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You enter the 23rd week of pregnancy, which also means 21st week of fetal development. The baby already has all the organs necessary for life, and if he was born prematurely in the 23rd week of pregnancy, there would be a chance that, with a sufficiently quick response from doctors and specialized care, he could survive.
At 23 weeks of pregnancy, the baby weighs about 550 g and measures about 28 cm from head to toe. It is already quite large, although the main weight gain will take place only in the last month of pregnancy, which is why each next day spent in the womb is so important. Nevertheless, at 23 weeks of pregnancy, the baby is sufficiently developed that, if it had a premature birth, with a bit of luck and the care of specialists, it could have survived. Medicine knows cases of tiny newborns who, despite adversities, turned out to be so strong that they survived after such an early delivery.
Your pregnancy is already very visible, but the weight gain at this stage is not yet great enough to burden you very much. So get the most out of your second trimester and enjoy the activities you enjoy.
Your body at 23 weeks of pregnancy may surprise you with new symptoms. Find out what to expect and how to deal with unpleasant symptoms that may worsen.
23rd week of pregnancy – baby’s development
By the 23rd week of pregnancy, all of the baby’s key organs had started to work. At the moment, they are being improved and enlarged, as well as “training” the reflexes necessary to survive outside the mother’s womb. The amniotic fluid is irreplaceable in this. Thanks to its swallowing, the kidneys can filter the blood. The intestine also benefits from this because it trains the absorption of simple sugars. All this causes meconium to accumulate in the intestine of the fetus, which will probably be excreted in the first XNUMX hours after delivery. The amniotic fluid also helps exercise the breathing movements – the baby ‘ventilates’ its little lungs with it.
Many women wonder if urea in the amniotic fluid is harming the baby. After all, it regularly urinates into the uterus. However, this is not a problem at all. The mother’s body also helps to cleanse the amniotic fluid. Amniotic fluid is constantly changed and always fresh. A full change cycle takes only two hours!
The baby at 23 weeks of pregnancy is still very frail. Its body proportions are similar to those of a newborn, but it is also much thinner. This is the result of the still small amount of adipose tissue that is regularly accumulated. The fetus also has a bit of “too much skin”, however, it will also tighten with enough fat. If your baby was born now, it would be very red. This would be the effect of translucent skin and visible blood vessels, however, the skin slowly begins to discolor at this stage as well. This also applies to lanugo, which may turn darker in the 23rd week of pregnancy.
In the 23rd week of pregnancy, intensive lung development continues. The lungs are organs that take a relatively long time to shape properly, and it is these organs that cause a lot of problems for premature babies.
23st week of pregnancy – changes in your body
Your body is constantly changing and you should gain weight at a steady pace in the 23rd week of pregnancy. If spikes are sudden and unstable, take a look at your diet. Remember that you don’t have to “eat for two” when you are pregnant. Energy requirements do not increase much, and the most important thing is to eat a few small, balanced meals a day. Exercises designed specifically for pregnant women will also help to maintain a safe weight.
The breasts of pregnant women keep growing. The nipples also darken as a result of more melanin in the body. The same happens with the vulva, the color of which grows more intense as pregnancy progresses. Colostrum may also come out of your breasts as early as 23 weeks pregnant. It is a thick yellow discharge full of proteins and antibodies.
Week 23 is also a moment when, despite your still high level of energy, you may experience irritability and an emotional swing. Of course, hormones are partly responsible for this, but many women are simply nervous about the upcoming delivery. On top of that, there are problems with memory and a distraction that happens to most pregnant women. Although after giving birth, the mind returns to full efficiency. The fact that you cannot remember why you went to the store can obviously upset you. Try to rest as much as possible and not give in to negative emotions.
Annoyance can also be the result of sleep problems, which are quite common in the 23rd week of pregnancy. Pregnant women are obviously disturbed by their growing tummy in their sleep; their legs swell, their spine hurts – all this makes it difficult to find a comfortable position to rest. A special C-shaped pillow may be helpful. You can put it between your legs, which improves circulation, and it can be placed comfortably under your head. Ask friends who already have children about it. Maybe one of them was using it.
Especially important in the 23st week of pregnancy
If you haven’t made up your mind about attending birthing school yet, now is a good time to do so. Especially that some of them are already adopted by women in the 23rd week of pregnancy. Even if you intend to attend classes only in the third trimester, make sure now that the institution you are interested in will reserve a place for you.
Tests in the 23st week of pregnancy
Every pregnant woman between 21 and 28 weeks of pregnancy should undergo a glucose loading test. It consists in measuring the glucose level in the blood twice: before drinking the glucose solution and one hour after drinking it. The subjects allow to detect gestational diabetes.
An interesting fact about the 23nd week of pregnancy
The weight constantly shows more and more kilograms, but the child weighs just over 500 g. So where does this weight come from? Don’t worry – it’s not fat. This weight is made up of extra fluids such as amniotic fluid and extra blood circulating in the bloodstream. In addition, the breasts and the uterus also grow and develops a placenta, which together constitute a considerable burden.