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You are here: Home » Pregnancy » Pregnancy Week by Week » Week 23 Pregnancy: Weight Gain, Baby Movements
week 23 pregnancy weight gain, baby movements

Week 23 Pregnancy: Weight Gain, Baby Movements

June 29, 2017 //  by Katie Griffin

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

It’s week 23 of your pregnancy, 21 weeks from conception.  Slowly but surely, you’re getting closer to the big day!  Let’s learn about what changes are occurring in your body and with baby in week 23.

Table of contents

  • Week 23 Pregnancy:  Weight Gain
  • Baby Movements
    • Baby Hiccups
  • Week 23 Pregnancy:  Baby’s Development
  • Week 23 Pregnancy:  Symptoms
    • Braxton Hicks Contractions

Week 23 Pregnancy:  Weight Gain

By this week, your baby weighs almost 1 pound (16 ounces) and is measuring around 11.4 inches from head to foot (1).  That puts your little cutie at about the length of a large sweet potato!

week 23 pregnancy weight gain fruit sweet potato

While weight gain varies from woman to woman, you likely have gained between 12 and 15 pounds at this point in your pregnancy.  Your uterus has grown to the height of about 1 1/2 inches above your belly button.  Your fundal measurement is around 9 1/4 inches from the pubic symphysis to your navel (1).

week 23 pregnancy belly

Baby Movements

Baby Hiccups

Feeling gentle baby movements continues to bring joy and excitement at week 23!  Soon you may even start to feel your baby hiccup in the womb!  Babies hiccup occasionally in brief episodes, and it tends to begin late in the first trimester or early in the second trimester.  Hiccups feel different than the occasional flutter or kick.  Pay attention for a more prolonged series of jerky, rhythmic movements.

While hiccuping is normal, contact your healthcare provider if you notice a sudden change in the frequency and duration of baby’s hiccuping episodes.

Week 23 Pregnancy:  Baby’s Development

Fun changes are continuing to happen with baby’s development in week 23!

  • Baby begins to respond with movement to familiar sounds, such as the sound of your voice
  • About 80% of baby’s sleep time is spent in REM (rapid eye movement) sleep — a stage in which the eyes move and baby’s brain is very active (2)
week 23 pregnancy baby movements

Week 23 Pregnancy:  Symptoms

Braxton Hicks Contractions

Braxton Hicks contractions are irregular, generally painless contractions of the uterus.  They occur throughout pregnancy, beginning at about the fourth month (3).  So, you’ve probably been experiencing these contractions for a few weeks now but may not have noticed them!

These “practice” contractions of the uterus are typically felt in the front, around your abdomen.  Begin to notice those times when your abdomen feels hard and firm for a short period before it softens up again.  That’s a Braxton Hicks contraction!

Continue to enjoy this low-key time in your pregnancy.  Check back in soon to learn more about your baby’s development at week 24! And if you haven’t already, catch up with what happened in pregnancy week 22.

Kopa Birth’s online birthing classes allow you to prepare for natural childbirth in the comfort of your own home, 24/7. Enroll today in our free online childbirth class to learn more about preparing for natural childbirth. 

References:

  1. Glade, B.C., Schuler, J.  (2011).  Your Pregnancy Week by Week, 7th edition.  First Da Capo Press.
  2. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.  (2010).  Your Pregnancy and Childbirth Month to Month, 5th edition.
  3. Ladewig, P.A., London, M.L., Davidson, M.R.  (2006).  Contemporary Maternal-Newborn Nursing Care, 6th edition.  Pearson Prentice Hall.  Upper Saddle River, NJ.

Here are some other birth articles and stories we know you’ll love.

  • Second Trimester Pregnancy & Symptoms: The Ultimate Guide
  • How Much Weight to Gain During Pregnancy
  • 6 Best Childbirth Classes Online (& Which is Right for You)
  • Stretch Marks in Pregnancy: Causes and Prevention

Category: Pregnancy Week by WeekTag: second trimester

About Katie Griffin

Katie Griffin, Founder of Kopa Birth,® is a Registered Nurse, Lamaze certified childbirth educator, and mom of 7. Using her nursing background and 14+ years of experience teaching birthing classes, Katie has become an expert in the field of natural hospital birth. Kopabirth.com is the culmination of her thousands of hours of research and observation, and all posts are current and evidence-based. Katie is also the instructor for the KOPA® PREPARED online childbirth course and offers online coaching for pregnancy and natural birth.

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