At 23 weeks pregnant, your baby is a whopping 1.1 pounds from head to heel. That is quite an accomplishment for someone that used to weigh less than one ounce. Your little one is now about 11 inches long – approximately the size of a winter squash!
Talk to your baby. He or she can hear you. By 23 weeks pregnant, the bones in your baby's middle ear are forming. Your baby's sharp ears can already pick up noises and sounds from outside the womb. Loud, common noises (car honking, vacuum running, emergency vehicle sirens) are probably familiar to your little one now, and he or she won't be as startled by them.
Fun Fact: In the final weeks of a normal pregnancy, lanugo will be shed and permanent hair will grow in its place.
Your baby's skin is still quite red and heavily wrinkled at 23 weeks pregnant. Lanugo (soft, downy hairs) covers your little bundle of joy's body. These downy hairs are constantly shed and replaced during your pregnancy. Lanugo keeps your baby warm, since he or she doesn't have very much body fat at pregnancy week 23.
By 23 weeks pregnant, your baby can choose to suck his or her thumb on purpose. The nervous and muscular systems are much more developed now, and your baby's overall sense of movement is established.
Premature Birth at 23 Weeks Pregnant
If your baby were born prematurely at 23 weeks pregnant, there is a small chance your baby would survive outside the womb, however it is best that your baby stay put! Many women start to wonder what might happen if their baby is born prematurely. A baby born between 23 and 24 weeks pregnant 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 by approximately 3 percent during pregnancy weeks 23 and 26. Generally, after 26 weeks pregnant, the survival rate jumps to 80-90 percent.
Many things can affect your baby's chances of survival if she is born prematurely. If your membranes rupture (your water breaks) prior to 24 weeks pregnant, your baby has less of a chance than if your membranes stay intact. Other factors such as diabetes or high blood pressure can place added stress on the baby during delivery, increasing the chances of complication.
At 23 weeks pregnant, your uterus continues to grow and expand. It is now 1.5 inches above your belly button. As your baby grows larger, you are going to feel less and less graceful. You may even find that you bump into things more easily. Your center of gravity isn't what it used to be, so you should expect to feel clumsy at this stage in pregnancy.
Your baby has lots of room to move in your uterus at 23 weeks pregnant, so his or her movements are probably quite strong. You probably will feel lots of flipping and flopping, and may even notice your stomach moving about! This is a wonderful experience, so cherish these moments while they last.
Helpful Tip: Make sure that you get all the rest that you can. As your belly gets larger, sleeping may become more difficult and uncomfortable.
During pregnancy week 23, you should sit down and start thinking about your baby's cord blood. You have three options – you could bank your own cord blood (it's expensive, but it might be worth it, especially if there's a genetic disposition to certain diseases in your family); you can donate your baby's cord blood to a public bank (which is free, by the way); or you can allow the hospital to simply throw the umbilical cord away (stem cells and all).
At 23 weeks pregnant, your baby is probably moving more than ever. Enjoy feeling his or her little kicks and jabs, and spend quality time with your husband or partner. Allow him to place his hand on your belly and feel your little bundle of joy's movements.
Crazy mood swings may be a problem at 23 weeks pregnant. You can blame increased hormone levels for your mood swings for this pregnancy symptom. Although there's nothing you can do to prevent feeling moody, get as much rest as possible and talk about how you're feeling to your husband or partner, and family members.
Swelling (edema) is a common pregnancy symptom at 23 weeks pregnant. It's normal for you to experience mild swelling in your feet, ankles, and legs. Poor circulation in your legs, paired with changes in your cardiovascular system in pregnancy can contribute to this pregnancy symptom. To give your circulation a boost, lie on your left side whenever possible. Make sure that you don't remain standing for long periods of time. When sitting, elevate your feet. Exercising on a regular basis can also promote blood circulation.
Braxton-Hicks contractions are a normal pregnancy symptom in the second trimester, and they can start bothering you at 23 weeks pregnant. (Some women do feel these false labor contractions earlier.) Braxton Hicks contractions occur randomly and infrequently in the second trimester. They are often painless. You shouldn't worry about preterm labor unless your contractions are regular and getting closer together with time.
Having darker nipples and areolas are another pregnancy change that you may notice at 23 weeks pregnant. This is normal, and there's nothing you can do about it. You may also find that there are little bumps on your now-darker areolas. These bumps are called Montgomery's tubercles, and they are simply another breast change you must deal with when pregnant.
Foot size changes can also occur at 23 weeks pregnant. You may notice that your feet are swollen, and you might even have to go up an entire shoe size. Although it's crummy to have larger feet, it's common in pregnancy and due to swelling (edema) and looser ligaments (due to hormonal changes). Again, there is nothing you can do about your larger feet. Just wear larger, more comfortable shoes.
You are packing on the pounds, mama-to-be! If you're an average-size, your weight gain at 23 weeks pregnant might be as high as 15 pounds or more. You may have gained more than this by now. But just remember that each woman gains weight differently. Just keep the recommended weight gain for your body size in mind, and aim for that total.
For women who started out pregnancy underweight (according to BMI calculations), you will want to gain between 28 to 40 pounds. Women who are average size should aim for a total pregnancy weight gain of 25 to 35 pounds. If you are overweight or obese, you'll need to gain less than this – preferably only 15 to 25 pounds.
At pregnancy 23 weeks, don't be shocked if you start to notice stretch marks on your abdomen, breasts, thighs, or buttocks. Stretch marks are common in the second and third trimester, especially if you're gaining a lot of weight very quickly. If you are gaining weight steadily – like one or two pounds per week – pregnancy stretch marks may not be a problem.
An estimated 50 percent of all women will have some degree of stretch marks (whether mild or severe) during pregnancy. Unfortunately, there is no 100 percent way to prevent pregnancy stretch marks from developing. Stretch marks may run in some families. Some women find that applying lotion to your abdomen and other parts on their body helps minimize the appearance of stretch marks.
Stretch marks will generally fade away after you deliver your baby.
Many women start feeling Braxton Hicks contractions or false labor pains, 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 true labor contractions. Also, true 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 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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If your baby were born prematurely at 23 weeks pregnant, there is a small chance your baby would survive outside the womb, however it is best that your baby stay put! Many women start to wonder what might happen if their baby is born prematurely. A baby born between 23 and 24 weeks pregnant 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. 
At 23 weeks pregnant, your uterus continues to grow and expand. It is now 1.5 inches above your belly button. As your baby grows larger, you are going to feel less and less graceful. You may even find that you bump into things more easily. Your center of gravity isn't what it used to be, so you should expect to feel clumsy at this stage in pregnancy. 
You are packing on the pounds, mama-to-be! If you're an average-size, your weight gain at 23 weeks pregnant might be as high as 15 pounds or more. You may have gained more than this by now. But just remember that each woman gains weight differently. Just keep the recommended weight gain for your body size in mind, and aim for that total. 
At pregnancy 23 weeks, don't be shocked if you start to notice stretch marks on your abdomen, breasts, thighs, or buttocks. Stretch marks are common in the second and third trimester, especially if you're gaining a lot of weight very quickly. If you are gaining weight steadily – like one or two pounds per week – pregnancy stretch marks may not be a problem. 
Many women start feeling Braxton Hicks contractions or false labor pains, 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? 