Pregnancy Week - 23 Weeks Pregnant

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Pregnancy Week 23

**Please note- Your Due Date is calculated from your last menstrual period, which corresponds to our Pregnancy Week by Week articles.

Week 23

How Big is the Baby at 23 Weeks Pregnant?
Your baby is positively HUGE during pregnancy at 23 weeks, a whopping 1.1 pound (or almost at least!). That is quite an accomplishment for someone that used to weigh less than one ounce. Your baby at 23 weeks is now the size of a small baby doll you might purchase for a little girl. That's pretty impressive considering your baby could fit in the palm of your hand just a few short weeks ago. Your newborn baby is also about 11 inches long by pregnancy week 23!

Your Baby's Growth and Development
Your baby is still making remarkable changes at pregnancy 23 weeks. Her skin is still quite red and heavily wrinkled by the end of pregnancy week 23. Your baby can often hear loud noises in the womb from now and as you continue your pregnancy week by week, so don't be surprised if your baby seems to move around a bit when you are vacuuming or in an environment where loud noises are quite common.

The bones located in your baby's middle ear are starting to form by pregnancy week 23 and your baby is continuing to fill out and look more and more proportional.

If your baby were born this week there is a small chance your baby would survive, however it is best that your baby stay put for a number of weeks! Many women start to wonder what might happen if their baby is born prematurely. A baby born between 23 and 24 weeks would have a 10 to 70 percent chance of survival. It truly depends on a number of factors that have to be taken into consideration.

There are babies that are born at one pound that beat the odds and go on to live a fairly normal life, while others unfortunately die due to unexpected complications. The smallest babies may survive but grow up with some mental or motor disabilities as a result of their extreme prematurity.

Every day your baby stays in the womb increases their survival rate approximately 3 percent during weeks 23 and 26.

Generally after 26 weeks the survival rate jumps to 80-90%.

Many things can affect your baby's chances of survival if she is born prematurely. If your membranes rupture prior to 24 weeks your baby has less of a chance than if they stay intact. Male infants are considered more at risk because they are less mature than female babies when born prematurely. Other factors such as diabetes or high blood pressure can place added stress on the baby during delivery, increasing the chances of complication.

Your Growth and Development
Your uterus is continuing to grow and expand at 23 weeks pregnant, and by now is about 1.5 inches above your bellybutton. You are probably feeling less and less graceful 23 weeks pregnant as your belly continues to expand.

Your baby has lots of room to move in your uterus now, so her movements are probably quite strong at this point. You probably feel lots of flipping and flopping, and may even notice your stomach moving about!

Changes in You
You are probably having wild mood swings still, but other than that things are run of the mill. Take some time to enjoy the feeling of your baby moving about your belly. This is often a fun time for both mom and baby because the baby has so much room to move around.

Pregnancy Pillows
Providing Great Support For Your Lower Back

Postural changes are quite common during pregnancy. Unfortunately postural changes can lead to a host of problems including lower back pain. Low back pain during pregnancy often occurs during the second and third trimester.

There are several strategies you can adopt to help combat lower back pain during pregnancy. Gentle stretching and exercise in the form of swimming or prenatal yoga often help. At times, a visit to the chiropractor or physical therapist may be warranted. Using a pregnancy pillow at night, like Snoozer Pregnancy Pillows can also help relieve pregnancy pain including lower back pain during pregnancy.
Watch our pregnancy pillows video on youtube.com.

Maternity Clothes
Overalls/Rompers:
Cute and Casual Wear for Expectant Mothers

Any pregnant woman will tell you that overalls and rompers are among the most comfortable items a woman can have in her maternity collection. One of the best things about overalls and rompers is that they can be worn before, during and after pregnancy. In fact, overalls and rompers are particularly useful in the postpartum months when you don’t quite have your pre-pregnancy shape back just yet. They provide room to expand and breathe throughout your pregnancy.

Pregnancy Health Tips
Many women start feeling Braxton Hicks contractions during the second trimester. Braxton Hicks can be scary if you aren't able to differentiate them from the real thing. So how do you do that?

Braxton Hicks contractions happen when the muscles in your uterus tighten periodically, usually for 30 to 60 seconds. The primary differentiating feature between Braxton Hicks and regular contractions is that Braxton Hicks are usually random and painless.

If you have never had a baby before it may be difficult for you to tell the difference between Braxton Hicks contractions and regular contractions. Braxton Hicks are far less painful, less regular and less frequent than labor contractions. Also, labor contractions will increase in frequency, length and start hurting more as time progresses. So if your contractions are not intensifying over an extended period of time you are probably not in labor.

As you get farther along in your pregnancy you will probably start experiencing more frequent Braxton hick's contractions. Some physicians refer to them as false labor. They do actually serve a purpose, helping to prepare the cervix for the process of effacement and dilation. This describes the process whereby the cervix thins out and opens up in preparation for delivery.

If you notice that your contractions stop when you change positions or relax, you are probably having Braxton Hicks contractions and not true labor contractions. Drink a glass or two of water if they become bothersome, because dehydration can sometimes increase the frequency of contractions.

Call your doctor however if you notice any of the following, which may be signs of pre-term labor:

• Contractions that increase in frequency and duration.
• Contractions that are longer than 60 seconds and occur less than 5 minutes apart for an hour or more.
• Contractions accompanied by bloody or watery discharge.
• Contractions accompanied by lower back pain.
• More than four contractions an hour or any contractions occurring at regular intervals.

More than likely you'll find that you come to recognize Braxton Hicks easily enough, and welcome them as a sign that your body is preparing for the momentous task of labor to come several weeks down the line.

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