2nd trimester · Week 23
23 weeks pregnant
Rapid brain growth and hearing voices
Brain weight is increasing quickly. The fetus may startle at loud sound. Practice breathing moves the chest, but there is no air in the lungs.
How big is your baby at 23 weeks?
- Length
- 28.9 cm
- Weight
- 500 g
- Size
- Pepper
On average about 28.9 cm long and 500 g. Size comparison: Pepper.
These are averages; every baby grows at their own pace.
How is your baby developing at 23 weeks?
Skin is still thin and wrinkled. Blood vessels in the lungs are growing. Average length is about 29 cm; weight often near 500 g. Hearing continues to mature.
What changes in your body at 23 weeks?
Carpal tunnel tingling, restless legs, and shortness of breath on stairs can appear. Braxton Hicks may be more noticeable at the end of the day.
Tips for this week
Wrist splints at night help some tingling. If breathlessness is sudden, or you have chest pain, do not assume it is “just pregnancy.” Begin thinking about gestational diabetes screening, commonly offered between 24 and 28 weeks.
