In the twenty-third week of pregnancy, your unborn baby begins to grow and gain weight even faster. Ripens it nervous system, lungs - they are already preparing to take their first breath after birth. Some symptoms may be troubling, but overall, you should be feeling good. Your belly grows more and more, the baby inside makes itself felt more and more with kicks and jerks - now you can even feel how he hiccups!
Signs and symptoms of 23 weeks pregnant
Some symptoms may be troubling in the twenty-third week of pregnancy, but they are usually not so severe as to significantly affect the quality of life. State future mother during the entire second trimester, much better than in the first trimester, when nausea and constant malaise bothered.
Possible symptoms at 23 weeks gestation:
· In some areas of the body, the skin darkens: in the genitals, anus, armpits, on the inner surface of the upper thighs. The nipples and areolas become darker. A dark line descends from the navel to the pubis. Spots may appear on the face - the so-called "pregnancy mask". Pigmentation is more pronounced in women with dark skin.
Due to an increase in blood levels androgens acne may appear, sometimes hair begins to grow in the chin area, upper lip.
· And now about a pleasant symptom. At the 23rd week of pregnancy, the blood flow to the skin is increased, so it looks healthier, more beautiful, and youthful. Others can note that the expectant mother is "glowing". Puffiness also brings some benefits: it helps the skin to stretch and smooth. If a woman had wrinkles before pregnancy, they may become less noticeable or disappear altogether.
Increased appetite- normal condition in the second trimester of pregnancy. Expectant mothers are ready to sweep away everything on the shelves of kitchen cabinets. Therefore, you need to take care that healthy food is there. It is worth eating in small portions, but often - 5-6 times a day. This will help you feel full at all times and reduce heartburn.
What happens to the fetus at 23 weeks gestation?
At twenty-three weeks, your baby looks like a fully formed newborn, only smaller - about the size of a grapefruit. The length of its body from the crown of the head to the toes is 29 cm, its weight is 500 grams.
Every week the fetus becomes more and more cute, it gradually turns into a plump baby, because a layer of fatty tissue grows under its skin. While the child's skin is covered with small wrinkles - they arise due to the fact that the skin grows faster than the surface of the body - and thin delicate hairs - lanugo... By birth, the wrinkles will straighten, the lanugo will fall out. The body of the fetus is covered with a special cheese grease: it protects the skin from amniotic fluid and makes it easier for the baby to pass through the mother's birth canal during childbirth.
If you could see your baby now, then you would notice that tiny nipples are visible on his chest.
All the main sensory organs of the fetus at the 23rd week of pregnancy have already been formed, at present they continue to improve. He hears even better how mother's heart and intestines work, how blood moves in her large vessels, mother's speech and the speech of people around her, dogs barking, car horns and other sounds. The baby's eyes feel the light, but it is always dark in the womb, even when mom goes outside during the day. In order for the unborn child to notice the light, you can attach a bright flashlight to the stomach - in response you will receive a series of pushes and kicks. Thanks to the already well-developed sense of touch, the fetus can experiment with this sensation: grab the umbilical cord, touch the face, suck the thumb.
And your unborn child has a well-developed sense of movement, which is responsible for vestibular apparatus the inner ear is the "organ of balance". A fetus at 23 weeks gestation can feel like you are doing sports, dancing. The eyes are fully formed, but they are not yet colored. Although genetically it is already predetermined.
Since the fetus is still not very large, at 23 weeks of gestation, it still has enough room in the uterus. He can still do a wide variety of movements, including somersaults. In the coming weeks, he will actively grow, and he will become more and more cramped.
The skin of the fetus becomes more and more opaque due to the fact that a fatty layer grows under it, pigment is deposited in it melanin... However, the internal organs are partially visible through it. It has a red color due to translucent vessels.
As for the internal organs of the unborn child, now the processes of maturation are continuing in them. They prepare for the independent life of a baby after birth. This is especially true of the lungs, new vessels are actively growing in them, a surfactant is produced, which is necessary for their expansion - surfactant... While the fetus trains and "breathes" amniotic fluid.
Remember, when you underwent an ultrasound scan, the machine began to emit strange sounds, and the doctor said that it was a fetal heart beating? So, now the heartbeat of your unborn child is so strong that in order to listen to it, you do not need an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus. At 23 weeks of gestation, a conventional stethoscope is sufficient.
New nerve cells are formed in the brain, new connections are formed between them. Thanks to this, movements, sensitivity are improved, coordination of movements improves, and the tremors in the abdomen begin to be felt more and more. Some researchers say that a baby's nervous system is so well developed at 23 weeks gestation that it can be in REM sleep. The fetal skull is made up of individual bones - this allows the brain to grow.
The pancreas actively produces insulin- a hormone that lowers blood sugar levels.
What traits can a child inherit from their parents?
At the 23rd week of pregnancy, it is not clear what color the child's eyes and hair are, but these signs are genetically laid down from the very moment of conception. Let's talk about the main features that a child can inherit from their parents through genes, and how this happens.
Eye color
It used to be thought that there are only two genes responsible for eye color - "blue" and "brown". In this case, "brown" is dominant, that is, if the child received it from at least one parent, he will be brown-eyed. And in order for a blue-eyed child to be born, he must receive one recessive "blue" gene from both parents. If the 'brown' gene fails to completely suppress the 'blue' gene, the child will have green color eye.
Today, such reasoning is recognized as too simplistic, because it is now known that eye color is determined by the totality of many genes, and it is not always clear how they work. Human eyes can have very different colors, from light blue to dark brown. There are a lot of shades. And, yes, in rare cases "surprises" are possible when a brown-eyed child is born to blue-eyed parents.
By the way, many children are born with blue eyes, but then, as pigment accumulates in the iris, they darken and turn brown.
Hair color
This trait is also encoded by many genes. Hair color mainly depends on the ratio of two pigments in them - eumelanin and pheomelanin, and this, in turn, is determined by genes:
· If there is a lot of eumelanin, the hair will be black.
· If there is little eumelanin, the hair will be brown.
· If there is very little eumelanin, the hair will be light.
· If there is little eumelanin, but a lot of pheomelanin, the hair will be red.
Hair color can change with age. This sometimes happens in adolescents.
Hair texture
Human hair is straight, wavy, and curly. And this trait is also inherited. As in the previous two cases, there is no single gene, hair texture is determined by the interaction between several genes.
