Archive for the ‘Pregnancy Week 23’ Category
Pregnancy Calendar Week 23
Your Baby Growth and Development
Your baby weighs over a pound now and is more than 11 inches long.
The body is becoming more and more in proportion as each week passes. The pigment that colors your baby’s skin is being deposited this week. Even though fat is accumulating on your baby’s body, the skin hangs loosely, giving your baby a wrinkled appearance. This happens because the skin is produced more quickly than the fat accumulates. Your baby’s daily workout routine includes moving the muscles in the fingers, toes, arms and legs regularly. As a result, you may feel more forceful movement.
Your baby’s middle ear is developing, they can hear and react to sounds from the outside world. So go ahead, sing a lullaby to your little angel—if they start kicking, it’s likely they just want you to stop… or maybe it was a kick of approval? You decide.
Your baby’s fingernails are almost fully formed and the lanugo (fine hair) that covers his body is getting darker.
Mom during Pregnancy Calendar Week 23
The Braxton Hicks contractions will continue this week. Anxiety, frequent urination, heartburn, leg cramps, and general discomfort can translate into a short night’s sleep for a pregnant woman. Try a warm bath, soothing music, a relaxing book, or a cup of herbal tea to put you in the mood to snooze and some invented pillow designed to give you a better choice sleeping through the night.
At this point in your pregnancy, your uterus sits directly on top of your bladder. This may cause you to leak urine into your panties, especially if you cough, sneeze or laugh.
If you are leaking amniotic fluid, or are not sure whether or not it’s urine, you will need to contact your healthcare provider immediately.
If you want to further reduce the dreaded appearance of pregnancy “cankles” (calf-ankles) try to avoid sitting for long periods of time—and for the hundredth time: don’t forget to stay active! f you choose to buy the (rather spendy) pregnancy pillows they’ve got on the market, make sure you keep the receipt as some women still have problems sleeping and fare better with their own unique pillow collection and set-up.
Many women experience edema, or swelling of the feet and ankles, during pregnancy calendar week 23. Support hose may help relieve your discomfort. However, you should always let your healthcare provider know about this pregnancy symptom. Edema can sometimes be a sign of preeclampsia. Also known as toxemia or pregnancy-induced hypertension, preeclampsia can restrict the growth of the fetus and endanger the health of the expectant mother. Common treatment options include diet, exercise, stress reduction, and medication. Bed rest or early delivery may also be recommended. Plenty of good ol’ fashioned H20 (water) can help reduce swelling in your poor ankles and feet– resulting from the pressure your now over-sized uterus is putting on your pelvic veins, thereby slowing fluid circulation to the lower half of your body.
Common Pregnancy Symptoms in Week 23
• Breast Changes: tenderness, fullness, darkening of the areola
• Frequent Urination
• Constipation
• Heartburn or Indigestion
• Headaches
• Stretch Marks
• Itching
• Round Ligament Pain
• Hemorrhoids
pregnant in week 23 have commonly asked Questions:
Mood Swings during pregnacy?
One of the “joys” of pregnancy that most women experience is mood swings! One minute you can be laughing and then suddenly break into sobs over absolutely nothing. Your mood swings can affect you and those around you,so not only do women experience it, but their partners, other children and family members experience it as well.Read more…
How to fighting the Pregnancy Blahs?
Every pregnant woman has experienced the pregnancy blahs. pregnancy is such a beautiful experience and the fact that you created this little human being that is developing in your body should make you feel wonderful through every step of the way, but those pregnancy blahs kick in!Read more…
Some Risk Factors that Every Pregnant Woman Should be Aware Of?
Though there are some factor beyond your control, here are ten of the most common pregnancy risk factors affect the development of a fetus into a healthy child,that can be controlled or influenced:Read more…
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Some Risk Factors that Every Pregnant Woman Should be Aware Of?
Though there are some factor beyond your control, here are ten of the most common pregnancy risk factors affect the development of a fetus into a healthy child,that can be controlled or influenced:
1. Caffeine – There are many conflicting studies about caffeine and pregnancy and some believe that caffeine is not as harmful as it was once thought to be. Nevertheless, the FDA warns against caffeine consumption during pregnancy and suggests quitting or reducing consumption at the very least. Caffeine has been shown to affect fetal heart rates and awake time (fetuses grow when sleeping). Decaffeinated coffee can also be harmful since producers often add additional chemicals to remove the caffeine. Caffeine can also increase risk of stretch marks. Suddenly quitting coffee intake can cause headaches; so most experts recommend gradually reducing the amount consumed.
2. Alcohol – Drinking can cause fetal alcohol syndrome, including symptoms like low birth weight, medical problems, and behavior abnormalities. As soon as you know you are pregnant, stop drinking. For more detailed information on problems that can be caused by alcohol, visit www.nofas.org.
