23rd week of pregnancy: what happens to the baby and the expectant mother, photo, ultrasound

This week your baby weighs about 450-500 g. The skin is still wrinkled and reddish in color. The fluff covering the skin darkens. While in your tummy, the baby hears many sounds, especially loud ones, and gets used to them. After birth, he will no longer be afraid of the vacuum cleaner or the barking dog. Blood vessels actively develop in the lungs, preparing the baby for independent breathing.

At week 23, he is already constantly making movements similar to breathing. The lungs do not open, but allow some amniotic fluid to enter. This liquid is instantly absorbed and does not harm the child’s respiratory system. The fetus is now capable of making about 50-60 “inhalations and exhalations” per minute. Sometimes he takes breaks for half an hour or even an hour, and then breathing movements resume.

The parts of the fetal digestive system are quite well formed by this week, each organ performs its functions - from the esophagus to the intestines. The pancreas, liver, and kidneys are working. The hematopoietic function is performed by the red bone marrow, lymph nodes, spleen and thymus gland.

Interesting Facts

Your baby is the size of

Zucchini

295 mm Size

500 g Weight

Starting from the 23rd week, the growth of the fetus rapidly accelerates, only over the next month its weight will double. As the uterus enlarges, some unpleasant symptoms of pregnancy intensify, and the surge of strength that appeared at the beginning of the 2nd trimester begins to wane. What else happens to mother and baby at this stage? Let's find out together, but first let's look at the calculations:

• 23rd week of pregnancy - what month?

  You are almost 6 months pregnant. To simplify calculations, there are exactly 4 weeks in an obstetric month.

• From menstruation or from conception?

  The 23rd obstetric week corresponds to the 21st week of the embryonic period.

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All texts for pages about mother and baby were kindly provided by RAMA Publishing - these are chapters from the book by Svetlana Klaas “Your Favorite Little Man from Conception to Birth”, reviewer Irina Nikolaevna Kononova, Candidate of Medical Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the Ural State Medical Academy (Ekaterinburg).

Feelings of the expectant mother

At 23 weeks of pregnancy, the fundus of the uterus is located approximately 4 cm above the navel. Due to the pressure it puts on the diaphragm, pregnant women experience breathing problems: it becomes shallow and shortness of breath occurs. As the uterus grows, the load on the spine increases, so you may experience back and lower back pain. Do exercises for pregnant women and wear a support bandage.

Among other unpleasant symptoms of the 23rd week of pregnancy, we note:

• Swelling in the legs. Be sure to inform your gynecologist about them. If the swelling is minor, there is no need to worry. Rest and a contrast shower will help remove it. Severe swelling requires medical supervision.
• False contractions. It is believed that in this way the uterus prepares for childbirth. Suddenly, a woman feels a tightening in her lower abdomen, and the pain can radiate to the lower back. The sensation lasts no longer than minutes and goes away on its own.
• Itchy skin on the abdomen. Occurs due to the fact that the epidermis is stretched. Moisturizing creams and lotions will help.
• Digestive problems: heartburn, flatulence, constipation. To alleviate your condition, be sure to include vegetables, fruits and whole grain cereals, prunes and dairy products in your diet.

Possible dangers and problems

A danger that can await a woman at any stage of pregnancy is excessive physical stress,

as well as
stress
. In the second trimester, this does not affect the pregnant woman’s body as much as in the first and third trimesters, but this fact should not be overlooked, especially if the doctor talks about the threat of miscarriage.

Diseases

, carried by a pregnant woman, can also have a negative impact on the fetus and on the expectant mother herself. Therefore, you need to monitor changes in your condition, discuss them with your gynecologist and strictly follow all recommendations.

Weight gain

- a completely natural process, but it can become a problem for a woman, as the load on the lower back and legs increases. In order to facilitate the process of bearing a baby, a gynecologist may recommend wearing a prenatal bandage in order to redistribute the load on the musculoskeletal system.

Swelling can also bother a woman

, which arise due to the enlargement of the uterus and its increasing pressure on surrounding organs and vessels. Reducing the amount of salt, as well as lingonberry fruit drinks, can reduce the appearance of edema. You can raise the foot end of the bed so that the pregnant woman’s legs are higher than the level of her head, which will promote better blood flow from the lower extremities and, accordingly, reduce swelling. In any case, you need to discuss this with your gynecologist.

