive than ever, even on a cloudy day, you can still get burnt. This is quite unfortunate for many sunlight lovers as it can get beyond skin sensitivity to getting skin cancer even with the slightest exposure to sunlight.
To prevent this from happening, you will need to be more cautious when you go outside, make sure to cover up and walk under the shades. And above all, you will need to use a sunscreen with at least four stars UVA protection and apply a thick layer on all the exposed skin.
Symptoms of the 23rd Week of Pregnancy
While the bump grows, some women get too excited, some other women might get a bit anxious which could affect their entire mood. If you feel stressed or if you believe you are having mood swings, speak to your doctor or midwife about it as they could be able to help you through.
By this week, you should not be facing much trouble with any discomforting symptoms and even if you were, they would be manageable. However, if you experience any painful or extreme symptoms, make sure to contact your doctor as soon as possible to make sure you and the baby are alright and in good health.
Symptoms of the 23rd week of pregnancy might include:
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Tiredness
- Sore breasts
- Leg cramps
- Stretch marks
- Thicker hair
- Swollen gums
- Urine infection
- Bloating or constipation
- Spotty skin
- Feeling too warm
- Greasier skin
- Piles
- Vaginal infection
- Thicker hair
Your Baby’s 23rd Week Development
Your precious baby has been growing up so nicely over the past few weeks, he has now around half a pound in weight and about 28.9cm in length. This week is the beginning of some serious weight gain for your baby as he should be double his current weight within the next 4 weeks or so. You might even feel that weight gain yourself, too.
The Baby’s limbs are now in the proportion which means he looks more like a cute human baby rather than a giant-headed alien. And throughout the next few weeks, you will be feeling more and more of your baby’s kicks as he kicks and punches all-around your belly.
You can keep track of his sleeping and waking up patterns as well as his movements as you see them clearly on the outside of your tummy. Speak to your doctor or your midwife if you notice the baby’s rhythms getting slower.
This Week’s Tips
Stay Hydrated
Always keep a bottle of water handy as you will need plenty of fluids to maintain the baby’s and your blood volume besides renewing the amniotic fluid and helping with your milk production.
Even though the amount of fluids you need can vary between one woman to another based on their size and body type, however, the normal amount of water you should be having is around eight to ten glasses of water every day. Make sure to ask your doctor for the proper amount that suits your body and baby needs.
Prevent UTIs
As your uterus is rapidly growing, your bladder is now the perfect ground to breed bacteria which could lead to urinary tract infection. Luckily, there are plenty of ways that you can prevent this from happening during pregnancy such as drinking cranberry juice and drinking plenty of water.
You also need to check the color of your urine, if it shows to be darker than usual, you are not getting enough water in your system and could be exposed to UTIs. On the other hand, try not to hold your pee in, try to find a bathroom, and let it out as soon as you feel like you want to go.