Week 23 of pregnancy
What's Happening with Baby
Your baby's senses are developing rapidly, especially their hearing. They can now recognize sounds from the outside world, including the sound of your voice. If you talk or sing to your baby, you may even feel them move in response! This month is a period of rapid growth, and their skin is continuing to thicken.
Your baby is now about 11 1/2 inches long (the size of a large mango or an eggplant) and weighs a full 1 pound. Their movements might still feel somewhat erratic at times, but they will become more regular as the weeks go on.
What You Might Experience
As your uterus continues to stretch and grow, you may notice that your abdomen hurts frequently. This is often due to the stretching of the round ligaments that support your uterus and is a normal part of pregnancy.
To help manage digestive comfort, you might want to decrease your intake of chocolate, highly spiced foods, fried foods, and fats. Instead, focus on cereals with high fiber content and without added sugar, which can provide you and your baby with necessary vitamins and minerals.
Key Things to Keep in Mind
Your doctor will likely be scheduling you for a blood test for gestational diabetes soon. This screening, often called a glucose tolerance test, is usually performed between weeks 24 and 28 of pregnancy to check how your body is processing sugar.
It may feel far away, but it's never too early to think about your postpartum health. At your postnatal visits, you should plan to discuss with your doctor which family planning methods are available and best for you. This will enable you to confidently resume a healthy sexual life when you are ready.
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