23 weeks

Things have been running smoothly lately. We have been busy cleaning the house and getting things moved around so that the new baby things will be organized. It's amazing how much junk can be in a basement, even when you think it's actually clean. Our next big project will be new flooring on the main floor. Until we are ready for the flooring we are enjoying the last 3 months of just the 2 of us.

Your Baby in Week 23 of Pregnancy

Your little doll-sized babe is about to chub up a bit. Its saggy skin will start to fit his frame as fat deposits fill things out. Beginning this week, it'll start to pack on the pounds (which means you will too!) and by month's end it'll be double the weight he is now (though you won't be — whew!). Right now, your baby's organs and bones are visible through its skin, which has a red hue due to developing veins and arteries beneath. But once those fat deposits settle in, it'll become less transparent.

Week 23 Pregnancy Symptoms

Fetal activity: You may be getting used to feeling your baby’s movements in the womb. Cherish these light kicks now before they get more pronounced (and painful) and before your little mover and shaker gets a foot caught in your ribs! This kid is kicking up a storm and loves my yelling at sporting events, whether it's on TV or at a Birch kid event, this kid loves sports (mainly football, soccer and volleyball).

Hearty appetite: It’s perfectly normal to find yourself wanting to devour the contents of your kitchen cabinets and fridge (you have a growing baby to feed!). So try to stock your home with healthy snacks such as fruit, cut-up veggies, nuts, and whole-wheat crackers. It's amazing how much I can eat now. It was just a short time ago when I didn't want to see any food in front of me.

Bloating: If you can’t seem to shake that ate-too-much feeling, you’re experiencing the effects of progesterone. The hormone causes the gastrointestinal tract to relax and slow down digestion, so that the nutrients from the foods you eat have more time to enter your bloodstream and reach your baby. Help keep things moving through your system (and out of your already bulging belly) by drinking plenty of water. This has only happened a few times. Just a good night's sleep and I was back to normal.

Forgetfulness: Are you consistently forgetting your keys, appointments, and where you parked the car? “Pregnancy brain” is likely caused by those pesky pregnancy hormones — and since it’s completely normal (and temporary), try to laugh it off and refrain from being too hard on yourself. This hasn't kicked in just yet, small signs every now and then.

Snoring: This fairly common (and annoying) pregnancy symptom can disrupt your sleep and your partner’s. Partly due to nasal congestion (caused by extra weight and swollen mucous membranes in your nose), you can alleviate the nighttime nasal noises by wearing a nasal strip at bedtime and running a warm-mist humidifier in your bedroom. I've been waking up congested but I'll have to check with Scott on the snoring.

Tingling hands (carpal tunnel): Swelling during pregnancy can put pressure on nerves in the wrists and cause the aching and tingling associated with carpal tunnel syndrome. If you work at a computer all day, take frequent hand-stretching breaks and make sure your wrists are straight and your elbows aren't higher than your hands when you’re at your desk. This has been going on for a few weeks. It will wake me up in the middle of the night and then i readjust my arms and go back to sleep.

Bleeding gums: Reduce irritation to your gums (which are swelling more than usual these days due to hormones), by avoiding chewy sweets, brushing and flossing regularly, and visiting the dentist at least once while you’re expecting. I haven't noticed this too much, need to get a dentist appointment.