Right- and left-handedness
If both parents are right-handed, chances are their child will also be right-handed. If one or both parents are left-handed, they are also more likely to have a right-handed child. There are very few left-handers among people - about 10-15%. It is believed that right- or left-handedness is determined by about 40 genes. Each of them individually has a small impact, they act in combination. But the external environment also has a certain influence. Sometimes left-handers are "retrained", sometimes the child chooses the leading hand by accident. There are people who prefer to do some things with their left hand and others with their right. And then there are ambidexters who use both hands equally well.
Can you inherit intelligence from your parents?
This question is difficult to answer, because intelligence itself is a very complex thing. It is composed of various functions of the brain. Different scientists can understand by the word "intelligence" something of their own and evaluate it in different ways. Most likely, both heredity and external factors play a role, starting with upbringing and education, ending with nutrition and physical activity.
So if there were no geniuses in your family, all is not lost. It is important to educate the child correctly, raise him in favorable conditions and give him a good education.
Height
A child's growth is 80% determined by genes, with over 700 involved genes currently known and new ones expected to be discovered. Therefore, before birth, it is difficult to assess how the child will grow up when he grows up. The remaining 20% is accounted for by environmental factors, the most important of which, of course, is nutrition.
Will the child be as "athletic" as mom and dad?
This question is as complex as that related to intelligence. “Sportiness” is the same collective concept, it is influenced by different indicators. In general, scientists believe that achievements in sports are determined by genes by 30-80%. The remaining 20–70% is attributable to external factors. After all, it is not enough to have good genes to become an Olympic champion; you need to train hard.
Birthmarks
What is the likelihood that your child will have about the same number of moles as you do, and some of them will be in about the same places? Apparently, the probability is quite high, this is confirmed by everyday experience. But scientists almost did not deal with this issue. Because there was no particular reason. Moles - they are moles, benign pigmented neoplasms that every person has.
By the way, interesting fact : Immediately after birth, you will not find a single mole on your child's body. They will appear over time. The peak of the formation and growth of moles usually occurs in adolescence, when hormonal changes occur in the body. New moles can also appear during pregnancy.
Fingerprints
At the 23rd week of pregnancy, the unborn child already has its own papillary pattern on the fingers. It appeared a long time ago - at about 9-10 weeks of pregnancy - and will remain unchanged throughout life. Why a drawing on the fingers is needed is not fully understood, it is believed that it helps to enhance the sensations during touching.
Do genes determine a fingerprint? Yes. Several genes are important, they are responsible for the development of different layers of the skin, subcutaneous fat, muscles, blood vessels. But other factors also have a certain influence, for example, different influences during pregnancy. Therefore, even twins with identical DNA do not completely match the fingerprints.
Fetal movements in mom's tummy
At the twenty-third week of pregnancy, all expectant mothers already feel well how the baby moves, pushes and kicks inside the abdomen. Now these are no longer vague incomprehensible sensations, reminiscent of the movement of gases in the intestines. These are full-fledged tangible kicks, it is difficult to confuse them with anything:
· Now, if the child is very active, you will be able to observe his movements even through clothes.
· If someone puts their hand on your stomach, they may feel the baby move inside. Most likely, there will be many who want to, but perhaps you do not want at all to be touched to your belly. This is completely normal, just tell everyone that you don't want to.
· You can feel even when your baby is hiccuping!
· At 23 weeks, the unborn child already has its own regimen. He sleeps, then wakes up and begins to actively push. Moreover, the regime of the fetus often does not coincide with the regime of the expectant mother. When a woman lies, sleeps, a real football match begins in the stomach. And when he does business, sports - the baby calms down.
How to understand that everything is in order with the unborn child, how should he move inside the mother's belly normally?
Here are some points every mom-to-be should know about:
· Most women begin to feel the first tremors of the baby from 16 to 24 weeks of pregnancy. During pregnancy with twins - a little earlier.
· There is no clearly defined norm for how many movements the fetus should make during a certain period of time. From 16-24 to 32 weeks, its activity should increase, and then remain approximately at the same level until birth.
· The statement that the child becomes less active by the end of pregnancy is a myth. You should continue to feel his movements even when labor begins.
· If you feel that the child has become less active, that something is not as usual, you need to see a doctor immediately. You can't wait and wait for the next day.
· Do not rely on home heart rate monitors and smartphone apps to record fetal heartbeats. If a child does not move, but his heart beats, this does not mean that everything is all right with him.
Why is it important to constantly monitor the movements of the baby in the abdomen? Because this is an important manifestation of the fact that he is healthy and that everything is fine with him. About half of women who had a stillbirth reported that the fetus began to move less in the abdomen. This is serious. At any time of the day, you must immediately go to the hospital. “To see what will happen next, and if it does not correct itself, go to the doctor” is a wrong approach.
Ultrasound at 23 weeks of gestation
Usually, at the 23rd week of pregnancy, ultrasound is not done - the term of the second scheduled ultrasound examination has already ended. Usually, doctors recommend testing for women who did not have time to do it in time, or who need additional monitoring due to the increased risk of certain problems.
The pictures show a child who, as it were, squatted down. In profile, you can see some details of his face, see the arms, legs and small bones in them, the spine, skull, brain, internal organs, chambers of the heart. You can determine the gender if the baby does not "hide" the genitals from the sensor. During Doppler ultrasound, the doctor evaluates the blood flow in the chambers of the heart and large vessels. The device emits characteristic hissing sounds - this is the beating of the tiny heart of your unborn child.
The picture during an ultrasound scan at 23 weeks of gestation looks like this:
What happens to the uterus and abdomen at 23 weeks gestation?
At 23 weeks gestation, the uterus continues to grow and rises about 3.8 cm above the navel. The height of the fundus of the uterus (the distance from the upper edge of the pubic articulation to the highest point of the uterus) is approximately 23 cm (21 to 25 cm).
If in the previous weeks of pregnancy strangers, looking at you, might think that your tummy is noticeable due to good nutrition, now it is enlarged so much that the reasons become obvious. Perhaps one of your relatives or "seasoned" friends will tell you that your belly is too small or too big for a twenty-three week period. Do not take such remarks personally. Only a doctor can correctly assess the size of the abdomen and the course of pregnancy.
In the twenty-third week of pregnancy, the uterus presses heavily on the bladder, because of this, some women develop stress urinary incontinence... Leaks can occur during abdominal straining, laughing, coughing, sneezing, physical exertion - in other words, in situations where intra-abdominal pressure increases. Sometimes urine is difficult to distinguish from amniotic fluid. Smell is a reliable criterion. While amniotic fluid is odorless, urine is quite strong and characteristic.
