You are 23 weeks pregnant.

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Born & Birth stories

This week your baby's length, from crown-to-rump, is approximately 8 inches! 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.

Oily fish in your diet could help boost your baby's health. (Women who eat oily fish while pregnant have children with better visual development, a major study at Bristol University suggests.)

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

Comments on week 23

Comments 1-49 of about 448 from week 23
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bmsoares@ccri.edu - 1.8 hours ago
Glad I'm not the only one having trouble posting on here, I'm in a lot.of pain I pulled a muscle in my side I can barely move...any suggestions?

templingirl - 6.7 hours ago
Welcome back Kimber!! Hope your page doesnt keep screwing up. Moving on to week 24!

K1mber *Team Pink* - 6.9 hours ago
Tomorrow I will be in week 24 :)I get my 4D ultrasound on Wed. I have not been feeling too good lately. By the time I get home from work I have so much pressure pushing downward that I can barely walk. Also been very stressed at work and home.

ajajeanettecastillo - 22.5 hours ago
My Jossalyn is super active in there! She is really moving! And shes kicking super high!

linnea d - 1 days ago
Seems to be really quiet in the 22-23 weeks! Usually we are talkative! Is everyone locked out?!

K1mber *Team Pink* - 1 days ago
When I go to add things such as my children or photos, it is already there, but they do not show up when I view my profile. I wonder what happened?

K1mber *Team Pink* - 1 days ago
This website has been so messed up. I wasn't able to log in, so I created a new account, but with the same screen name. Then my blogs, friends, etc. were on my new page. I missed the site while I was locked out, but if it does it again, I am not going to bother with it anymore. I will have to re-upload my photos soon, because they are all gone.

excitedforbub *pink* - 2 days ago
Week 24 tomorrow ... Bring it on! :)

TCJ(Treena) *PINK* - 2 days ago
I see we're down to no members : )

rbrencur - 3 days ago
Hey Everyone. I am in 24 weeks now *sigh of relief* but I added my new belly photos if you want to see on my profile. I feel massive and many have said I look big, but I'm not worried. Beaney is happy in there, so I don't care if I look like a Moose.

mangomomma - 3 days ago
Ahh thanks Templin. Don't realize how addicting this site is, until you can't post!! Looks like there is only one member right now. ha haha

templingirl - 3 days ago
@ mango: Glad to see your computer is cooperating. I was wondering what happened to you! lol

mangomomma - 4 days ago
Had my 2nd u/s last Friday and everything is looking great! Baby must be into yoga. He/she was bent over so much that we have a pic that shows lo's head AND feet in the same shot, right beside each other. Tech said even if we wanted to know, she wouldn't have been able to see. What a stinker:) After seeing u/s, dh now wants to go with me to every ob appt. Kinda' cute:) Starting to get the cankles look, too :(

mangomomma - 4 days ago
What is the deal with this site?! I've tried posting several times, and it never shows. This is crazy. As for birth~my first two were natural. Ds was too impatient for me to even think about drugs. Third one, I was in 5 mins of contractions, and said heck no. Got an epidural, and I got to see him be born. I enjoyed it more because my eyes were not closed. lol I'm going for the epidural again on #4.

mangomomma - 4 days ago
Testing to see if my comment actually posts this time.

savannahsmummy - 4 days ago
Templin - I had a natural birth with absolutely no pain relief. I used hypnobirthing techniques and it was the most beautiful and amazing birth I could have imagined. I wish to repeat this with my current baby and I'm actually really looking forward to the birth.

rbrencur - 4 days ago
lol templin... I noticed that too last night haha. I was peeking around my belly and I was like, that's creepy haha.

templingirl - 4 days ago
For those of you who read my Baby Movement blog, Im happy to say that Ive had a busy wiggle worm these past few days. Baby has been kicking and squirming as if trying to get out! Makes me feel alot better! Another thing to report is, I took my socks off last night and it still looked like I was wearing them! I guess I had some slight swelling of my ankles cause it looked like I had tree trunks for ankles....NOT impressed

denise1987*pink* - 4 days ago
i had a natural birth with my son its was fine until the end and i had bad back labour but the relief after he was born was amazing though if i went any longer i would have been demanding drugs lol

zacandellasmum - 4 days ago
I also had my first acupuncture apt for my carpal tunnel today...I fell asleep with 12 needled stuck in me! So relaxing! Will know in the next 24 hours if it's working...I have another apt on Tuesday.

zacandellasmum - 4 days ago
templin - with my DS I had an epi and his birth was lovely! With my DD I had an epi and it was traumatic - took over 30 mins to get it in and then it was one sided so half my body was numb and I felt everything down the other side. I swore this time I wouldn;t get one again after my DD's labor...but who knows what I'll ask for in the throws of it!

