Pregnant in week 23
In week 23 your baby is the size of a mango. Hearing is now so developed that your baby can recognise your voice and react to sounds – especially low tones. Braxton Hicks contractions – short, painless practice contractions – may start to be felt.
Your baby in week 23
Your baby measures around 29 centimetres and weighs about 500 grams. The skin is still reddish and wrinkled, because fat is still lacking beneath it, but that changes in the coming weeks.
Hearing is now well developed, and your baby can recognise your voice, your heartbeat and familiar sounds. Loud, sudden noises can make it startle. The lungs practise by drawing amniotic fluid in and out.
The blood vessels that will later oxygenate the body through the lungs are forming, and your baby begins to have more regular periods of sleep and wakefulness.
Your body and symptoms in week 23
Many begin to feel Braxton Hicks contractions – short, irregular tightenings where the belly briefly hardens. They are painless, harmless and your body's way of practising for birth.
The bump is large and heavy enough that your back and pelvis may begin to protest. Some get pelvic girdle pain, where the joints of the pelvis loosen from the pregnancy hormones and cause soreness around the pubic bone and lower back.
You may experience a feeling of warmth, increased sweating and swollen feet. Make sure to keep cool, drink plenty and rest when your body asks for it.
Good advice for week 23
Tell practice and real contractions apart
Braxton Hicks are short, irregular and painless and disappear when you change position. Regular, increasing and painful contractions, however, should be assessed.
Protect your pelvis
For pelvic girdle pain it helps to keep your legs together, avoid heavy lifting and uneven loads, and possibly use a pelvic support belt. A physiotherapist can advise.
Keep cool
The large blood volume brings warmth. Loose clothing, cool drinks and breaks in the shade make hot days more comfortable.
Book 3D/4D in good time
If you want to see your baby's face in 3D, the window from weeks 25 to 33 is best, with week 28 optimal. Popular times book up quickly.
Checklists for this stage
Tick things off as you go – the list remembers where you got to, and you can share it with your partner.
Relevant with us in week 23
This is what we can offer you at this point in your pregnancy.
Frequently asked questions in week 23
What are Braxton Hicks contractions?
They are practice contractions where the uterus briefly tightens and hardens. They are painless and irregular and prepare your body for the real birth.
What are the chances if my baby is born early now?
From around weeks 22-24 there is an emerging chance of survival with intensive care, but the risk of complications is high. Each additional week increases the chances markedly.
Why does my pubic bone hurt?
It can be pelvic girdle pain, where the hormone relaxin softens the pelvic joints. It is harmless to your baby but can be painful – a physiotherapist can help with exercises and relief.
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Read on in week 23
Gender scan – when can you see the sex? Everything you need to know (2026)
Feeling life – when and how do you feel the first fetal movements?
