Baby's Development
Your baby's hearing has developed enough to pick up sounds from the outside world, including your voice, which they may already be recognizing the rhythm and tone of. Loud or sudden noises can cause a startle response.
Your baby's skin is still thin and somewhat translucent, but blood vessels underneath give it a reddish appearance at this stage — this will change as fat accumulates under the skin in the coming weeks and months.
Changes in Your Body
Your uterus continues its steady rise, and your belly button may even start to flatten or pop outward for some women as the uterus pushes against the abdominal wall from the inside.
Common Symptoms
At 23 weeks, common experiences include:
- Strong, regular movement, including responses to sound
- Braxton Hicks contractions, occasionally
- Continued backaches
- Swelling
- Stretch marks
- Difficulty sleeping comfortably as the bump grows
Nutrition This Week
Continue eating regularly throughout the day to maintain stable energy and blood sugar, which also supports your baby's continued steady growth. This is also a good time to discuss your glucose screening test, usually done around 24-28 weeks.
Safe Exercises
Side-sleeping with a pregnancy pillow for support between the knees can improve comfort if sleep is becoming harder. During the day, continue with whatever moderate exercise routine has been working for you.
Medical Checklist
This week:
- Ask your doctor about scheduling your glucose screening test for gestational diabetes
- Consider a pregnancy pillow if sleep comfort is declining
- Continue monitoring fetal movement patterns
Doctor Visit Guide
The glucose screening test (often called the glucose tolerance test) is typically performed between 24 and 28 weeks and checks for gestational diabetes. Your doctor will explain the specific process used at your clinic.