Week By Week Pregnancy Guide – Week 23 of your pregnancy

Here is all you need to know about fetal developments happening in the 23rd week of pregnancy.

Debjani Arora | Updated: December 14, 2014 5:22 pm

Now you are well into your pregnancy, however, inside you there is a lot that is happening with every passing minute. Here are a few noticeable changes that happen to you in the 23rd week of your pregnancy.

You gain weight: This is the time when weight gain will be at its optimum. Consistent weight gain also indicates good health of both the mother and the baby. If you have gained 0.5 kg compared to your previous week, this shows that you are on the right track with a healthy weight gain. Read to know how much weight gain is too much during pregnancy.

Your skin goes through noticeable changes: Hormonal changes that happen during pregnancy takes its toll on your skin too. However, this might not be the case with every woman. But for some the increase in melanin hormone might lead to pigmentation and dark circles. At times it also creates a mask termed as chloasma. Apart from this, acne and heat rashes can also bother one during this time. Keep in mind, that you should never self-treat acne during pregnancy as some anti-acne medications might have ill-effects on the fetus. Remember all these skin woes would be gone post delivery. Here are a few home remedies for pregnant women.

You might see some changes in your breasts too: There are certain changes that happen in your breasts during pregnancy. The most noticeable ones are leaky breasts, darkening of the areola and larger nipples. These are also the sign that your breasts are preparing well in advance for lactation and breastfeeding. Here are a few more noticeable changes that take place in your breast during pregnancy.

You might notice vaginal discharge: Vaginal discharge during pregnancy is not uncommon, but not all women might experience this. However with an excess of blood flow in the body and higher levels of estrogen this is not an unexpected phenomenon. Remember if you are experiencing vaginal discharge do not worry about the same and it might continue till you reach your labour. Here are few things you need to know about vaginal discharge.

You might develop stretch marks: With your belly extruding out and the baby growing within your womb, your uterus pushes on your stomach which gives rise to some ugly stretch marks all over the abdomen. The only way to prevent it is by applying moisturizer regularly on the belly from the start of the pregnancy.

Apart from this you many also experience some of the other pregnancy symptoms like constipation, nausea, heartburn, stretch marks, etc.

Development in your baby:
Here is what happens to your baby during this week:

Your baby looks more human-like: In this crucial growth phase, your baby is covered with skin all over but it is sagging and loose. But once adequate amount of fat is produced under the skin, your baby will look fuller and take shape of a little human being. By now all the distinguishable facial features have developed and your baby’s body is also growing in proportion to her head.

Your baby moves more vigorously: This is the week when most women feel those much-awaited baby kicks or fetal movements. This indicates that your baby is doing well and moving around more in the womb exploring the surroundings. Here is all you need to know about your baby’s kicks during pregnancy.

Your baby’s heart and other vital organs are growing in tandem: At this point you can hear your baby’s heartbeat even with a stethoscope. Apart from this his other organs are also growing and have started to functions as needed. This week your baby weighs approximately somewhere between 400 to 500 gm and measures approximately 300 mm crown-to-bump.

What you should do:

Join an antenatal class to learn more about labour and postnatal care. Pregnancy yoga and corrective breathing taught here will help you in the long run.
Be more disciplined with your diet. Ensure that you have enough iron, calcium and folate from natural sources too. Try not to indulge in junk and fatty foods now as this could escalate your weight and lead to problems like gestation diabetes or preeclamsia. Here are few ways in which you can tackle gestational diabetes.
Be regular with your exercise . This will aid in your baby’s growth and development process and help you combat the many problems of pregnancy.
Drink plenty of water to fight constipation, fatigue and to keep yourself hydrated throughout these nine months. Here are few ways to sleep swell during pregnancy.

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Image source: Getty images

Published: October 13, 2014 12:08 pm | Updated:December 14, 2014 5:22 pm

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