23 weeks pregnant
At 23 weeks pregnant, your baby is about the size of a grapefruit: around 28.9 cm head to heel and 501 g. Hearing is improving, and your voice is becoming familiar.
Your baby at 23 weeks
Hearing is improving, and your voice is becoming familiar.
| Size | About the size of a grapefruit |
|---|---|
| Length | 28.9 cm head to heel |
| Weight | 501 g |
Your baby's hearing is getting sharper, and your voice and heartbeat are becoming familiar. Blood vessels are developing in the lungs to prepare for breathing. The skin is still thin, wrinkled and reddish, because there is little fat underneath yet. Your baby's sense of movement is developing, so it can tell when you are moving around.
How far along are you at 23 weeks?
At 23 weeks pregnant you are in the sixth month of your pregnancy and the second trimester. You have about 17 weeks to go until your due date. Doctors count pregnancy from the first day of your last period, not from conception, so at 23 weeks your baby has been growing for about 21 weeks. Not sure of your dates? Use our due date calculator.
Your body at 23 weeks
Leg cramps and heartburn are common. A glucose test for gestational diabetes is usually done between 24 and 28 weeks.
Common symptoms at 23 weeks
Every pregnancy is different, and you may have some, all or none of these.
- Swollen ankles. Usually worse at the end of the day and in hot weather.
- Leg cramps. Often wake you in the night.
- Snoring. Swollen nasal passages can make you snore.
- Bleeding gums. Keep brushing gently and flossing.
- A bigger appetite. Choose snacks that keep your blood sugar steady.
- Heartburn. Avoid eating late at night.
Your checklist for week 23
- Book your glucose test for 24 to 28 weeks if it has been offered.
- Ask whether you have risk factors for gestational diabetes. Having a family background from South Asia or the Middle East is one of them.
- Stretch your calves before bed to reduce cramps.
- Look up our guide if you plan to fast in Ramadan, and talk to your doctor first.
- Start a list of things to buy for your baby.
Tip of the week: Why the glucose test matters
Gestational diabetes is high blood sugar that starts in pregnancy. It often has no symptoms, which is why testing matters. It is much more common in women of South Asian and Middle Eastern background, and in women with a BMI over 30, a previous large baby or a parent or sibling with diabetes. Treated well, most women have healthy babies. See our gestational diabetes guide.
For your partner
Leg cramps and heartburn can ruin sleep.
- Rub her calves when cramps hit
- Keep antacids her doctor approved at home
- Look into paternity leave
When to call your doctor at 23 weeks
Contact your doctor, midwife or maternity unit the same day if you have:
- Feeling very thirsty, weeing much more than usual, or feeling very tired. Ask for a blood sugar test.
- Pain, bleeding, fluid leaking or regular tightenings.
Call your doctor or hospital straight away for bleeding, severe pain, fluid leaking, severe headache or vision changes.
Questions about 23 weeks pregnant
Why am I at higher risk of gestational diabetes?
Risk is higher if your family background is South Asian, Middle Eastern or Black Caribbean, if your BMI is 30 or more, if you have had gestational diabetes or a baby over 4.5 kg before, or if a parent or sibling has diabetes. Your doctor uses these risk factors to decide who should be tested.
Is it safe to fast in Ramadan at 23 weeks?
Pregnant women are exempt from fasting in Islam, and many scholars encourage them not to fast if it could harm them or the baby. If you want to fast, talk to your doctor first. Do not fast if you have gestational diabetes, anaemia or other complications. Read our Ramadan guide.
Why have I started snoring?
Pregnancy hormones and extra blood flow make the inside of your nose swell. Sleeping on your side and raising your head can help. Very loud snoring with pauses in breathing, or daytime sleepiness, is worth mentioning to your doctor.