23rd week of pregnancy

By the 23rd week, most of the mothers grasp the gravity of becoming a mother soon. They are equally happy and tense about the baby.

Development of the baby:

The baby weighs around 2.2 kg now. Baby is getting bigger and measures around 11-11.5 inches at this stage.
The lanugo that appeared in Week 20 darkens and can be seen in an ultrasound.
The baby continues to gain weight and becomes slightly plump. It starts resembling what it will look like at birth.
Baby’s skin is extremely wrinkled and hangs loosely till now. The body continues to develop so that the baby starts looking more proportional with each passing day.
The baby’s movements become more forceful now asthere are continuous movement of muscles in the arms, legs and fingers now.
The bones situated in the baby’s ear start forming by this week.

Changes in the mother:

By now, the mother has gained approximately 14 pounds.
The uterus rises 1.5 inches above the belly button by this week.
Another change from this week is that the mother might leak fluid as the uterus is now on top of the bladder.
Stretch marks are a common pregnancy sign. Women also complain of constant itching in the area.
Many women may start complaining of sleep loss now. Frequent urination, anxiety, leg cramps and discomfort due to growing size may interrupt the sleep. This problem is only going to aggravate in the coming weeks.
The mother may experience mood swings. She can become upset or nervous about the baby all of a sudden. This is considered perfectly normal at this stage of pregnancy.

Complications and tips:

As mentioned earlier, the woman may leak fluid. Care must be taken to ascertain whether the fluid is urine or amniotic fluid. If it is amniotic fluid, it may indicate that ruptured membranes which may be a possible sign of preterm labor. In such cases, one must contact the doctor immediately.
If one is going to have a premature baby, there are chances that he/she may survive under expert medical supervision, but may suffer from minor disabilities. Due to the advances in medical field, there have been constant advances in this area.
Another small tip is to travel with the seat belt fastened below the stomach to avoid laying any pressure on the baby.
Try to sleep on your side and not on your back from now on. This does not restrict the blood flow to the placenta.

Attachment with the baby:

The baby now has lots of space to move about in the mother’s womb. Now the mother can not only sense the movements but also see her tummy moving about sometimes. This is a delightful experience for her and develops her love the little bundle of joy even more.

This is the time when the mother prepares for the baby by attending childbirth and breastfeeding classes, to gain a greater amount of knowledge about child care.

Tips for the father:

The father must support the mother and ensure she gets adequate rest and nutrition. She may experience mood swings and might become upset about her appearance. Try to comfort her and never make fun of her. Always appreciate her for what she is bearing for you and try to spend quality time with her. If your workplace allows, take paternity leave for the remaining pregnancy term and plan about the time ahead. Discuss issues that will demand your attention once the baby is born.

Diet:

Drink lots of water to avoid dehydration. You can also have milk, fruit and vegetable juices and soup. Restrain from coffee, tea as they increase the chances of dehydration.

Include lots of cereals, green leafy vegetables and fruits in your diet. Abstain from alcohol, tobacco and drugs as they are detrimental to the health of the baby.