During pregnancy with twins, the height of the fundus of the uterus can be different. There are no clear rules, it depends on the size and location of the fruits.
Hormones at 23 weeks gestation
Pregnancy hormones continue to cause changes in the metabolism, appearance of the expectant mother and her well-being.
Some women have emotional problems and frequent mood swings, although these are more common in the first and third trimesters. Severe joy can be replaced by irritation. From time to time, sadness, excitement, anxiety rolls over, I want to cry. In such cases, support from loved ones, men, is important. Some expectant mothers develop depression - this is already a more serious condition, it requires the intervention of a doctor. Apply for medical help if bad mood and apathy persist for several days.
In pregnant women, memory deteriorates - this has been proven in scientific research. You can forget about some cases, about where you left this or that item. Sometimes it interferes with work and daily activities. Some tips will help you:
· Create a diary. Write down all the tasks for the day in it, so as not to forget anything.
· Buy stickers and place reminders in a prominent place. They can be stuck above the desk, on the refrigerator, in other places where you often visit and will definitely see them.
· You can install a reminder app on your smartphone.
· Try not to take on a lot of things, do not do several things at the same time.
· Leave keys and other items that you often need in visible places, where you will not have to look for them. Try to keep order so that each item is in its place.
How much weight should the expectant mother gain?
In the second trimester, it is normal for a woman pregnant with one fetus to add about 450-500 grams per week. By the 23rd week of pregnancy, a woman, on average, manages to gain 5.4–6.8 kg, and during pregnancy with twins - about 10.4 kg. If you feel that you are gaining weight too quickly or too slowly, do not jump to conclusions on your own. See your doctor.
If the mass previously increased evenly, and then suddenly began to grow very quickly, this is a clear reason to immediately seek medical help. Perhaps it preeclampsia- a serious complication of pregnancy associated with increased blood pressure.
Pregnancy calculator: calculate the rate of weight gain by week
How to eat right?
The nutrition of the expectant mother at 23 weeks and throughout pregnancy should be characterized by three adjectives: healthy, complete and varied. Eating right can be expensive, but there are some tips to help you save money:
· Branded products- not necessarily the best. Usually they are sold in beautiful packages and are much more expensive than their "regular" counterparts. The trick is that oftentimes you only overpay for the brand, but not for the higher quality. You can buy equally healthy food on the market. The main thing is to have a reliable supplier and seller. Buying from a car that has stopped in your yard, and the driver has laid out fish or pieces of pork neatly, as if on a counter, on the hood, you run the risk of getting an infection that can be dangerous for your unborn child.
· Take a snack with you to work... Often during lunchtime, workers go to the nearest café. Food you bring home from home is cheaper and often healthier. The savings over a single snack might not be that great, but imagine how much you can save in the coming weeks.
· Buy a lot at once... Usually, if you buy a lot of products at once, it comes out cheaper. You just need to provide for their storage so that they do not deteriorate.
· Choose the cheapest and healthiest drink... Its chemical formula is H2O. Yes, this is ordinary drinking water! All sorts of sugary juices and sodas are wasteful and unhealthy because they contain added sugars that load the body up with empty calories. Because of them, the risk increases gestational diabetes.
· Try to cook at home with fresh ingredients.... The ready-to-eat and convenience foods that you can buy at the supermarket are of course convenient. They can be quickly reheated and eaten. But they contain added sugars, unhealthy fats, and other substances that are not good for the health of mom and baby. Homemade food is healthier and generally cheaper.
Physical activity
Physical activity is important at any stage of pregnancy. She helps to keep well-being, reduce the risk of some complications, prepare for childbirth. Exercise is also a great way to relax. Yoga is especially helpful in this. Here are two easy exercises to help you quickly regain your peace of mind:
Sit in a comfortable position and close your eyes. You can turn on calm pleasant music. Try to relax as much as possible. Imagine that you are in a beautiful place, for example, in the mountains, in the forest or on the banks of a river.
During the second exercise, they usually lie on their backs, but for a woman at 23 weeks pregnant, this position is contraindicated, because the uterus can compress the vessels, this will lead to dizziness and fainting. You can sit or lie on your side. Focus on your feet. Try to relax them as much as possible. Then focus on the shins, thighs, pelvis, abdomen, chest, arms, neck, and finally the head. Work each part of the body until you are completely relaxed. At the same time, you can imagine how pleasant warmth is spreading through the body.
Is it okay to have sex?
Contrary to popular belief, sex is not contraindicated at any time during pregnancy. Restrictions arise only in certain cases:
· If the pregnancy is proceeding with complications, you need to consult a doctor.
· If the expectant mother or man has signs of a sexually transmitted infection, it is necessary to be examined.
· If a woman feels tired, experiences severe symptoms, and she is not up to intimacy.
· About two weeks before the expected date of birth: Sexual intercourse can trigger labor.
The main rule of sex in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy: a woman should not lie on her back. You should not practice exotic positions in bed, during which the expectant mother can get hurt to the abdomen.
In general, intimacy during pregnancy is even useful: it gives a woman positive emotions and relieves of worries, strengthens the bond between partners. Do not be afraid: you will not be able to harm your unborn child, because he is in the uterus high enough and reliably protected by the cervix, the fetal bladder.
Why are stressful during pregnancy dangerous?
During pregnancy, the emotional state of the expectant mother is already not stable. The situation is aggravated by external influences. This is how it works modern world- there are a lot of stress factors around:
· Unusual sensations from the fact that a woman will soon become a mother. The perception of one's own body and personality changes.
· Changing the relationship with the partner.
· Fear and worries about the child, fear of harming him.
· Physical discomfort.
· Financial difficulties.
· Problems at work, high loads.
· Constant lack of time, rush, time pressure.
· If a woman already has children, their reaction to the mother's pregnancy is not always positive and predictable.
· Especially high emotional stress is experienced by working expectant mothers, women who have separated from their partner.
· Lack of own housing and other social problems.
How can mom-to-be's stress affect her baby?
Scientific research shows that frequent stress in a pregnant woman can have multiple consequences:
· Effects on pregnancy: there is evidence that increased anxiety and depression increase the risk of premature birth, low birth weight.
· Influence on the mental development of the child: High levels of stress hormones during pregnancy can lead to problems with thinking, memory and concentration in the baby. And very high levels of stress can even lead to neurological disorders.
· Influence on the behavior of the child: if the mother often experienced anxiety and depression during pregnancy, the child is usually more restless, reacts more violently to loud sounds.
