23 Weeks Pregnant

How your baby's growing

Within your baby's lungs, blood vessels are developing in preparation for breathing. Your baby is also swallowing regularly, though he normally won't do his first poo until after he's born. Around now, your baby can start to hear. Sounds going on inside your body, such as your beating heart and your gurgling tummy, are the clearest for him at first.

• Read more about your baby's development this week.
• See for yourself how your baby is growing in our 3D video.

Pregnancy symptoms at 23 weeks

You may notice some bleeding when you brush your teeth. This is a common pregnancy complaint, along with nosebleeds. Pregnancy hormones can make your gums swell and become inflamed, which can lead to bleeding, especially when you clean your teeth.

What to do? Brush and floss regularly but gently and try some natural remedies for soothing bleeding gums. Good dental hygiene during pregnancy will help you keep gum disease at bay.

How your life's changing

As your bump grows, you may like to spend some time focusing on your unborn baby and making the most of your pregnant curves. It's perfectly safe for you or your partner to massage your bump, as long as you use gentle strokes that glide over the contours of your body.

It's a lovely way for you both to feel close to your baby, and you may even feel little kicks in response to the massage strokes.

Check out the variety of pregnancy shapes at 22 to 24 weeks of pregnancy.

What you need to know

• If you haven't worked out your paid parental leave yet, talk to your employer about your entitlements and when your leave will start.
• Find out whether your partner is entitled to leave when your baby is born.
• You may want to start planning your baby's room, even if your baby will be sleeping in your room at first. To be on the safe side, ask someone else to do the painting and check out our safe nursery guidelines.
• How's your blood pressure? Find out about high blood pressure in pregnancy and the related condition of pre-eclampsia.
• If you're running a fever or have a headache, find out why it's best not to take ibuprofen to treat it.

Pregnancy tip: exercise helps you sleep

"When I started having trouble sleeping, I asked my friends for their ideas. One suggested I take a half-hour walk during the day. It really helped me sleep better and it felt great to have a bit of time to myself."
Kerry

Read more tips and share your own in your BabyCenter Birth Club!

Community conversation

Talk to other mums about their birth plans and share your burning questions about labour and birth in your community.