23 Weeks Pregnant

Fetal Development This Week

Fetal Weight Gain

At eight inches and slightly over a pound, your baby is the size and shape of a small doll when you are 23 weeks pregnant. (But then, you already knew that you were carrying a living doll, didn't you?) This week marks the beginning of some serious weight gain. Your baby's weight in the next four weeks alone should double (and you may feel as though yours is too).
 
You have probably heard your developing baby's heartbeat through a Doppler a number of times already (though you never get tired of hearing it), but by now you can also hear it through a standard stethoscope. What a heart throb! 
 
Your baby's skin is reddish in color now because of the developing blood vessels underneath (remember, the skin is very thin still). It also hangs loosely from his or her little body at this point. That's because the skin grows faster than the fat develops during fetal growth. But don't worry.  By the time your baby is born, he or she will be pleasantly plump and filled out — from chubby cheeks to chubby toes.



graphics for moms

What is happenning now?

You are now 23 weeks pregnant and at the beginning of week 24.

Your baby has grown to be about 11.2 inches long from head to toe and approximately 1 lb 5 oz in weight.

Your baby can now rotate their head and may experience hiccups, which are caused by the sudden, irregular contractions of your baby's immature diaphragm (the muscle that supports their lungs). While unborn babies may be capable of sporadic hiccups as early as 12 weeks gestation, they are generally stronger and more rhythmic by this stage of pregnancy. Some unborn babies hiccup quite frequently, others not much at all. Many newborn babies continue to hiccup after birth. You may sometimes sense regular 'jumps' in your belly every now and then for short periods of time, if your baby has hiccups. A very strange sensation!

Your baby is now covered with a thick layer of white vernix cream, which protects their skin in their watery environment and they now have sweat glands. A fine layer of fat is forming between their muscle tissues and skin, covering their blood vessels and making their complexion look less translucent.

Physical Changes

Restless legs. A few women experience restless legs during their pregnancy. This can include sensations that your legs have to move all the time, or that they feel jittery or like they have 'butterflies' in them. Some women's legs ache and feel like they have to be constantly walking. Restless legs can make it difficult to sit for long periods and can stop you from sleeping well at night.

Pregnancy Glitter Graphics