rbrencur - 5 days ago
templin - I went all antural with emma, and I hope to repeat the experience. the pain wasn't too bad except when I was at a 10 and they wouldn't let me push yet, but once I starte dpushing it was instant relief. and the birth itsself wasn't too bad. I'm not gunna lie and say it doesn't hurt. I also started out with back labour. Then I layed on my one side for 10 mins, nothing, switched to the other side and she fully flipped and the back labour went away. yay! lol. But I was very happy with my labour and hope this one is just as 'enjoyable' but I'm not one of those 'I will never have an epi' people because honestly, if my next labour isn't short and i'm in labour for 30 hours i'll be having an epi. but everyone in my family, my mum especailly had super short labours, so that's what I'm hoping will continue lol.

ceandrusis (BLUE) - 5 days ago
templin-everyone is different so I think it really depends on how you feel. My pain threshold isn't very high so I always knew I would want an epidural. I felt nothing with my first pregnancy, only slight contractions; with my second, the epidural didn't take completely on my left side and I was in so much pain I couldn't think, push, nothing; I honestly wanted to die right there on the table. They had to give me another dose of the epidural before I could even focus enough to push so I think it just depends on the person. I admire women who can get through it with no meds, but that's definitely not for me :) You will have plenty of time to decide when you get there and you feel the intensifying pain of the contractions :)

templingirl - 5 days ago
I was reading in week 24 and they were on the topic of birthing - natural vs. with meds. Im not sure why, but I've been thinking about maybe going natural but Im afraid the dreaded back labor will take that away. I dont want to go all natural just to feel like a champ, Im more interested in feeling the whole experience. I say this now, but once contractions begin I may be thinking a different way. Im wondering if any of you have had a natural birth and what it was like.

babygirl (pink) - 5 days ago
It's true about the toys....someone was smart enough to give me the 'LAMAZE' stuffed toys. They were a big help when DS was born coz I could take them anywhere with me when we go out and they attach well to your stroller. They are not too bulky. Also someone mentioned about buying the unthinkables. The average price for an ear thermometer is 70dollars. You may wanna get that. I made sure I bought tylenol(paracetamol in australia)as your child can get a fever anytime and it could come in handy. Someone mentioned nail clippers too. Something that I also had to go out and buy as soon as I left the hospital was the Aventi milk bottles because the ones people gave me tended to make my LO gassy. Name brands are pricey so people may not buy those for you. All this was because I thought my son would breastfeed but he had another plan. You can buy a small can of formula just incase you ever neeed it. My son refused to breastfeed and started losing weight while we were in hospital until we gave in and gave him formula. My niece who was born a month ago, the milk didn't come in until 4days later....so this few pointers can help you plan ahead depending on what you have on your registry. In my former church before we moved interstate, we used to throw big baby showers and pretty much buy everything a mother would need from crib to car seat to stroller to everything including gift cards to cover anything that may have been left out. That's why I said you wait. But if your situation is different....plan accordingly. I doubt we will get a baby shower so all the cost is on us but am still holding on until atleast 30weeks before I start shopping.

ceandrusis (BLUE) - 5 days ago
templin-I know it may not be as fun, but I hardly got any baby toys at my shower; most people bought the necessities, and granted you don't need them right away, by a few months old you will. Look at bright things you can hang on their crib or their carseat/stroller, etc. I remember someone bought us a big bag full of little toys a few months after our first daughter was born and I was so appreciative because I didn't have anything! Baby einstein, lamaze, dvds with bright colors (our younger daughter, who had terrible colic, would cry incessantly; we discovered by accident that she liked yo gabba gabba when we had a dvd on for our older daughter. She was only a few months old at the time, but it was the only thing that would keep her from crying. she would sit in her bouncy chair and stare at all the colors on the tv and my husband and I felt like a miracle had happened, lol.)

rbrencur - 5 days ago
templin. we got so many clothes at our shower and most of the sizes were 6 month sizes, then when she was born people bought us so many clothes we are just now buying her clothes ourselves and shes just getting into 9 month clothes. It depends on the shape of your kid as well. My daughter is very tall and lean, so she can't wear most brands of clothing. pretty much only caters she can wear and don't look enormous on her. Plus shes 11months (tomorrow) and still wearing some 6 month clothes. We were impatient with emma and boutght alot of stuff that we ended up getting at the shower, and clothing that she never got to wear because it was for chunkier babies and she never fit it properly. So really, I would wait as much as you can. We also expected her to be around 8lbs because of the size my husband and I were when born and she was 5lb, 4oz and too small for preemie clothes lol. So yeah. I'd wait till after the shower (we got a stroller, carseat, swing, and a whole ton of other stuff). If you HAVE to buy something, I can tell you right now you can NEVER have too many bibs, blankets, and receiving blankets. I have like 40 and thought it would be too much and those first weeks esp I had used all 40 bu the end of the day some days!!

juliasmommy*blue* - 5 days ago
Templin - It depends on what you put on your registry. I'd buy some of those not-so-fun things like a health aid kit with safety nail clippers, thermometer, etc., a rear view mirror attachment to see the baby in the back seat, burp cloths. Just some ideas. Then shop after the shower!

templingirl - 5 days ago
Thanks gals! This helps. I think I will stick to maybe buying nusery decor. I know of two other gals having baby girls within a month of me so I can shop for them in the meantime. Maybe that will help cure my baby-fix!

