Pregnancy Week 23

Most people are beginning to notice your changing shape. Continue reading for additional information regarding the many things that are changing in both you and your baby.

Pregnancy Week 23: What changes are occurring with your body?

Your uterus now extends about 1 ½ inches above your belly button, and your weight gain should be around 12 to 15 pounds. Friends and family may comment on your size, telling you that you are too big or too small for your gestational age. Talk with your healthcare provider before making any changes to your diet.

Your uterus is sitting directly on top of your bladder, which can cause you to leak fluid into your underwear. Sometimes it can be quite difficult to distinguish urine from amniotic fluid. If your membranes have ruptured and you are leaking amniotic fluid, it will be an odorless fluid. This can occur with a sudden gush or a constant trickle. If you notice fluid leaking, you need to try to determine if it smells like urine or if it is odorless. If it does not seem to be urine, you would want to call your healthcare provider immediately.*

Pregnancy Week 23: How big is your baby?

Your baby has finally reached a weight of 1 pound and is approximately 11 &frac14 inches long.*

Pregnancy Week 23: What is happening with your baby?

Your baby is continuing to gain weight, but the next several weeks will be when he/she really begins to fill out. Lanugo, or the fine hair that covers your baby’s body, may darken at this point allowing it to be seen on an ultrasound. Your baby is also beginning to look more like it will at birth.*

Pregnancy Week 23: What should you plan for this week?

If you are currently working, you should be finalizing the plans and paperwork for your maternity leave. Make sure that you have talked with both your supervisor and human resources department to ensure that everyone is on the same page. You want to be informed on what your rights in the work place are during pregnancy.

Many women wonder how long into their pregnancy they should continue to work. Some women will stop working around the 7th or 8th month, while other women work up until their delivery day. There is not a right or wrong answer to how long you should work. You can work as long as you feel you can unless you develop complications that require bed rest.

Some things to think about are:

  • After the baby is born are you going to go back to work or become a stay at home mom?
  • If you are working, who will care for the baby?
  • Your partner? Another family member?

  • Would you feel confident in using a day care facility or a mothers day out program?

It is best to go ahead and begin discussing these issues with your partner so that necessary arrangements can be made.

Tips for making your pregnancy better:

Drinking plenty of fluids, especially water, is extremely important during pregnancy. Water is the best thing to drink while pregnant, but you can also drink vegetable juice, fruit juice, milk, and some herbal teas. You want to avoid tea, coffee, and sodas since these are actually diuretics, which can decrease the amount of fluids in your body and cause you to become dehydrated. If you are drinking enough water, your urine should be pale yellow or maybe even clear; dark yellow urine is an indication that you are not drinking enough water.

Drinking enough water can help prevent:

  • headaches
  • uterine cramping
  • urinary tract infections
  • swelling

Pregnancy Week 23: Tips for mom’s partner

Paternity leave is when the father takes off time from work after the birth or adoption of a child. You will need to see what your employer offers in terms of paternity leave. Currently most of this is un-paid time off, but several states are working on laws that will change this to paid time off. Begin discussing with your partner your options regarding paternity leave, and begin creating a game plan for the first several weeks of your new baby’s life.

Last Updated: 1/2013