23 weeks pregnant: how the fetus develops and what happens in the body

The second trimester of pregnancy is still ongoing. Now future mothers celebrate changes not only in their figure, but in their appearance. "Games" of the hormonal background lead to the fact that the hair becomes thick, silky and shiny, and the skin is velvety and perfect. As a rule, the state of health at this stage of women only pleases, but this does not mean that you can relax. It is very important to continue to lead a healthy lifestyle, eat right and exercise that is specifically formulated for pregnant women.

23 weeks pregnant - sensations

The activity of the baby increases significantly, so even the most inexperienced and inattentive mothers will feel it on themselves. As a rule, the motor activity of the baby falls on the evening or at night, when the mother herself goes to bed. If the baby is completely raging, you can always calm him down with the usual strokes on the stomach and singing a lullaby.

Since the pressure of the uterus on nearby organs only increases, it becomes stronger heartburn... During pregnancy, you should not immediately resort to drugs or soda. Often, an ordinary glass of milk or sucking a small piece of natural chocolate helps you regain your normal state. You can prevent the subsequent occurrence of the problem by setting fractional power supply. The uterus also presses on the bladder, and this leads to frequent urge to use the toilet, even if very little liquid has been drunk before. It makes no sense to worry about this, since after delivery everything will return to normal. To avoid running to the toilet at night, you just need to drink less fluids in the evening.

Some women complain about the redness of their hands, but this is a normal "symptom" during pregnancy, which is due to all the same hormones.

At 23 weeks, training contractions can make themselves felt, which will feel like a slight spasm in the uterus. This one is not at all dangerous and should not alarm you, of course, if they are not strong. In this way, the body is simply preparing for childbirth. If the expectant mother takes a wrong or uncomfortable position, then pain may appear, however, when the position is changed, they disappear. This is due to the fact that the ligaments begin to stretch. In some, at 23 weeks, there may be a divergence of the pelvic bones, which is also due to the preparation of the body for childbirth, and this in turn leads to painful sensations in the groin area and a change in gait.

23 weeks pregnant - what happens to the baby

Now the baby is feeling quite comfortable, he is playing with might and main and tumbling in his mother's stomach. Often, especially when the baby is too active, this causes some discomfort to the woman, and the kicks and pushes of the baby become more and more distinct.

There is an increase in the fat layer, but despite this, the crumb is still red and wrinkled. It won't be long before enough fat appears to make him look like a newborn baby.

The activity of the baby grows with each of him, which is especially clearly visible during an ultrasound session. On it you can see his somersaults and fun with the umbilical cord.

The digestive system is almost ready to start all the mechanisms. The baby now has a serious appetite: a day he can swallow up to half a liter of amniotic fluid and remove it from his body in a natural way. Together with the "basic" food, the child also swallows other organic substances, such as particles of lanugo, epidermis, lubricants. All this is in the body of the crumbs until the very moment of its birth, and then comes out naturally in the form of meconium (first feces).

The central nervous system continues to develop, and with the help of special devices one can even see the brain activity of a child, which is very similar to that of an adult. By the way, experts are of the opinion that at this time, children are already beginning to dream.

Now the baby's eyes are open and he can not only feel the world around him, but also see it, although not yet well enough.

Now your baby has already grown to 30 cm, and his weight is about half a kilogram. After this period, the growth and development of all babies can differ significantly, which makes a difference in weight and height at birth. Normally, newborns should weigh 2.5 to 5 kilograms.

23 weeks pregnant - what happens to mom

By this time, the tummy has already become quite large and rounded, and the baby is spinning in full swing in it, gradually preparing for the exit. The uterus continues to increase in size, however, during the normal course of pregnancy, this does not bring any significant discomfort to mom. However, unfortunately, there are few completely healthy people, so many by this time undergo cystitis, problems with the digestive organs, which is expressed in constipation and heartburn. No significant rearrangements in the body occur at this stage. Psychologically, some women still find it difficult to get used to their "new" body, especially if these changes entail the appearance of stretch marks... To minimize the appearance of aesthetic defects, it is imperative to take care of potentially problematic areas of the body, applying special lotions to them that will prevent the appearance of stretch marks.

The load on the back and legs increases, which leads to pain and swelling. Try to walk more often, but not far from home and preferably accompanied. Even if you feel good, such a safety net will never be superfluous. To reduce pain in the back, you can purchase and wear a special bandage. True, before that, it is better to consult with the observing doctor in order to make sure that there are no contraindications.

As for the discharge, everything is the same here. Normally, they should have a sour smell and a uniform consistency of a transparent or milky color. In other situations, it is imperative to consult a doctor, as this can be a harbinger of developing infections and diseases. But when a clear liquid appears that has neither color nor smell and is generally identical in appearance to water - call an ambulance, or go to the doctor yourself urgently, as this indicates a leakage of amniotic fluid.