StellaBellasMommy - 5 days ago
Templingirl~ At my shower we got TONS of neborn stuff. So I would maybe but bigger sizes. Same with diapers, buy size 2's and 3's. My little girl only wore newborns and 1's for maybe a month, month and a half. We got tons of lotions and baby bath. Actually so much so that we didn't buy any for almost 2 years!! LOL

babygirl (pink) - 5 days ago
Templingirl, my advice is not to buy anything until after the baby shower. To kill your shopping appetite, just browse everytime you go out and familiarise yourself with prices and designs so that when it comes a time when you need those things, you will know where the best deal is. As you said, you could shop now and end up with a 10pound baby. In some cases, the 10pound babies lose weight and don't grow any bigger than their age mates. But if you have a kid like my son; he was barely 7pounds at birth but right now he looks five years old. That's why it's best to wait and buy clothes as per need/growth rate basis considering we have so many seasons and you want to make good use of what you buy. With my son, I never even buy anything during season clearance because I don't know how big he will be when the season comes around. I have come to love walmart brand for every day wear for kids. The pants and tops are barely 3dollars for anything 5T and under, so I go there and grab stuff when I need it. The clothes always stay looking good and I have passed them down to other parents who need them. Being your first baby, am sure people will give you so much....so don't shop until you know what you don't have. Hope that helped

ThatOne - 5 days ago
mrsjmickens1 - LOVE the term snee-peein!

ShireeT - 6 days ago
Templingirl- buy a couple SMALL packs of diapers in each size. Don't open them. If baby is too big for the newborn sizes then you can easily exchange them for a larger size and you will already have the size you need at home until you can get out to exchange them. You'll see by the size the hospital uses which you will need. As far as clothes, people usually buy small sizes, so get larger sizes if you do. Don't remove any tags until after the shower just in case you get a ton of one size and none of another. :)

templingirl - 6 days ago
Ok ladies, I need some baby shopping advice. This is my first baby and I'll be having a baby shower in about a month and a half. But in the meantime, what do you think is safe to buy?? I want to buy things for the baby but I know I will get alot of diapers and clothing at the baby shower. I would hate to buy a bunch of bodysuits and outfits and then not have the baby wear half the stuff cause she grew too fast. One person said buy diapers but Im afraid i'll buy newborn diapers and then give birth to a 10 lb baby that wont fit in them. What would be your advice for a momma who wants to shop???

baby olive - 6 days ago
Im so slack and have only just got round to uploading my 20 week scan pic of my baby boy, its a pretty clear shot of the boy parts I think ;)

templingirl - 6 days ago
I just shaved my legs this weekend for the first time in...I dont know how long. lol. It was a pain in the ass. The simplest things in life are the ones Im looking forward to after the pregnancy: Tying my boots or sneakers, having a soda without feeling guilty, having an alcoholic beverage, hot tubs, running, tanning.....sigh. But I know it's all worth the wait! :)

rbrencur - 6 days ago
I'm turning into an acrobatist... I have to find new ways to wipe my tushie, put on my pants and socks, shave my legs and such, and I wanted to paint my toenails tonight so i'm bound and determined I will do it one last time before I start going for pedicures even if I have to tape the brush to the end of my broom to reach. Guess I grew a bit since Friday because I was able to do all this on friday!!! (Hope it brightened up some of your days). And FYI - I made it to 36 weeks with emma before any of this happened!!

templingirl - 7 days ago
I went shopping this weekend to find a dress to wear to my company party. I ended up buying a sweater dress 2 sizes larger than I normally do. I didnt know whether to cry or laugh. Then I had to try on swimsuits cause the hubby and I are going away this weekend. I had to again, buy a bathing suit 2-3 times larger than normal just to cover my ass and my belly. I was getting so tired/cranky from trying on clothing. It's difficult taking off your clothes and trying on other clothing while pregnant. It tires me right out!

rbrencur - 7 days ago
And sorry to be grumpy guts again, but the maternity dress short I am wearing is actually getting too small and is riding up on my belly driving me nuts too, so not only am I tired and cranky, i'm getting crankier because i'm unconfortable too because of the belly and my clothes not fitting right. Boo. I need to go home and sleep and such lol. Ah well. Emma will be going to bed around 7pm, and I think I may join her for an early bedtime tonight.

