Welcome to the 23rd week of pregnancy! You and baby are growing along at an amazing pace, and you may be amazed to find yourself looking larger than you did the day or week before. If you want to document your growing tummy- consider taking stomach shots every week or every month. It’s fun to see how much you have grown- and makes a great addition to any baby book.
What you may be experiencing
You are likely showing by now- some more than others. Be weary of belly envy, it can be really easy to get caught up on how other moms look around you. If this is your first baby, you will show later than other “been there, done that” moms. So don’t get discouraged if you aren’t showing as much as you would like right now.
Braxton Hick contractions may also begin around this time and can be a bit nerve racking if you don’t know what to look for. At any given time, your uterus will contract and relax even in a non-pregnant state. But as your uterus grows, these contractions become more prominent. They are usually not very painful and erratic. Changing positions and drinking water will usually decrease them. And it is good to know that Braxton Hicks contractions are your bodies way of preparing for birth- making things easier for you when the big day comes. If they become painful or frequent notify your doctor, as it can be a sign of pre-labor.
Your baby
Your baby is busy growing and getting stronger. One of major developments this week is in your babies lungs. They have started developing surfactant- which will help them breathe and expand following birth.
Concerns or points of interest
Thinking about a homebirth? Make sure to do your homework. There are many reasons to go for a homebirth, and can prove to be less stressful than a hospital delivery. If your pregnancy is considered high risk however, you may not have the option. Any of the following may rule out a home birth.
Gestational diabetes
Placenta previa
Preeclampsia
Hypertension
Multiple pregnancy
Premature labor
Breech positioning
Active herpes simplex virus
Other complications