· Influence on the health of the child: increased anxiety during pregnancy increases the risk of various skin rashes in a child, bronchial asthma, breathing disorders.
How to deal with stress at 23 weeks gestation?
First of all, you need to lead healthy image life, exercise, eat well and get enough sleep. Seek help from other people: relatives, your partner, good friends. You can visit a psychologist or enroll in a special group for pregnant women. Yoga, tai chi, meditation, relaxation techniques, warm baths, pleasant music and, in general, any interesting activity or hobby are helpful.
Do not fight with bad mood with the help of food. It is easy to get an eating disorder with all the consequences that come with it.
· Use a soft bristled toothbrush during pregnancy to help protect swollen gums from damage. During these nine months, the expectant mother needs to see the dentist at least once.
· Some mothers-to-be try to cope with swelling by reducing their fluid intake. In no case should you do this. Dehydration is dangerous for your unborn baby. On the contrary, you really need liquid right now. If you think that the swelling has become too strong, it is better to immediately consult a doctor without unnecessary initiative.
· Has your foot size increased? Buy new shoes. It is important that it is comfortable: in the second trimester, the center of gravity of the body shifts, the gait becomes clumsy. You can easily stumble, fall and be injured. No high heels or stilettos!
· It is not too late to take a short trip. The well-being of most expectant mothers allows it. Pamper yourself: after all, you have a birth ahead of you and there are still so many worries.
· Have you already decided what you will name your child? What name do you want to give him: one of those that are popular now, or unusual? Why not think about it now? However, some expectant mothers do not bother: they come up with a name for the child after giving birth. They say that when a woman sees what her baby looks like, the right name "comes" by itself.
· Do not forget about "food safety rules" during pregnancy. Meat, poultry, fish and seafood, eggs must be thoroughly thermally processed. Milk and dairy products - only pasteurized. If you eat raw vegetables or fruits, wash them well.
Write a letter to your unborn child
It is very interesting and touching. Just imagine: your child will remember the message that you wrote before he was born. When he grows up, he will be able to read it. Here's what you can write about in a letter to your unborn child:
· Tell us how you are waiting for it, and how you feel now.
· Imagine spending the day together. Describe what you will do, where you will go.
· Write a pleasant wish, tell us what dreams you have related to your baby.
· Think about what it means to be a mother in your mind. Who is a good mother? How will you raise your unborn child?
The message can be arranged, put in a beautiful box and put away somewhere until the child grows up and can not read it.
What kind of research do you need to go through?
The antenatal clinic doctor may invite you to an appointment to assess your condition and the course of pregnancy, measure the abdominal circumference, the height of the fundus of the uterus, your weight, blood pressure, pulse. You may be prescribed general blood and urine tests, and other tests if indicated.
When do you need to see a doctor?
Any unusual and incomprehensible symptoms should be the reason for a visit to the doctor. It is always better to play it safe and disturb the doctor once again than to miss a serious complication of pregnancy.
Nutrition During Pregnancy - Video Guide
On the 23rd week, there is a very important process - the development of the respiratory system and the formation of alveoli. From this time on, a surfactant will be produced in the alveoli themselves. This substance is needed in order to avoid adhesion of the alveoli after the child inhales. In other words, with a surfactant deficiency, the born child will not be able to breathe fully. This substance accumulates during pregnancy.At this time, the child already knows almost everything in order to live. He has a swallowing reflex, his heart beats, the urinary system works and the nervous system is quite developed, etc. Mom records tremors at least once every ten minutes. The excretory system works, and the baby's urine regularly enters the amniotic fluid. The only unfavorable factor is considered if the child's original feces enter the amniotic fluid. Ideally, this should not be in the womb, and if this happened, problems with the child's health are not excluded.
As long as the child grows safely and continues to develop. The placenta, as before, thickens - up to 24, 52 mm. Now the child's weight has exceeded 500 grams, and he himself reaches 29 cm in length. The main volumetric parameters also increase: the diameter of the head is already 56.3 mm, the diameter of the breast and tummy is 56.5 and 57.6 mm, respectively.
You are doing an excellent job with your pregnancy, although you can feel an enlarging tummy, frequent pains in your back and lower back appear. But you, even if not for a long time, try to do at least some exercises that facilitate your condition. Every week your weight increases by five hundred grams, sometimes a little less or a little more. The doctor explains the swelling that you began to notice by changes in the work of organs - due to pregnancy. But he warns that if the swelling is stronger, it will be necessary to heal. The fact is that edema with dropsy of pregnant women occurs not only outside, but also inside, squeezing blood vessels. And any circulatory disorders are somehow connected with the condition of your baby. If protein is found in urine tests, late toxicosis is noted. It can even manifest itself in numbness of the limbs.
Naturally, every time you visit the antenatal clinic or clinic that you have chosen, you communicate with other women. Someone says that the child is very actively moving, someone - which is extremely rare. You start to worry if everything is going well for you. Doctors explain this, among other things, by the child's temperament and his condition. Therefore, your observations should be the main criterion for you. If you notice that the child has become more or less active compared to how you observed him before, this is a reason to consult a doctor. But do not compare children with each other. Different conditions. Only with yourself. By the way, when he is born and grows up, the same principle will come in handy in education).
23rd week of pregnancy: discharge from the genital tract
You already know a lot about the nature of the discharge and immediately notice any deviations from the norm. And you consider it necessary to get tested immediately - in order to avoid problems. But if you notice the appearance of blood in the discharge, urgently call an ambulance. An increased tone of the uterus, placental abruption, or the consequences of placenta previa may well cause these symptoms. Especially if it is accompanied by abdominal pain.
23rd week of pregnancy: nutrition of the pregnant woman
For signs of dropsy, many women tend to drink less water. But this is just a mistake. Plasma is based on water. And plasma, as you know, is one of the constituents of blood.You still need at least 1.5 liters of water a day, but the amount of salt can be reduced a little. So, some people switch to soy sauce. At least they can be used to dress salads. And it won't be painful.
Ultrasound:
You can already see fluff on the child's head. Bones, joints, spine, muscles are already visible. The kid is gaining weight and now it is not easy to see him in full in the picture, for that you can see in detail his face, arms and legs, and even internal organs - liver, intestines. Even the aorta is visible. It is also interesting to observe the change in the baby's poses. Sometimes he sleeps, sometimes he turns away, as if not wanting to be disturbed now. It seems to you that he is copying you in some way.
Each new week of pregnancy adds new grams, brings new sensations.
Do not get hung up on your clumsiness, growing volumes. Pregnancy is a physiological state, a period of complete peace of mind and happiness for a woman.