3. Smoking – Smoking is not only bad for you, but bad for your baby as well. Smoking during pregnancy reduces the amount of oxygen that the baby receives and increases the risk of miscarriage, bleeding, and morning sickness. Chemicals inhaled while smoking may lead to other health problems with the baby. Reduced birth weight, premature birth, increased risk of SIDS, and stillbirth are other possible consequences. Pregnant women should also avoid second hand smoke.
4. Exercise – Moderate exercise is helpful as it improves the mother’s mental state and can increase oxygen flow to the fetus. However, over-exertion can be dangerous. Most experts recommend reducing your exercise intensity during pregnancy. Activities like walking, swimming, and yoga are popular for pregnant women.
5. Prenatal Care – Regular doctor visits are important to your baby’s development. The body undergoes many changes during pregnancy. Some side effects may be completely normal, whereas other may not. Regular monitoring by a professional will help ensure that your baby will be born healthy.
6. Drugs and Herbal Remedies – Always be careful about drugs or herbal remedies that are not prescribed by a doctor. These substances may affect the development of your unborn child.
7. Nutrition – Good nutrition is crucial to a developing child, particularly getting enough folic acid. Lack of folic acid can cause birth defects. At least 400-1000 micrograms of this B vitamin is suggested (about ten times more if you’ve already had a child with neural tube birth defects) starting one month before pregnant and throughout the entire pregnancy. Leafy vegetables, orange juice, and beans are some natural sources of folic acid. Many stores sell vitamins with folic aci! d.
8. Multiple sex partners – Multiple sex partners can increase risk of STD’s, which in turn may lead to birth and pregnancy complications, like low birth weight or premature birth.
9. Exposure to chemicals – During pregnancy, reduce exposure to unnatural chemicals, particularly pesticides in food. Many people now eat organic produce, which is grown without chemicals. The simplest precaution to take before consuming vegetables or fruits is to wash them thoroughly. Also, removing the outer surface of vegetables can be helpful since most pesticides will rest on the outside of the vegetable or fruit.
10. Other factors – Many other factors can affect fetal development, including heart disease, the mother’s age (before 15 years and after 35 years is riskier), asthma, excessive stress or depression, diseases, and bleeding. ! Consult your physician if you are affected by any of these conditions.
How to fighting the Pregnancy Blahs?
Every pregnant woman has experienced the pregnancy blahs. pregnancy is such a beautiful experience and the fact that you created this little human being that is developing in your body should make you feel wonderful through every step of the way, but those pregnancy blahs kick in!
Your stomach is growing, you cannot fit into your normal clothes, you can’t see your feet, you waddle when you walk, your feet and legs are swollen, and other additional physical changes make you feel blah even start to feel bored with the pregnancy and/or feel depressed.
Here are some tips in helping to beat those pregnancy blahs:
1. Buy maternity outfits that will make you feel good. Don’t buy just because they fit you.
2. Eat healthy and get plenty of rest. Choose healthy foods and ensure that your intake is nutritious.
3. Take time out for yourself. Motherhood is just around the corner so take this time to enjoy your independence.
4. Exercise. Even a short walk in the outdoors will uplift your spirits.
5. Make yourself feel attractive by taking the time to groom yourself. Do your hair and put on makeup. We all feel so confident and alive when we look good.
6. Roughly 10 percent of women experience mild or moderate depression during pregnancy. If you feel persistent depression or anxiety, seek professional help.
7. Ensure to include pretty accessories in your daily wardrobe such as nice earrings or a pretty scarf. Most of us raid our spouse’s closet for clothes that we can wear throughout our pregnancy. Lovely accessories even dress up your spouse’s wardrobe.
8. If you start to feel bored with your pregnancy, choose an activity that you will enjoy to help you through the boredom. Many woman will prepare for the baby by going shopping or decorating the nursery. Other woman choose a hobby such as gardening, preparing a scrapbook, writing in a pregnancy journal, etc.
9. Spend quality time with your spouse. Go for a romantic dinner or out to a movie. Enjoy this time because it’s hard to find time after the baby is born.
9 months goes very quickly. Enjoy the wonderful experience of pregnancy each step of the way. There will be a time in our lives when our children have grown up and we wish to live the pregnancy experience all over again.
Mood Swings during pregnacy?
One of the “joys” of pregnancy that most women experience is mood swings! One minute you can be laughing and then suddenly break into sobs over absolutely nothing. Your mood swings can affect you and those around you,so not only do women experience it, but their partners, other children and family members experience it as well.
Mood swings generally start during the first trimester, level off during the second trimester, but tend to come back full force during the third trimester.
Some women are on cloud nine throughout their pregnancies, some women cry, and others start to do things like laugh all the time.Though mood swings during pregnancy are completely normal,if you feel like you aren’t acting normal, or there is something peculiar about your mood swings, be sure to talk to your doctor or midwife about it.
Most of the time, your doctor can prescribe something to help you feel better, and feel more like yourself. In a few cases, the mood swings may actually be masking prenatal depression.