23 weeks pregnant

Size: 1 foot (30.5 cm)

Weight: 17 2/3 ounces (500 grams)


"I recognize Dad by his voice and I really enjoy it if he rubs Mom's tummy to feel me kick (but sometimes I swim away from him just to make him grumpy)."

Your growing baby has finally reached one pound. Your baby is about the size of a small baby doll and looks very human. The baby's face and body look similar to that of a newborn at this time. Your uterus can be found about 1.5 inches above your navel. Your total weight gain should be approximately 15 pounds at this time.

You might notice some Braxton-Hicks contractions around this time. These contractions are not regular and they should not be painful. Braxton-Hicks contractions prepare your body for the upcoming labor and they will get stronger as your pregnancy progresses. You might be able to feel the contractions if you put your hand on your abdomen and your baby can probably feel the uterus gripping and massaging her. It will not harm your baby, so there is no need for concern.

Fat is still being deposited at a rapid rate, but your baby still looks red and wrinkled. Skin is being produced at a higher rate than the fat is, so the skin hangs loosely. Your baby looks red because the skin is losing its transparency and pigment is beginning to form. You should be feeling your baby moving quite a bit throughout the day as she will kick and punch the uterus walls. Babies also run their hands along the umbilical cord and touch their body parts while they are in the womb. Your baby now can suck her thumb for real, where she was just sticking it in her mouth. Your baby will continue to swallow amniotic fluid and recycle it as urine. The liquids and sugars that the baby retracts from the fluid is a supplement to the nutrients that the placenta delivers. You might be able to feel small `jumps` inside of you when your baby gets the hiccups from swallowing fluid. The pancreas is developing and it will responsible for insulin production, to help break down sugars.

As the baby continues to grow, it has less space to move around in the uterus. Bones, muscles and organs are growing steadily.

You two can make contact with him. If you press on your abdomen and push it slightly to the side, he will definitely respond. Also, if he kicks and you react he will certainly continue, he will let you feel that he's there. You can talk to him and sing for him because you know that he can recognize your voices already.

The sex organs are developing quickly now. If you have a son his little penis can be seen easily now. If you are having a daughter then there are millions of egg cells stored in her ovaries. Not all of these will stay -- after her birth she has about three hundred thousand left. Your baby can also ‘breathe.' He inhales amniotic fluid that flows through his lungs and this is a beautiful exercise for 'real' breathing. The alveoli expand a bit and contract a bit the same way they will do with oxygen after the birth.

Mother
Being pregnant takes a lot of energy. Some women are extra fit during their pregnancy and can take on much more than usual. Other women rest and sleep more, but in general they are reasonably in balance. A small group of pregnant women, however, are sick, tired and listless during their whole pregnancy. These women may be scared of the birth - but on the other hand all the discomfort comes to an end once the baby is born.

No matter how you feel, always listen to your body. Try to discover your energy level and act accordingly. If you have enough energy, go for a bike ride or a nice walk or do those cleaning chores. Tomorrow it can be completely different. If you feel like you have too little energy or you are frustrated that you can't finish your work, don't panic. Give yourself permission to step back! You're pregnant - give yourself a break. So there!



???Did you know that the energy you need so that your child can grow is comparable with two extra hours of work per day? It's no wonder that after an ordinary eight-hour work day you are so tired, because it has used up ten hours of energy.