rbrencur - 7 days ago
So exhausted I could cry. I got like no sleep this weekend. Long story. But now i'm at work trying to stay awake and I'm so grumpy because of it :( Even baby falcon is quiet in there. he must be sleepy too.

templingirl - 7 days ago
happy to be in week 23, however the lack of baby movement lately has put me into a crappy mood. I've posted a blog talking about the sittuation. Everyone feel free to read it and comment. Hope everyone has a good monday

heather07 - 7 days ago
Yeah, I knew the 3rd trimester wasn't 24 weeks. I'm just happy to reach 24 weeks because that is the age that if the baby is born early, it can still survive outside of the womb. I know it's still silly to worry this far along, but I feel a little better reaching that milestone.

My nausea is gone, but sometimes...if my stomach is empty and he moves a lot, I get nauseas. Like motion sickness or something. Anyone else?

mrsjmickens1 - 7 days ago
have a cold. so miserable :( i keep snee-peein....lol!

excitedforbub *pink* - 7 days ago
Hello week 23 :) Super glad to be here. I love watching the weeks tick by. I am just getting over a sinus infection and it has been so horrible taking antibiotics and so many pills after 5 months of deliberately not taking anything. I am sure it is all safe, but it still makes you worry. Other than that, all is going well and looking forward to week 24 which feels like a big milestone :)

juliasmommy*blue* - 7 days ago
Suave - I mentioned it to my doctor last month and she said it was fine. She said the uterus is a muscle so as long as they aren't regular or painful it's ok. I also looked it up online and there are many other women who experience them early. If you're concerned, def talk to the doctor about it though!

Suavé - 7 days ago
escribo i know how you feel same here. if i sleep bad on it, that shapes my entire next day, limping all day inbetween resting. juliasmommy, that sounds like me, my mom says its not normal though... i see doc in a week, i think i'll be fine though, its not painful or bothersome, just noticable and i thought too soon.

escribo86 - 7 days ago
sorry just need to whine: My poor hips!!!! This baby will be the baby that kills me!!! Ok, lol. I think I am good. This SPD thing is awful. I did laundry today and just bending to switch over the laundry and I was limping all over the place

juliasmommy*blue* - 7 days ago
Heather and Shanita - I check online because I don't know how the months and weeks are supposed to go and what I read says month 6 is from 22-26 weeks. Weeks 27 starts month 7 and the 3rd trimester. I kept up with all that with my daughter because I was reading the pregnancy books but I haven't picked one up yet this pregnancy!

shanita hall - 8 days ago
Yessss llast day n week 23 as well 3rd tri 6 months yayyyyyy

heather07 - 8 days ago
Last day in week 23. So happy to be 24 weeks tomorrow! Officially 6 mos. See you lovely ladies over there!

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Members in week 23:

alsacemommy(Kim-Ma... - 04 Jun 2012
K1mber *Team Pink* - 04 Jun 2012
Lisa v - 04 Jun 2012
LOViNG.MY.BOYS♥ - 05 Jun 2012
mangomomma - 05 Jun 2012
marie36 - 05 Jun 2012
Momifer826 - 05 Jun 2012
naz10 - 05 Jun 2012
sarahg84 - 05 Jun 2012
TCJ(Treena) *PINK* - 05 Jun 2012
Djenno - 06 Jun 2012
Savannahsmummy - 06 Jun 2012
valerie04 - 06 Jun 2012
AdalynnsMommy(: - 07 Jun 2012
AmandaBid - 07 Jun 2012
BakerBaby1 - 07 Jun 2012
denise1987*pink* - 07 Jun 2012
Lexyizluvinherbbbu... - 07 Jun 2012
mom of little peop... - 07 Jun 2012
StellaBellasMommy - 07 Jun 2012
way2perfect - 07 Jun 2012
AjaJeanetteCastill... - 08 Jun 2012
AMK1984 - 08 Jun 2012
Audrey77Gonzales - 08 Jun 2012
babyca55*pink* - 08 Jun 2012
BabyHillNo1 - 08 Jun 2012
krystasappleseed - 08 Jun 2012
Skatrose - 08 Jun 2012
Crazyface-xx - 09 Jun 2012
discokitten (Emily... - 09 Jun 2012
mamacas - 09 Jun 2012
SuperMommy2 - 09 Jun 2012
Deidredidi - 10 Jun 2012
IsisMarie - 10 Jun 2012
kimybes - 10 Jun 2012
ssaunders - 10 Jun 2012
TheStays - 10 Jun 2012
WaitingForMyPrince... - 10 Jun 2012

The due date from members in week 23 is from Monday 4 June 2012 up to & including Sunday 10 June 2012. See the full timeline here

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