Do not forget to enjoy life, please yourself and your husband with sex. Walk, explore, learn.
During 23 weeks of pregnancy, your weight has increased by 5-7 kg.
Heartburn, constipation become almost commonplace. The baby's movements are more and more persistent, sometimes it is even possible to determine with which part of the body the fetus kicked the mother.
Your baby is as big as ...
520 gram
280-300 mm
120-160 bpm
Fetal development
At 23 weeks, the baby continues to accumulate subcutaneous fat, it rounds, takes on a more familiar appearance for the eye, however, while it still looks like a small wrinkled red man. Due to the accumulated pigments, the skin ceases to be transparent.
This is what your baby looks like at 23 weeks
The baby's brain has increased, the nerve connections in it are getting better, which requires the mother to take mandatory walks in the fresh air. The baby will warn the mother about the lack of oxygen with increased tremors. With the help of special devices, it is possible to register the activity of the brain. The kid begins to dream.
The eyes of the fetus are open, it distinguishes between light and darkness, reacts to them by changing behavior. He also distinguishes sounds well, changing his behavior in case of sharp noises.
The digestive system is ready to perform its functions, the child constantly swallows amniotic fluid, the liquid part of which is broken down into sugar and water and absorbed in the intestine, and the scales and vellus hairs that come with the water form meconium, which is normally excreted only after childbirth.
Ultrasound at 23 weeks of gestation
Week 23 refers to the screening date. If you did not have time to perform the second diagnostic ultrasound, now is the time.
At this time, if the baby is not very shy, you can determine who will soon be born. Sexual characteristics are clearly differentiated.
But the purpose of ultrasound diagnostics this week is to exclude pathology of fetal development and pathology from the placenta. The doctor necessarily evaluates the position of the fetus in the uterus, its presentation. Sizes, the correspondence of these sizes to the gestational age. The internal organs are examined, the degree of their development, the relationship between themselves is assessed. Respiratory movements, heart rate are counted.
When examining the placenta, its size, functional maturity, the presence of pathological inclusions in it, and blood flow are measured.
The location of the placenta relative to the internal os of the cervical canal (CC), as well as the length of the cervix, and the degree of CC dilatation are also assessed.
What happens in your body at 23 weeks?
The sensations that arise in the body of the expectant mother at 23 weeks can hardly be called pleasant. Heartburn sometimes appears even at night, due to the action of hormones on the sphincters and mechanical changes in the position of the stomach.
Constipation and bloating also appear due to the relaxing effect of hormones on muscle tissue, and are poorly corrected. Varicose veins of the lower extremities and genitals occur due to the increased load on the cardiovascular system as a whole.
Cramps in the calf muscles, especially at night, are manifested with insufficient intake of calcium in the body.
The action of hormones on the skin leads to the appearance of age spots and excess hair growth. Don't let this cloud your pregnancy. As a rule, after childbirth, everything goes without a trace.
Problems with teeth may arise, and again due to a lack of calcium - the baby manages to take calcium from the blood for his construction needs before his mother.
Your feelings at 23 weeks
With a normal pregnancy, the woman feels relatively well. Sometimes she may be bothered by Braxton Hicks contractions. These are training contractions of the uterus, which are not accompanied by painful sensations and bloody discharge.
Soreness may occur if the child is in an uncomfortable position. The baby's movements cause tension in the ligaments of the uterus and moderate pulling pains on the sides of the uterus.
Unpleasant sensations can also occur when the mother is in an uncomfortable position. For example, when resting on the back, dizziness and a feeling of lack of air appear - the uterus compresses the abdominal aorta.
The pelvic bones move apart in preparation for childbirth, which can also cause pain.
Heaviness in the legs appears due to fluid retention in the body, tissue edema, in addition, the growing weight of a woman also additionally loads the limbs. To cope with this, special insoles, a salt-free diet, foot baths, an elevated position of the legs during rest will help.
Discharge from the genital tract
As with any stage of pregnancy, discharge at 23 weeks can directly tell about the course of pregnancy. Normally, the discharge is liquid, milky or transparent, without a strong unpleasant odor.
Yellow, green, foamy, cheesy discharge directly indicates the presence of infection in the genital tract of a pregnant woman. If present, treatment should be started immediately to prevent infection of the placenta, amniotic fluid and fetus. The infection is itself common reason termination of pregnancy at any time.
It is important not to confuse transparent, abundant, odorless discharge with leaking amniotic fluid. If the slightest suspicion arises, it is possible to perform an amniotic fluid leak test.
Bloody discharge can occur as an independent phenomenon or with pain. Brown discharge may indicate an old placental abruption. Bright spotting may suggest a recent case of detachment. As a rule, such discharge is preceded by an increase in the tone of the uterus. There is no point in reminding you that these symptoms require urgent medical attention.
Photo of tummies at 23 weeks
Surveys at 23 weeks
At 23 weeks, when visiting a gynecologist, a general examination is performed, measurement of the abdominal circumference, blood pressure. The expectant mother must be weighed to control weight and timely detect edema. A prerequisite is to pass a urine test before going to the doctor. Only sometimes it is enough to monitor the condition of a pregnant woman and early detection of preeclampsia.
Risks at 23 weeks
The risks remain the same: the cervix sometimes cannot withstand the growing weight of the child and begins to open (). The condition is corrected by suturing the cervix or using an unloading pessary.
The child is still a foreign object for the mother's body and the reaction to it can go from the stage of early toxicosis to the stage of gestosis. At the same time, the pressure rises, edema builds up, the kidneys cannot cope with the load. You cannot do without the help of specialists - the condition may end in the death of the mother and baby.
Lifting weights and abrupt movements should be avoided; they can lead to rupture of membranes and placental abruption.
Important at 23 weeks
Limit physical activity, especially associated with lifting weights, load on the lower back, and sudden movements. Explain to your family that you are struggling to cope with your previous responsibilities and ask for help.
Do not forget, getting out of bed, put on a bandage, it will help protect the cervix from early disclosure, support the baby. Wearing a bandage is not recommended for mothers from whom the baby has borrowed wrong position... The bandage prevents the baby from changing it and turning over.
Move more, do not spend a long time in one position, this impedes the supply of oxygen to the fetus and leads to hypoxia.
Meals at 23 weeks
As you eat, remember that you have several tasks:
- provide yourself and your baby with a full set of building materials, vitamins and minerals;
- avoid constipation;
- prevent the development of hemorrhoids.
Vegetables, fruits, dairy products will help to cope with all the problems at once.
