What is happening in week 23
Doctors count pregnancy weeks from the first day of your last period, so week 23 sits in the second trimester (week 14 to week 27). That is about 17 weeks to go until week 40, and about 5.3 months by a rough conversion. Week 23: the baby is about 28.9cm long and settling into sleep and wake cycles.
Your baby
The NHS guide gives about 28.9cm, a large mango. The baby rehearses breathing movements and is settling into sleep-wake cycles. Arms and legs are now in proportion to the body.
Your body
As your chest widens you may feel rib discomfort, and the baby pressing on your lungs can make you breathless. Some women leak colostrum.
This week’s to-do
- Slow down and rest when you feel breathless.
- Tell your doctor if breathlessness worries you.
- Notice and get to know your baby’s movement pattern.
When to call
Call your doctor or hospital if the baby moves less than usual, if you have any bleeding, or if you feel anxious or low.
Chaitanya Hospital in Kadapa, near RTC Bus Stand, Simhapuri Colony, provides delivery and emergency care 24/7. Our antenatal check-ups team can answer questions about your own pregnancy.
Use the week-by-week guide to jump to your week, or the due date calculator to work out your dates. Timings for scans and tests come from NHS guidance in the UK and can differ from your doctor’s schedule, so always follow your own doctor’s advice. This page is educational and not a substitute for a doctor.
Sources
Text on this page is paraphrased from the sources above. Sizes are averages and vary between babies.