Week 23 of pregnancy
Week 23 sits in the middle stretch of pregnancy, when many people find the days a little easier.
About the size of a grapefruit
| Size | About a grapefruit |
|---|---|
| Length | 28.9 cm (11.4 in), measured from head to heel |
| Weight | 500 g (18 oz, 1.1 lb) |
| Trimester | Second trimester |
| Weeks to go | About 17 to your due date |
These are averages. Every baby grows at their own pace.
What's developing
The skin is still thin and wrinkly, waiting for more fat to fill it out.
What you might notice
Swollen ankles and feet are common, especially in the evening.
Everyone's pregnancy is different. If something worries you, call your midwife or doctor.
A tip for this week
Put your feet up in the evening, and tell your midwife if swelling comes on suddenly.
Questions you could bring to your next appointment
- When is my mid-pregnancy scan?
- Will I be offered a glucose test?
- Is there anything I should change about exercise or work?
- NHS: Your pregnancy week by week
- ACOG: How your fetus grows during pregnancy
- Hadlock FP et al. In utero analysis of fetal growth: a sonographic weight standard. Radiology 1991 (weights from week 10)
- Robinson HP, Fleming JE. A critical evaluation of sonar crown-rump length measurements. Br J Obstet Gynaecol 1975 (early lengths)
Questions
When do most people feel the baby move?
The NHS says most people first feel movements between 16 and 24 weeks, often later in a first pregnancy.
When is the mid-pregnancy scan?
The NHS offers it between 18 and 21 weeks. It checks how the baby is developing.
Is my baby exactly this size?
No one is. The size, length and weight here are averages from published growth charts. Your scan results are the ones that count, and your midwife or doctor is the person to ask about them.
Start with today
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