Your Pregnancy: Week 23

Welcome to 23 weeks of pregnancy! Your baby is around 28.9cm long from head to heel - that's approximately the size of a large mango!

At 23 weeks, your baby's limbs are in proportion. Their lungs are still developing, but they're already practicing breathing movements to prepare for life outside the womb. While their lungs aren't yet able to work properly, these practice breaths are an essential part of their growth and development.

As your baby continues to grow, they're relying on you for oxygen, which they receive through the placenta. This lifeline will sustain them until they're ready to take their first breaths after birth, highlighting the incredible connection between you and your little one.

Now, let's touch on a common pregnancy symptom. Piles, also known as hemorrhoids, are swellings containing enlarged blood vessels inside or around your bottom. While they can be very uncomfortable, they're a common issue that many pregnant women experience due to hormonal changes that relax the veins. Fortunately, there are ways to ease the discomfort of piles during pregnancy, including gentle treatments and lifestyle tweaks.

Additionally, tiredness and lack of sleep are common companions during pregnancy. As your body works hard to nurture your growing baby, you may find yourself feeling more fatigued than usual. Finding ways to promote better sleep, such as using pillows to support your growing bump and practicing relaxation techniques, can help improve your quality of rest and alleviate some of the fatigue.

Have you felt your baby move yet? A baby’s movements can be anything from a kick, flutter, punch, swish or roll. The type of movement may change as your pregnancy progresses. From 16 – 24 weeks on you should feel your baby move more and more until 32 weeks. After 32 weeks, movements should stay roughly the same until you give birth. Always report any concerns about your baby's movements to your maternity unit!

⬅️ YOUR PREGNANCY: WEEK 24

➡️ YOUR PREGNANCY: WEEK 22

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