Fish, meat, cereals, especially oatmeal and buckwheat are obligatory in the diet.
Mode
You need to sleep at least eight hours a day. It would be nice to set aside an hour or two for an afternoon nap. Walking in the fresh air will have a positive effect on your well-being, especially in the morning and before bedtime.
Sex is not forbidden, however, more and more caution and ingenuity is required from future parents in the selection of positions. Pressure on the abdomen must be avoided.
You are already 5.5 months pregnant! Remember that we are talking about obstetric months, which, unlike the calendar ones, do not consist of 30-31 days, but of 4 weeks. Already 5 such whole months have passed and two more weeks. The next 23 weeks of pregnancy begins. How is our baby doing there?
Fetus at 23 weeks gestation
Your child is "growing smarter" at an enviable rate: from the second to the fifth month of pregnancy, the weight of his brain has increased more than 10 times! Now he weighs an average of 20-24g and within two weeks he will get five times heavier! For the normal course of these important processes, it is necessary to supply oxygen to the small brain in sufficient quantities. Therefore, be sure to take daily walks, especially since now is the most favorable period for this. And eliminate any stress - they can also lead to oxygen starvation of the baby.
The fetus at the 23rd week of pregnancy is already sufficiently developed and formed, although, of course, its preparation for extrauterine life will continue until last day... But the child's digestive system has already been fully formed: the stomach, esophagus, liver, pancreas, large and small intestines - everything is working. So, the baby swallows amniotic fluid, making up to 60 respiratory movements per minute and at the same time training his lungs (by the way, this can cause hiccups in the fetus, so that the mother sometimes feels rhythmic tremors inside). The liquid enters the esophagus, sugar and water are synthesized from it, the original feces (which will also consist of bile) begin to form here, the pancreas produces insulin and does not stop its improvement.
The brown adipose tissue continues to accumulate under the delicate skin, which is now quite wrinkled. At the 23rd week of pregnancy, the spleen is included in the work: it not only produces blood cells, but also controls their quality, destroying everything that has not been tested.
If you have recently been to an ultrasound scan, you could already see the sex of the child if he successfully turned to the sensor. By this time, the baby's genitals had already differentiated, the boy had formed a scrotum, and the girl had ovaries, in which a millionth supply of eggs was stored for future offspring.
Your baby at the 23rd week of pregnancy weighs about 500 g and has an average height of 29 cm. He has already formed marigolds, lanugo (fluff on the body) begins to darken.
Some scientists believe that from this time on, the baby begins to dream: they detected the appearance of a phase of REM sleep in the fetus. The little one spends a lot of time in a dream, but often wakes up - almost every hour, however, not for long.
Feel
Fetal movements are becoming more pronounced. If earlier you could still doubt whether the baby was moving or the intestines were working, now you already unmistakably recognize the signals from the outside and sometimes you can even determine what the baby is doing: he is playing, turning over or maybe hiccupping. The baby's movements give the mother a lot of joy, until he still kicks her in the ribs, but what is not very pleasing is that the peak of his activity occurs in the evening and at night, when the woman is trying to sleep. If the baby is playing hard, try to lull him to sleep: sing a lullaby, stroke his tummy.
A growing belly will cause more and more discomfort every week: it is very likely that heartburn will appear. If the problem has already manifested itself, then start looking for your own "cure" for internal fire. Someone is saved by seeds, someone with milk, and someone is helped by a cube of chocolate. Remember only that soda cannot extinguish heartburn, and it is not worth it: it will only intensify the burning sensation and increase the frequency of attacks.
The more the baby grows, the harder it will be for mom to breathe. The uterus supports the sternum and compresses the lungs, preventing them from functioning properly. It's not scary, but it is important to learn how to get yourself and your little one oxygen. Start learning different breathing techniques that will help you in the future during childbirth.
Also, the bladder is experiencing increasing pressure, so going to the toilet will become more frequent. To prevent them from interfering with your night's rest, try to limit your fluid intake after 6 pm. But drink enough throughout the day: if you develop swelling, it is not because of drinking. A slight swelling is physiological at such times, since additional fluid is needed to nourish the placenta. But if the swelling is too severe, then it is necessary to significantly limit the use of salt and salty foods. In any case, pay attention to this and try to avoid excess salt in your food.
Among the new companions of pregnancy, you may be surprised by reddening of the hands, but this is also a temporary phenomenon, which is to blame for hormonal fluctuations.
While there is still time, take it for yourself, your beloved. Moreover, often in the second half of pregnancy, a woman's skin needs special care: it dries out, can peel off, overstretch, so do not forget about the prevention of stretch marks and daily moisturizing of the skin.
Maintain hygiene in everything. This also applies especially to the breasts (you can observe the discharge of colostrum from the nipples) and the oral cavity (the condition of the teeth often worsens during this period due to the high consumption of calcium).
Pain
Lack of calcium can cause cramps in the calf muscles, so be sure to take extra calcium or increase it in your diet. Pain associated with weight gain increases. Under the weight of the uterus and fetus, the back, lower back, tailbone hurt. In addition, as labor approaches, the pelvic bones will soften and diverge more and more, preparing to make way for the baby.
Consider your position and learn to do familiar things in a new way: bend, squat, sit, get out of bed. It was high time to give up heels, as well as to master new comfortable sleeping positions: it is now uncomfortable and unsafe to sleep on the back and on the stomach.
Abdominal pain is no longer as bad as it used to be: it is rarely caused by something dangerous this trimester. Most often, the stomach hurts now due to muscle tension, which is especially noticeable with sudden movements and spasms: sneezing, coughing, laughing.
To prevent your tummy from burdening you with its weight, start wearing a prenatal bandage after consulting your doctor. Remember to control your posture by evenly distributing the load.
Belly at 23 weeks pregnant
In addition to the characteristic abdominal pains (including cramping, which you can read about below), you can observe some changes with it. In particular, this applies to the darkening of the strip going from the navel to the bottom. The brown line in the middle of the abdomen appears due to the increased production of melanin. For the same reason, nipple halos darken on the chest, dark spots on the face and body. Do not worry: like many other temporary phenomena, these will disappear soon after childbirth.
The abdomen gradually increases in size, which entails stretching of the skin. Often this causes itching and even a rash on the skin - keep it elastic cosmetics... Olive oil works well as a moisturizer.
You should be alerted to pain in the abdomen only if it intensifies and becomes pronounced or if accompanied by other alarming signs (fever, chills, bloody discharge, fainting, vomiting). Such pains are the reason for immediate medical attention. But if you were tormented by a headache, then now, it is likely to disappear.
