Mom’s Tip of the Week 23
Did you know ... ?
Drinking plenty of water during pregnancy offers tons of benefits. Those benefits include helping to avoid constipation, hemorrhoids, swelling, bladder infections, and urinary tract infections. Drinking enough water also helps you maintain the levels of blood and amniotic fluid in your body and reduces your chance of premature labor. Aim for at least 10 cups (2.5 quarts) per day.
Your Baby at 23 Weeks Pregnant
What’s Happening in There
- Your baby is the size of a papaya. At 23 weeks pregnant he’s about eight inches long and weighs just about over a pound. He has grown so much—he has tripled in size this trimester!
- His skin looks wrinkled. Even though he has some fat under his skin, he still needs plenty more of it, so the skin will be hanging loosely until he plumps up, which he definitely will in the coming months.
- His skin is also transparent. Blood vessels and arteries are developing just below the skin, and all your baby’s organs and bones are visible through his see-through surface. But don’t worry, he won’t come out this way. As he continues to grow, more fat will develop, and his skin will thicken up and take on a more flesh-colored tone.
- He’s trying out all his newfound motor skills.By the time you’re 23 weeks pregnant, your baby is moving his muscles, touching his toes, grabbing his umbilical cord, and flipping around if the light is too bright. All this movement is normal and healthy; he’s practicing for the big day.
- You can hear his heartbeat.If you have a standard stethoscope, you can now hold it to your belly and hear your baby’s heart beating. No need for an ultrasound to pick up its drumming!
Baby Brain Waves
Your Baby’s Brain Is Developing
Your baby’s nervous system has begun to mature and control some of his bodily functions. The next few weeks will mark rapid brain advancements in your baby, with the development of billions of brain cells. Some of these cells will be instrumental in allowing him to take his first breath!
Pregnancy Health
Real Issues, Real Solutions
The issue: At 23 weeks pregnant, you probably know by now that such nutrients as iron, protein, and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are important for your pregnancy health and your baby’s development. But how do you work them all in?
The solution: Learn about the adequate daily amounts of essential nutrients to nourish health growth and development in this Nutrient Guide for Moms.
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