22 weeks, 3 days - The 23rd Week

My Symptoms
I'm a little slow this week. I've been busy! I can't really think of any "new" symptoms. I was super tired last week, but I think it was the VBS. I've been sleeping ok, although last night I had several wake ups. Grace has been very active. I love that I can really feel her now. I wish I had time at work to just stop and enjoy, but I usually just have to work through the movements. I've been able to see several more kicks, although Eric hasn't felt any more (he hasn't been trying that hard). Now when I'm home in the evenings, as soon as I settle down and pay attention there is a lot to feel. I don't think I'll get tired of it. I think I've been gaining weight too. We'll see how bad the scale at the doctor's office is next week. I think I'm up to a total of about 14 pounds now. I think this is a big growth time for the baby though, so I'm not that concerned. I'm over half way and the "normal" weight gain is 25 to 35 pounds, so I'm still on track. Here's what the book and Internet say is happening this week.

The Baby
By this week, your baby weighs almost 1 pound! It's crown-to-rump length is 8 inches. Your baby is about the size of a small doll. Your baby is continuing to grow. Its body is getting plumper, but its skin is still wrinkled because it will gain even more weight. The baby's face and body begin to assume more of the appearance of an infant at birth.

The fetus weighs about 500 grams. If it is born at less than 500 grams, it might survive with disabilities. If it is born weighing over 500 grams, it may be able to survive and thrive. Much of this is dependent upon the newly deposited fat in her body, which would help to insulate her. A baby born this small would need weeks of care and hospitalization.

Your baby is more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound. His skin is red and wrinkled. Blood vessels in his lungs are developing to prepare him for breathing. He can swallow, but he normally won't pass his first stool (called meconium) until after birth. Loud noises heard often in utero — such as your dog barking or the roar of a vacuum cleaner — probably won't faze your baby when he hears them outside the womb.

The baby's finger nails are almost fully formed and the lanugo darkens. Your baby continues to grow in preparation for the journey of birth. He or she is totally unaffected by the Braxton Hicks, or practice, contractions. Meconium, the baby's first stool, is developing. Baby weighs 1 pound 2 ounces (510 grams).

The Mom
Your uterus extends about 1.5 inches above your bellybutton or about 9.2 inches from the pubic symphysis. The changes in your abdomen or progressing slowly, but you definately have a round appearance now. Your total weight gain shoudl be between 12 and 15 pounds. At this point, friends may comment on your size. They may say you must be carrying twins because you're so large. Or they may say you're too small for how far along you think you are. Your doctor will measure you at every visit after this point. He or she is watching for changes in your weight gain and in the size of your uterus. As your baby gets larger, the placenta gets larger. The amount of amniotic fluid also increases.

You're feeling like a human jungle gym! It’s a rockin’ and rollin’ in there! Since there’s still room to move, that little guy or gal is using it all! Somewhere around now, you may have an internal exam to check your cervix for risk of preterm labor.

If you dealt with headaches in your first trimester, they might be subsiding now. (Many women have headaches in early pregnancy, thanks to pregnancy hormones, changes in circulation, and/or sinus congestion.)You may notice some mild swelling sometime during your pregnancy, especially in your ankles and feet. It's called edema, and it happens because changes in your blood chemistry cause fluid to shift into your tissue and because your enlarging uterus puts pressure on the veins returning blood from the lower half of your body, slowing circulation in your legs. Edema is often worse at the end of the day and in the summer. Your body will eliminate the extra fluid after you have your baby (which is why you may urinate often and sweat a lot for a few days after delivery). In the meantime, put your feet up when you can, stretch out your legs when you sit, avoid sitting still for long periods, exercise regularly to increase circulation, and wear support stockings (put them on first thing in the morning). You may be tempted to skimp on liquids, but you need to drink plenty of water, because keeping hydrated actually helps prevent swelling. If you notice severe or sudden swelling in your hands and face, be sure to call your midwife or doctor because it may be a sign of a serious condition called preeclampsia.

During your appointments your practitioner may palpate your abdomen. This process is a way of feeling the position of the baby. A tape measure will also be used to measure your fundal height. This is the top of your uterus and is a good indicator of the continued growth of your baby. Some people will worry if they measure a bit "too big" or "too small." However, it is completely normal to have slight variations at this point. Be sure to ask your practitioner if you are worried. Stop by and check out our Belly Gallery to see other bellies! You may actually feel Braxton Hicks contraction, or you might just happen to notice with your hand a slight tensing of your abdomen. This is just your uterine muscle preparing for birth. The uterus actually contracts at all phases of a woman's life, however, we rarely notice this unless our uterus is full!