Uterus
The uterus at the 23rd week of pregnancy rises already at the level of 4 cm above the navel. From this period, she begins to exercise before childbirth, which you feel with mild cramping pains. They can be single or last for a certain period of time. But normally, such pains are not accompanied by other symptoms. These are Braxton Hicks training contractions that can get worse after intercourse. In moments of false contractions, you can lie on your left side so that the uterus calms down.
If they grow and become more frequent (you are experiencing 5 contractions per hour or more), then you need to urgently call your doctor.
Ultrasound
In order not to miss any threats and complications of pregnancy, do not neglect routine examinations with a gynecologist and his directions for an ultrasound scan, one of which can be prescribed at 23 weeks of gestation.
An ultrasound examination will show how the child is developing, establish its size, which should correspond to the gestational age, assess its motor activity, heart rate and other vital signs. Also, the specialist will examine the uterus (its size and condition) and the placenta (mainly its location). Do not rush to get upset if, according to the ultrasound results, it turns out that the placenta is located too low: until the 8th month of pregnancy, it can still rise due to the growth and expansion of the uterus.
At this time, the external genital organs of the fetus are already clearly visible, and if it turns around successfully during the ultrasound scan, it will be possible to determine the sex of the child. However, one should not take the "verdict" as final, because the error always reserves the right to be.
Analyzes
Ultrasound is not the only examination a pregnant woman is sent for. Throughout the entire period, she has to pass many different biochemical tests, in particular, a general blood and urine test, an analysis for sugar, blood clotting, hCG and determination of progesterone levels, and others.
Indicators of various markers can warn the gynecologist in advance about the development of undesirable processes in the body of his ward (in particular, exacerbation of genitourinary infections), as well as possible complications in the development of the fetus. A cause for concern is the presence of protein and salts in the urine of a pregnant woman, high sugar levels, low or high levels of hCG, a lack of progesterone in the woman's blood.
Glucose testing is of particular importance now because it may indicate an increased risk of overweight in the fetus. If the glucose norm is overestimated, then the expectant mother will be put on a diet and, possibly, she will be prescribed specific treatment.
The hemoglobin level does not lose its relevance throughout pregnancy. Regular testing allows you to prevent and cure anemia, which is very often observed in pregnant women and is an unfavorable sign.
Remember that a single test delivery cannot be the basis for making any diagnosis. Usually, the pathology is indicated by poor results of the analysis of both urine and blood at the same time. But in any case, it is necessary to pass a repeated laboratory test to verify the results. Therefore, never jump to premature conclusions.
Discharge at 23 weeks gestation
You may need to get a vaginal swab to check for infections. You should ask your doctor about it yourself if you notice any suspicious discharge: yellow, greenish, earthy, bloody, white, slimy, lumps, cheesy, bubbling, flaky, with a pungent odor. Often during pregnancy in women, thrush or colpitis worsens, but other infectious diseases are also possible. Some pathogens are capable of infecting the fetus during its passage through the birth canal, while others are still in utero, so treatment should be carried out as early as possible.
They do not require any intervention, but only hygiene, transparent watery discharge at 23 weeks gestation, if they do not smell and are not accompanied by symptoms such as itching, burning, swelling and irritation of the genitals, painful urination, fever.
Meanwhile, it is important not to confuse the normal physiological discharge for this period with the leakage of water, which should serve as a reason for immediate medical attention. The easiest way to distinguish one from the other is to use a special pharmacy test for water leakage.
Bloody discharge, which causes fear and fear in the first trimester, is no longer so terrible: in the second trimester, the risk of termination of pregnancy is significantly reduced. And yet, even in the absence of a threat of miscarriage, there may be a "daub" at 23 weeks of gestation. This happens, for example, with erosion of the cervix. In this case, smearing discharge appears after a gynecological examination or sexual intercourse and is not accompanied by signs characteristic of an increased uterine tone.
Sex
And, nevertheless, you should not give up sex at 23 weeks of pregnancy, if there are no direct contraindications to this. In many women, during this period, all the senses are exacerbated, the sensitivity and the number of erogenous zones increase, libido increases and sexual desire increases. Therefore, sex during pregnancy can open up new, previously unknown facets of each other for both spouses. Moreover, the expectation of a common child often brings future mothers and fathers closer together, forcing them to look at each other and at the family in a new way, to experience different feelings.
It is very undesirable (or rather completely forbidden) to change the sexual partner during this period. Life situations, of course, are different, but the microflora of the vagina is very sensitive to foreign microorganisms, which can provoke the development of various dangerous infections in a woman.
Doctors differ on oral and anal sex. It should be said that many couples practice different types of sex during pregnancy and are very happy about it. The main thing, they say, is to be hygienic and careful. Tenderness and neatness will not harm you now, and postures with deep penetration are best left for later.
Doctors recommend refraining from sexual intercourse if you have had miscarriages in the past or if you are carrying twins. A contraindication to sexual activity during pregnancy may be the low location of the placenta. And, of course, you will have to completely abandon intimacy if bearing is in danger.
Nutrition
The nutritional recommendations at 23 weeks gestation remain the same. It is important to ensure the intake of fats, carbohydrates and proteins with a predominance of the latter. Fresh vegetables and fruits according to the season are obligatory guests on the daily table; special preference should be given to the green gifts of nature.
Monitor the intake of calcium in the body, eat foods that increase hemoglobin, minimize salt intake and completely abandon food chemicals and harmful goodies: spicy, smoked, pickled, fried, and so on.
Be sure to drink plenty of fluids, for which purified living water... Also fruit drinks, fresh juices and unsweetened compotes are useful during pregnancy. Be extremely careful with herbs.
Speaking of sweet things. If you really want to, then please yourself with dried fruits and simple nuts (no salt, sugar, not fried), and then be careful. You don't need extra calories now - weight gain should be controlled very strictly. For the same reason, try to minimize your consumption of starchy foods.
Weight at 23 weeks gestation
By 23 weeks, most women are already experiencing weight gain. Because of this, they may experience some discomfort: sleep disturbances, headaches, pain in the spine and legs, shortness of breath. Weight gain is inevitable with a normal pregnancy, but there are certain boundaries that cannot be exceeded so as not to provoke additional problems now, during the birth period and after childbirth.
Extra pounds promise trouble not only for the mother, but also for the unborn baby. Therefore, be sure to carry out regular weighing and try not to go beyond what is permitted. By the 23rd week of pregnancy, you could normally gain 5-7 extra pounds. If your gain exceeds this figure, then consult your doctor regarding weight correction.