It is worth noting that the second trimester is a period when a woman feels relatively comfortable. There is no longer toxicosis and possible migraines, and the stomach is not yet too big to move freely.

Fetal development at 23 weeks

The baby already weighs about 500 g. His height is 29.5 cm. Now he constantly makes breathing movements, swallowing amniotic fluid. This causes hiccups. And mom knows about this, feeling slight tremors in her stomach.

Fingers become longer and nails appear. They will grow throughout further intrauterine development. To prevent the newborn from being injured by them, pediatricians recommend wearing special anti-scratch “mittens.” The skin of the fetus looks somewhat saggy. This is because now subcutaneous fat does not keep up with the rate of its growth. Blood vessels are still visible through the thin skin.

As long as the size of the uterus allows, the baby moves his legs and arms, grabs the umbilical cord, pushes off the walls and turns over. He hears not only your voice, but also all the sounds around him. Harsh ones scare him, but his mother’s always calms him down. Fetal movements may be a response to your stroking or addressing it.

Tests and ultrasound

In the second trimester of pregnancy, you should regularly visit a gynecologist once every 2 weeks. Before each visit, you will need to take a general urine test in advance. The most important indicators in it are the presence or absence of protein and leukocytes. They can be used to judge the development of inflammatory processes in the genitourinary system, as well as timely diagnose preeclampsia during pregnancy.

A typical gynecologist appointment necessarily includes:

• weighing,
• blood pressure measurement,
• measuring the height of the uterine fundus and abdominal circumference,
• listening to the fetal heartbeat.

Ultrasound at week 23 is performed only according to indications: if placental abruption, fetal freezing and other complications of pregnancy are suspected.

Body changes and new sensations for women

At the end of the second trimester, a woman may encounter such an unpleasant phenomenon as symphysitis during pregnancy.
Its symptoms may be the following: severe swelling in the symphysis (pubis), pain in the groin, pubic bone, tailbone, sharp pain when changing the position of the body (it becomes simply impossible to raise a straight leg in a lying position). The cause of symphysitis is excessive softening of the symphysis pubis. The softening of bone tissue itself is a completely natural process during the period of waiting for a baby. How else will the child be born? After all, he will need to go through the birth canal, while pushing the pelvic bones apart without harm to himself and the mother. What to do if your pubis hurts? Keep your weight under control - obesity greatly increases the load on the pubic bone. If you experience pain when lying down, relieve pressure on your hip joint by placing pillows under your buttocks and legs. Include foods containing calcium in your diet (one of the causes of symphysitis is a lack of this trace element in the body). Wear a bandage, do physical therapy for pregnant women, and be sure to tell your doctor about your discomfort.

What to discuss with your doctor

• Lactulose syrup is an effective and safe treatment for constipation during pregnancy. It is not absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract, binds water and thereby softens the stool. Consult with a specialist whether it is possible to take this drug in your case and what the dosage should be.
• If you are concerned about cheesy vaginal discharge with a sour odor, seek help from a gynecologist. This is one of the symptoms of thrush. The doctor will prescribe safe drug therapy. There is no need to delay treatment until delivery.

Possible complications

The most severe pathologies of pregnancy in the second trimester are considered to be preeclampsia, isthmic-cervical insufficiency, and gestosis. They are dangerous because they can cause premature birth and disrupt fetal development. Fortunately, they are rare and treatable.

Preeclampsia

They talk about it if a pregnant woman’s blood pressure rises sharply, extensive swelling and disturbances in the functioning of the nervous system appear. Other symptoms are sudden weight gain, protein in the urine, and visual disturbances. Treatment is carried out exclusively in a hospital. If possible, they resort to early delivery due to the high risk of complications in the fetus.

Isthmic-cervical insufficiency

This is a condition in which the cervix cannot withstand the growing load and begins to open prematurely. It is often asymptomatic or manifests itself in the form of spotting brown discharge.

Occurs due to decreased tone of muscle fibers as a result of injury or malformations of the uterus.

Lifestyle

The condition of your teeth may worsen during the 23rd week of pregnancy. Therefore, we recommend that you carefully monitor your oral hygiene, carry out professional cleaning and do not forget about the need for increased calcium in your diet. Cheeses and dairy products are rich in it. Among plant sources, unpeeled sesame seeds, almonds, and dried apricots come first.

Changes in hormonal levels affect sensitivity to ultraviolet radiation. Therefore, be careful when sunbathing and avoid direct sunlight to prevent the formation of age spots.

