Week 23 Size: Grapefruit
About the size of a grapefruit.
Relative Visual Scale
Solid circle represents your baby's size. Dotted circle shows the full-term week 40 size threshold.
Baby's Development
The baby's lungs are preparing to breathe by producing surfactant, a substance that helps the air sacs inflate easily. Blood vessels in the lungs are developing to support breathing.
Weekly Milestones
- ✦ Lung Surfactant Production
- ✦ Fetal Weight Reaches 500g
Your Body & Symptoms
You may experience swollen gums and nosebleeds. You may also start to notice your ankles and feet swelling more, especially at the end of the day.
Common Symptoms this Week
Doctor & Care Recommendations
- ✓ Avoid sleeping on your back, as it compresses the vena cava and reduces blood flow.
- ✓ Limit sodium intake and drink water to reduce swelling.
- ✓ Sleep with your head elevated if you start snoring.
PregWeeks
CHECKLISTUltimate Hospital Bag & Birth Plan
Print-Ready PDFThe Ultimate Hospital Bag Checklist & Birth Plan PDF
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Weekly Health Guides & Resources
Second Trimester Guide
Read comprehensive clinical milestones, screening checklists, and developmental guidelines for this phase.
Track & Relieve Symptoms
Learn why symptoms occur, home remedies, and clinical indicators for this week:
Food Safety Checklists
Verify safety statuses, listeria and mercury risks, and safe alternatives for:
Frequently Asked Questions: Week 23
Evidence-Based Clinical Sources for Week 23
PregWeeks is dedicated to medical transparency. Every milestone, symptom tip, and fetal development guideline for Week 23 is sourced directly from clinical guidelines published by leading obstetric authorities. Read more about our editorial methodology on our Medical Sources page.
Prenatal Diagnostic Testing for Genetic Disorders (Practice Bulletin No. 162)
ACOGClinical recommendations for mid-pregnancy screening options, including the anatomy ultrasound scan commonly scheduled between weeks 18 and 22.
View Clinical Guideline ↗Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (Practice Bulletin No. 190)
ACOGPractice standards for screening and diagnosing gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), typically scheduled between weeks 24 and 28.
View Clinical Guideline ↗Implementing a Gestational Diabetes Screening Protocol (Committee Opinion No. 798)
ACOGStandardized protocols for glucose screening tests to detect gestational diabetes and optimize maternal-fetal metabolic health.
View Clinical Guideline ↗Get weekly pregnancy updates
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