A woman's pregnancy lasts about 6 months. More than half of the way has already been covered ...
The second trimester continues. A few more weeks - and the third, final stage of the "interesting position" will begin in a woman's life, after which she will be able to pick up the long-awaited baby.
Fruit size
At 23 weeks gestation, the length of the baby is about 26-28 cm. Its size can be compared to a vegetable marrow.
Crumbs weight
The weight of the fetus at this time is about 450-470 g.
Fetal development at 23 weeks gestation
The lungs are gradually ripening, the rest of the organs and systems have already formed, now they continue to grow in complexity and improve. So, the activity of the brain at 23 weeks, as shown by special devices, is similar to the activity of the brain of newborns. Moreover, experts believe that babies at this time can already dream. Many even argue that the dreams of the fetus are "combined" with the dreams of the woman, that is, the unborn child sees the same thing as his mother.
Palpitations
At 23 weeks, the baby's heartbeat is quite distinct. This allows the doctor to listen to extraneous noises and evaluate short sounds (tones) that occur when the heart is working. Muffled sounds or irregular heart rates (still 140–160 beats per minute) may indicate fetal hypoxia during pregnancy.
What does a fetus look like at 23 weeks of gestation
Your formerly very thin baby is gaining weight - from the 23rd week, an active increase in the subcutaneous fat layer of the baby begins. So now a woman should eat very well, but in no case overeat (children whose mothers during the "interesting situation" typed excess weight are more prone to obesity and the development of cardiovascular disease). The child, when not sleeping, constantly moves in the mother's stomach, now his movements are becoming clearer and more coordinated.
Body changes and new sensations of a woman
At the end of the second trimester, a woman may face such an unpleasant phenomenon as symphysitis during pregnancy. Its symptoms can be as follows: severe swelling in the symphysis (pubis), pain in the groin, pubic bone, coccyx, sharp pain when changing the position of the body (it becomes simply impossible to raise a straightened leg in a prone position). Symphysitis is caused by excessive softening of the pubic articulation. In itself, the softening of bone tissue is a completely natural process during the waiting period for the baby. How else can a child be born? After all, he will need to go through the birth canal, while pushing the pelvic bones apart without harm to himself and the mother.
What to do if pubis hurts? Keep your weight under control - obesity increases the load on the pubic bone. If you have pain while lying down, reduce the pressure on your hip joint by placing pillows under your buttocks and legs. Include in your diet foods containing calcium (one of the causes of symphysitis is the lack of this trace element in the body). Wear a bandage, do physical therapy for pregnant women, and be sure to tell your doctor about your discomfort.
Weight gain
Doctors do not recommend adding more than the 300 g per week put on this rock. The total weight gain by the end of 23 weeks for women of normal physique is just over 7 kg. Find pregnancy weight calculator here.
Mom's belly
By this time, the uterus is at a height of 24 cm above the pubic bone (approximately at the level of the navel). She continues to grow and build up muscles, which is reflected in the size of the abdomen, which can no longer be hidden by either a light dress or a loose-fitting blouse.
Mom at 23 weeks feels her baby more and more clearly. Sometimes the baby's movements hurt her. In this case, doctors advise to change the position of the body. If too active, painful tremors of the fetus do not go away for a long time, you should consult a doctor - this may indicate that the child does not have enough oxygen. This phenomenon is called "hypoxia during pregnancy."
Analyzes and ultrasound
All tests have already been completed in the previous weeks. Now a woman can breathe calmly and relax. Ultrasound at 23 weeks of gestation is also not performed in the absence of special indications.
Nutrition at 23 weeks gestation
Probably by the 6th month you are already accustomed to high-quality foods (you get used to good foods quickly, and the situation requires that nutrition during pregnancy be balanced and healthy), enriched your diet with cottage cheese, milk, vegetables, fruits and gave up junk food (for example, fast food). It is high time to limit the intake of salt - it contributes to sodium retention in the body, and therefore, is the cause of edema. But it is also impossible to completely abandon salt (this can reduce appetite and even disrupt some biochemical processes in the body) - just give your preference to iodized salt or sea salt.
Vitamins and minerals
The sea salt mentioned above contains such an essential element as iodine. It is from iodine during pregnancy that the production of thyroid hormones depends. These hormones play an essential role in the formation of the skeleton, they are also necessary for the mental development of the fetus. A woman with a lack of iodine may also feel uncomfortable: her skin becomes dry, her nails are brittle, and her hair is thin. In addition to sea salt, iodine is found in seaweed, seafood and dried figs.
Sex at 23 weeks pregnant
It is known that many men find pregnant women very erotic. And for a reason: during the "interesting position", especially in the second trimester, a woman's need for sex against the background of hormonal changes increases significantly. There is no need to be afraid of your increased desire and give up intimacy. Yes, an orgasm can provoke a slight contraction of the muscles of the uterus (if there are medical contraindications, you still need to refuse the physical expression of love), but, on the other hand, it does not allow the genital organ to completely relax and thus prepares it for the process of "pushing" the fetus from the body of a pregnant woman.
Lifestyle
Many researchers believe that a child is not born with a blank slate. Of course, he is not yet a person, but already a person. And mom, starting from the 23rd week of pregnancy, and maybe even earlier, should establish a "feedback" with him. It is known that the fetus reacts to warmth, gentle touches (often stroke your tummy), he hears his mother’s voice (you can sing him a lullaby), sounds from the outside (put the child on CDs with beautiful melodies). At this moment, the baby's facial expressions expresses pleasure, a smile appears on his face, he feels that he is loved and is no longer afraid to be born and become a part of a new world for him.
Beauty and accessories
Are you afraid that pregnancy can take away your beauty? This is not true! Yes, the body of the expectant mother changes while waiting for the baby, but if you lead a healthy lifestyle, eat right, the hormonal storm will only improve your appearance... Many mothers-to-be note that their hair has become thicker, their cheeks are full of blush, their breasts have increased, and their libido has increased. So, the sex symbol of the XX century Sophia Loren claims that during pregnancy she felt much more attractive than at any other time. In her book Women and Beauty, the great Italian writes: "In my opinion, nothing makes a woman more beautiful than pregnancy, when she takes on a regal, independent look." And he gives advice to women: “Because of the belly, pedicure is difficult to do, put it off for the future. But pay Special attention fingernails: file them, clean, rub cream into the holes. I painted my nails in different colors that I usually don't use. It amused me and cheered me up. "
