Another week into my pregnancy journey, and now I’m starting to feel the size of a small house. At week 22 my tummy is stretching even more to accommodate my growing bundle, and my baby is making itself known more and more with those turns, flips and tiny punches.
With an increasingly chubby baby growing inside my womb, my body is continuing to make little sacrifices to look after them.
Here are the pregnancy symptoms for week 23:
Some of the changes that occur during this stage of pregnancy can feel a little uncomfortable and embarrassing for first-time mums, but remember this is all completely natural. Some mums go up a whole shoe size in pregnancy, so if your ankles and feet start to swell, treat yourself to a comfortable pair of new flat shoes.
Through any troublesome symptoms I’m experiencing, I remember that my baby's cheeks are getting chubbier (ready for cuddles and kisses!). My baby’s length now is around 29cm, and their skin, hair and nails are well on their way. With both lips and a tongue, some babies even start sucking their thumb in the womb. Their sense of smell, sight and hearing are all developing nicely – they even start reacting to the sound of their mother’s voice!
It’s often claimed that babies like to listen to soothing classical music in the womb so it might be time to introduce my baby to a little Mozart! Make sure you take plenty of breaks for yourself too so that you can stretch your achy back and legs, and try using soothing baths and footstools to reduce any swelling and pain. This is also the perfect time to start doing some daily pelvic floor exercises. During pregnancy, pelvic muscles can become weakened, meaning that a laugh or a sneeze could make me pee a little! These simple exercises are small and discrete, so I can give them a go at home in front of the TV.
