WEEK TWENTY-THREE

WEEK TWENTY-THREE

Did you feel that? Baby is starting to do interesting things in your womb
now.

The development of baby

• Baby’s eyes can open and close
• Baby may start hiccupping
• Baby weights about one pound and nine ounces

The development of mom

• Skin color changes continue
• Ear stuffiness is possible
• Increased digestive issues
• Whitish vaginal discharge

What baby is feeling

• Since baby’s eyes are nearly developed, it will respond to bright lights
that are shone onto the womb

What mom is feeling

• You might start feeling like you’re running out of time to be ready to
be a mom. To cope with this, talk with your partner and start projects
like getting together a baby shower or working on decorating the
nursery.

Special needs for the week

• You may want to consider writing up a birthing plan. This is a detailed
list of all of the things that you want (or don’t want) during the
delivery day.
Special concerns for the week
• You might want to start asking your doctor about the available pain
medications that you can be given during birth. Talk about their side
effects and how they are administered.

Special tip for mom

• Now is a good time to work on those baby-pushing muscles with Kegel
exercises. Pretend like you are holding in a stream of urine and then
release. Repeat whenever you can.