Our Baby Journey23 weeks pregnant
23 weeks pregnant is about 5½ months. It falls in the sixth month of pregnancy. You are in week 23 of 40, in the second trimester. Here is what is happening with your baby and your body this week.
Your baby is about the size of a grapefruit.
Length: about 28.9 cm (11.4 in) from crown to heel · Weight: about 500 g (1.1 lb)
Your baby at 23 weeks
The lungs are developing the structures needed for breathing. The baby may respond to loud sounds.
Your baby's lungs are entering an important phase. Tiny blood vessels are growing around the developing airways, and cells that will later make surfactant are appearing. Surfactant is the substance that keeps the air sacs from collapsing with each breath, and the lungs will keep producing more of it over the coming weeks.
Hearing continues to develop. Your baby can likely detect your heartbeat, the sounds of your digestion, and your voice, which is carried both through the air and through your body. Sudden loud noises outside may make your baby startle or move.
Your baby is also putting on weight more quickly now, and blood vessels visible through the thin skin give it a reddish-pink color. Rapid eye movements have been seen on ultrasound around this time, a sign of increasingly organized brain activity.
Your body at 23 weeks
You may have Braxton Hicks contractions — irregular, usually painless tightening of the belly.
Braxton Hicks contractions are your uterus practicing for labor. They may feel like your belly tightening and hardening for less than a minute, then relaxing. They tend to be irregular, do not get closer together, and often settle with rest, a change of position, or a drink of water. Some people notice them more after activity, sex, or when the bladder is full. Your growing uterus also continues to shift your center of gravity, which can lead to backache and make you feel less steady on your feet.
Your belly at week 23
In month 6 (weeks 23–27) your bump keeps growing forward and upward, and the top of the uterus is now above your belly button. Fundal height is usually around 23–27 cm, close to the number of weeks.
Belly size and shape vary a lot depending on your build, whether this is your first pregnancy, your baby's position and the amount of amniotic fluid. At checkups your doctor or midwife may measure your fundal height to track your baby's growth, and may arrange an ultrasound if the measurement is quite different from what they expect.
Symptoms at 23 weeks pregnant
- Brief, irregular tightening of the belly (Braxton Hicks)
- Backache and pelvic pressure
- Swelling in the ankles, especially in warm weather
- Increased appetite
- Needing to urinate more often again
- Snoring or a stuffy nose
Checkups around week 23
Routine prenatal visits commonly continue about every four weeks. Some providers begin discussing the glucose screening test for gestational diabetes, which is often done between 24 and 28 weeks. Timing and which tests are offered vary by country and by your individual risk factors.
Tips for week 23
- Learn the difference between Braxton Hicks and real labor contractions.
- Drink water — dehydration can trigger Braxton Hicks.
- Call your provider if contractions become regular or painful.
Common symptoms in the second trimester
The second trimester runs from week 14 to week 27. Nausea often eases, energy returns, your bump starts to show, and you will begin to feel your baby move. Not everyone has every symptom, and it is normal for symptoms to come and go. Common ones include:
- A growing bump and weight gain
- First baby movements, usually felt between weeks 16 and 25
- Round ligament pain (sharp pains low in the belly or groin)
- Heartburn and indigestion
- Back ache
- A blocked nose or nosebleeds
- Leg cramps
- Skin changes such as a dark line on the belly or darker patches on the face
Read the full second trimester guide.
When to call your doctor or midwife
Contact your healthcare provider or maternity unit straight away, or get emergency care, if you have:
- Vaginal bleeding
- Severe or persistent abdominal pain or cramping
- A severe headache, blurred vision, or sudden swelling of your face, hands or feet
- A fever of 38°C (100.4°F) or higher
- Fluid leaking from your vagina
- Severe vomiting where you cannot keep fluids down
- Your baby moving less than usual or a change in their pattern of movements (later in pregnancy)
- Regular contractions before 37 weeks
- Pain or burning when you urinate
- Feeling very low, anxious, or having thoughts of harming yourself
Have a question about week 23?
Ask our AI pregnancy assistant about symptoms, nutrition, scans or anything else on your mind this week.
Frequently asked questions
How big is my baby at 23 weeks pregnant?
At 23 weeks pregnant, your baby is about the size of a grapefruit. That is about 28.9 cm (11.4 in) from crown to heel, weighing about 500 g (1.1 lb).
How big is my belly at week 23 of pregnancy?
In month 6 (weeks 23–27) your bump keeps growing forward and upward, and the top of the uterus is now above your belly button. Fundal height is usually around 23–27 cm, close to the number of weeks. Bump size, shape and when you start to show vary a lot from person to person.
What do Braxton Hicks contractions feel like at 23 weeks?
Braxton Hicks usually feel like your whole belly tightening or becoming hard for less than a minute. They are often painless or only mildly uncomfortable, come irregularly, and ease with rest or a change of position. Contact your doctor or midwife right away if the tightenings become regular, painful, or more frequent, or if you have bleeding, fluid leaking, or pressure low in your pelvis, as these can be signs of preterm labor.
Can my baby hear me at 23 weeks?
Your baby's hearing is developing, and by around this stage many babies respond to sounds. Your voice is one of the clearest sounds your baby hears, because it travels through your body as well as through the air. Talking, reading, or singing to your baby is a nice way to bond, and your partner's voice may become familiar too. Very loud environments are worth limiting for your own comfort as well as your baby's.
How much weight should I have gained at 23 weeks?
There is no single right number, because healthy weight gain depends on your weight before pregnancy and whether you are carrying more than one baby. In the second and third trimesters, gain is usually steady and gradual. Your doctor or midwife can tell you what range is recommended for you. Focus on balanced meals, regular activity, and mention any sudden weight gain, especially with swelling, to your provider.
What trimester is 23 weeks pregnant?
Week 23 is in the second trimester, which covers weeks 14 to 27.
How many months is 23 weeks pregnant?
23 weeks pregnant is about 5½ months. It falls in the sixth month of pregnancy. The sixth month covers weeks 23 to 27. Pregnancy is about 40 weeks, or roughly 9 months, counted from the first day of your last period.
This page is general educational information and is not a substitute for advice from your doctor or midwife. Every pregnancy is different, and baby sizes are approximate averages. Last updated 2026-11-07. See our medical disclaimer.