Week 23 is an exciting week for most mommies-to-be out there as your baby bump becomes visible at this stage!

The size of the baby
The size of the baby resembles a squash during this stage.

Weight/height of the baby
The height of the baby is around 28 cm while the weight of the baby is around 450 grams.

About your baby
The lips and eyes of your baby are in well-defined shape during this stage. The wrinkled skin is filled at this stage due to the deposition of fat and increased weight gain of your baby. Even the movements of your baby increase during this week as the muscles of your baby is stronger and have improved coordination. The weight of your baby remains steady during this stage and all the essential organs of your baby are formed. The blood vessels start developing within the lungs in order to allow breathing outside the body if your baby gets delivery prematurely. The skin remains thin and translucent during this stage. The hearing sense of your baby is well-developed as the middle ear gets harden up during this week. Since your little one is far away from coming out in this world, the head of the baby is faced upwards towards the diaphragm while the legs point downwards near the uterus.

About your body
Some significant changes will occur in the following weeks as the final day of delivery is just 3 months later. However, at this stage, your baby is not yet ready to enter the world. You can feel stronger movements from your baby from this week as your baby has increased muscle strength. You’ll notice stretch marks, cramps in your legs, swollen ankles or feet, bleeding gums, constipation, difficulty in sleeping, headaches and other symptoms. The fundal height of your belly during this stage is around 21-25 cms.

Do & Don’ts / Advice / Checklist / Tips
• You can perform prenatal yoga as your belly is increased in size.
• You might feel anxious during this stage so you can join stress relaxation techniques.
• Plan your maternity leave if you are currently working.
• Prepare yourself for labour and delivery.
• Get ready for your baby’s arrival and prepare the nursery room.

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