Pregnancy Week 23

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Pregnancy Week 23: Stretch, stretch, stretch!

What's a tired mom-to-be to do? Buy a Snoozer Pillow

What can you do to prevent stretch marks during pregnancy? There are many people that religiously moisturize their bellies using special lotions and ointments including cocoa butter in the hopes they will minimize stretch marks. Keep in mind however, stretch marks are often hereditary. That means if your mother had many stretch marks you are more likely to develop them.

Still, you can easily lather your body in rich, creamy lotions to help keep your skin supple during pregnancy weeks 23 and beyond. Keep in mind stretch marks can happen on your breasts while they expand during pregnancy, on your legs or thighs during pregnancy and in other unusual places depending on your skin tone and how much weight you gain. There is no harm in using stretch mark cream, so go ahead and use it if it makes you feel better about your body.

What About Baby?
Your baby is still working diligently on maturing. By 23 pregnancy weeks your baby is almost one pound (wow!) and has probably developed fingernails. Your baby is just under 11 inches long and roughly the size of an infant baby doll.

If your baby were born right now he or she would have some chance of survival. Each week your baby stays in the womb provides your baby with better odds for a happy, healthy birth. For this reason you should be on the lookout for signs of preterm labor. These include (but are not limited to):

• Rhythmic, regular contractions that last 60 seconds or more
• Contractions that increase in intensity
• Contractions or abdominal pain accompanied by spotting or bleeding
• Contractions that continue for more than one hour and are less than four or five minutes apart
• Low back pain accompanied by contractions and bleeding
• Discharge containing blood
• Watery fluid leaking from the vagina

If you experience any of these symptoms call your doctor immediately. Often with medical intervention premature labor can be stopped, allowing your baby precious time needed in the womb to grow and mature.

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