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23 Weeks Pregnant: Your Baby, Your Body and What to Do
Your baby can hear your voice, and the lungs are preparing for breathing.
Before you use this guide: Pregnancy weeks are counted from the first day of your last period. Sizes are rough averages, and healthy babies vary. This is general information, not an individual medical assessment, so please confirm personal health decisions with your doctor or midwife.
How your baby is growing
Your baby's hearing is improving. Your voice, your heartbeat, the sounds of your digestion and loud noises outside can all reach your baby. Babies often respond to sudden loud sounds by moving.
In the lungs, the airways are branching and your baby practises breathing movements with amniotic fluid. The cells that make surfactant, which helps the lungs open after birth, are starting to develop.
How you may be feeling
Your bump is growing steadily. You may have backache, shortness of breath as your womb pushes up towards your diaphragm, and swelling in your ankles. Some people have more vivid dreams or begin to snore.
Your to-do list for week 23
- Talk, sing or read to your baby if you like. It is a lovely way to bond, even though there is no evidence it makes babies cleverer.
- Find a comfortable sleeping position, such as on your side with pillows.
- Check what maternity leave and pay you are entitled to, and share your plans with your workplace when you are ready.
- Practise slow, deep breathing. It helps with relaxation now and during labour later.
When to ask for help
Go to every antenatal appointment, and tell your midwife about severe headaches, bleeding, or any worries about your baby's movements.
For heavy bleeding, severe pain, fluid leaking, a severe headache with vision changes, or a baby who is moving less than usual, do not wait for your next appointment. Contact your midwife, doctor or maternity unit straight away. Our guide to pregnancy warning signs has more detail.
Not sure which week you are in? Use the due-date calculator to estimate your due date and current week.
Useful at this stage: pregnancy weight gain calculator and baby shower planner.
Trusted resources to read next
These public health resources provide additional information. Guidance can vary by country, so prioritise advice from your own care team and local health service.
- NHS: Pregnancy — Pregnancy care, common symptoms, screening and complications.
- NHS: Week-by-week pregnancy guide — Pregnancy development and care by week.
This content is for general information only and is not medical advice. Every pregnancy and every baby is different. Always talk to your doctor, midwife or paediatrician about your own situation, and seek urgent care if you are worried.