Baby development

At 23 weeks, which is equivalent to 6 months of pregnancy, the baby is able to feel the mother's body movements and hearing is sharpened especially for deeper sounds. It is a good time to listen to different types of music and sounds so that the baby gets more and more used to external sounds.

How the baby develops at 23 weeks of gestation

The development of the 23-week-old baby is marked by red and wrinkled skin due to the presence of blood vessels quite visible through its transparent skin. Regardless of race, children are born with a reddish skin tone and will only become their definitive color throughout the first year of life.

In addition, other changes that occur around 6 months of pregnancy are:

The lungs continue to develop, especially the blood vessels that will irrigate them; The baby's eyes begin to move through rapid movements; The baby's face features are already defined; The hearing is already sharper, causing the baby is already able to hear loud and serious noises, sounds of the mother's heartbeat and stomach. Learn how to stimulate the baby, with sounds, still in the belly.

Around 23 weeks is also when the pancreas activates, making the baby's body ready to produce insulin from now on.

How big is the baby

Generally, at 23 weeks of gestation, the fetus measures approximately 28 centimeters and has a weight of about 500g. However, its size can vary slightly and it is therefore very important to consult the obstetrician frequently, in order to assess the evolution of the baby's weight.

What changes in women at 23 weeks of pregnancy

The main changes in women at 23 weeks of gestation are:

The height of the uterus may have already reached 22 cm; appearance of stretch marks, especially for women who have a hereditary tendency to develop them. As a prevention, it is important to always use moisturizing creams in the most critical regions such as the belly, thighs and buttocks. Learn how to fight stretch marks in pregnancy; Emergence of back pain, especially in the lower back. It is important to avoid wearing high shoes, always lie on your side on the bed, with your legs bent and preferably with a pillow between your knees; Difficulties in balance, because at this stage the mother's center of gravity begins to change, which leads to some time to get used to; the navel starts to become more evident, but after birth everything will return to normal. The weight can increase about 4 to 6 kg, which depends on the woman's body mass index and her diet.

Learn how to not get fat in pregnancy in the following video:

Some women at this stage develop gingivitis, which are inflamed gums and cause some bleeding when brushing their teeth. Good hygiene, flossing and follow-up with a dentist are essential.

Your pregnancy by trimester

To make your life easier and you don't waste time looking, we have separated all the information you need for each trimester of pregnancy. What quarter are you in?