In this article you will be able to read about everything related to your pregnancy in week 23. You'll find information about the baby's development, how the mother's body is changing and tips you might need along the way. In week 23 of pregnancy, the fetus is the size of a zucchini.

Baby: The fetus now weighs 500 grams

The fetus is now 28 cm long and weighs around 550 grams. Did you know that babies born from week 23 (22+0) have a chance to be saved with today's advanced newborn care?

Development

The fetus continues to develop its brain, mind and body and has often developed its own circadian rhythm by now. It is unlikely to match your own circadian rhythm, and it is unlikely to do so after birth. Around 3-4 months of age, newborns usually start to adjust to the hours of the day.

It is probably easier to notice fetal movements when you are relaxed on the sofa than when you are at work, for example, focusing on something completely different. However, the baby is likely to move when you are relaxed and will sleep well when you rock them to sleep by moving. This will follow you into babyhood, as many babies are calmed by being rocked during the first year.

Although the eyelids covering the baby's eyes are closed, the fetus can see both light and dark. It is never as bright inside the womb as outside, but the baby still perceives a difference between light and dark. The baby can also perceive sounds and whether the pregnant woman is still or moving.

The fetus reacts when you eat

After eating and sitting down for a while, you may notice that the baby wakes up and moves around more. This is because high-energy foods pass through the placenta and the baby senses this. Sweeter foods or drinks cause a faster sugar build-up in the baby's stomach, just as they do for you. The baby will often react to this by making obvious movements or waking up.

Mom: Pregnant in week 23

During this time, some pregnant women feel less constrained by their growing belly, while others feel a greater impact on their daily life. It is good not to compare yourself to others or think negative thoughts about your own pregnancy. All women have different starting points and factors that affect their well-being - you do what YOU can handle and cope with depending on your well-being!

Walking

By now, pregnancy hormones have hopefully stabilized and the body has become accustomed to being pregnant. Many people therefore experience this time of pregnancy as the best, both physically and mentally. We know this is not true for everyone, but try to enjoy it if you feel well. You will experience many symptoms during pregnancy and after giving birth, but hopefully you will not be as nauseous and tired as you may have been before.

Exercise during pregnancy

If you have the energy, being physically active in a way you enjoy can do you good. With us, you'll find a variety of workouts adapted to the different stages of pregnancy! If you have less energy but still want to move, one idea is to find a few simple exercises that you can do without any tools, for example while cooking, doing laundry or other everyday chores.

How do you feel?

If you felt anxious in the early stages of pregnancy, now may be a period of less worry. The more you feel and see for yourself that the pregnancy is growing, the easier it can be to trust that it is as it should be - and that everything will be fine! Remind yourself of the safe resources and thoughts that you have within you and let that safe feeling continue to take place. Calm thoughts are contagious!

You can read about week 22 here.

Here you can read about week 24.