Many pregnant women experience an increase in libido at week 23. Sexual life should be limited only if you have a multiple pregnancy, low-lying placenta, or isthmic-cervical insufficiency. In other cases, do not deny yourself anything.

Nutrition

A woman’s nutrition is the basis for a favorable pregnancy. From the mother's body, the fetus takes everything necessary for the formation and development of internal organs. If there are not enough nutrients, then the expectant mother’s body supplies the necessary elements from its own reserves. This directly affects the well-being and health of the pregnant woman. To avoid undesirable consequences, it is advisable for a pregnant woman to be attentive to the foods she eats, the cooking methods and the nutritional component of the diet.

This week it is advisable to increase the number of products containing:

• Iron (organ organs, red meat, pumpkin seeds, egg yolks, apples);
• Calcium (cottage cheese, cheeses, almonds, bananas, broccoli);
• Magnesium (unpolished rice, buckwheat, chicken eggs);

Don't forget about other vitamins and minerals. Ideally, a pregnant woman’s diet should contain:

• Meat;
• Vegetables and fruits;
• Porridge;
• Dried fruits and nuts;
• Wholemeal bread;
• Chicken eggs;
• Dairy products.

It is recommended to follow some rules:

• eat 5-6 times a day in small portions, avoiding mixing different dishes;
• cook food by steaming, oven or boiling;
• Avoid fried, dried, smoked, salted, and highly seasoned foods as much as possible;
• control the amount of salt entering the body. Ideally, a pregnant woman consumes no more than 1 teaspoon of salt per day;
• avoid raw meat and fish, fast food, sausages and frankfurters;
• observe the drinking regime. Unless otherwise prescribed by the gynecologist, a woman needs to drink about 2.5 liters of fluid per day. It is ideal to give preference to clean water.

Vitamins

Taking vitamin complexes and supplements at week 23 should be under the supervision of a gynecologist. It is advisable to carefully follow the instructions and control the dosage. An excess of chemically produced vitamins is just as dangerous as a deficiency.

Checklist for 23 weeks of pregnancy

• To relieve swelling, lie down with your feet on a pillow or any other elevated surface. This will help the blood flow back and reduce discomfort.
• Don't miss scheduled appointments with your gynecologist, even if nothing worries you. All complications can be successfully treated with timely diagnosis.
• Despite your noticeably rounded belly, don’t forget about exercise. Yoga, swimming, walking will help you strengthen your muscles and improve your overall well-being.
• Sign up for a pregnancy course. You will learn about how to behave during childbirth, how to breathe, establish breastfeeding and care for a newborn.

Attend classes for expectant mothers at the Women's Medical Center. They are led by experienced obstetricians-gynecologists and pediatricians. Here you can learn about pregnancy, childbirth and recovery after it, and ask exciting questions to specialists.

Recommendations

• Balanced diet. In order to prevent excess weight in the unborn baby, as well as to maintain her own figure, a woman should pay attention to planning her diet. And, of course, drink enough.
• Vitamins. Typically, gynecologists prescribe vitamin preparations when there are direct indications for this. However, we should not forget that, despite the abundance of products, not all of them are able to fully provide a woman’s body with the necessary nutrients. After consulting with your doctor, you can purchase a vitamin complex that is right for you.
• Physical activity. Pregnancy is not a reason to forget about an active lifestyle. It is in the second trimester that a woman can afford long walks in the fresh air, as well as various exercises. This provides the body of the expectant mother and her baby with oxygen, energizes her and gives her a good mood. Swimming in the pool and yoga are quite popular among pregnant women.
• Rest. For the full development of a healthy person, it is necessary that his mother experiences less stress and devotes enough time to rest and sleep. When a woman is too tired and worried for various reasons, the baby feels it. In addition, a pregnant woman’s body is already under stress, and stress and lack of sleep only further wear it down.
• If your gynecologist says there are certain risks that could lead to termination of pregnancy, you should refrain from intimacy so as not to create additional stress on the pelvic floor muscles and not provoke a miscarriage.
• Calm environment. The baby not only feels his mother’s heartbeat, but also catches her mood and hears what is happening outside his little world. Relaxing or classical music, reading aloud, and singing have a positive effect on his development.

Remember that the baby feels good when his mother feels comfortable and is in a positive mood. Enjoy this wonderful time of unity with your future baby and take care of yourself!