Pregnancy Facts - Week 23
How big is your baby in week 23 of pregnancy
This week, your baby measures 7.8 inches (19.7 centimeters) and weighs 1.1 pounds (501 grams).
Your baby's development in week 23 of pregnancy
Since your baby began learning to swallow in week 20, the muscles in your baby's jaw has been getting stronger. With each swallow, your baby gulps down a good ol' mouthful of amniotic fluid, baby cheese, pee and poop.
Your baby's not doing it for nourishment; it's only an unfortunate consequence of swallowing practice. When your baby is born, the first few poops will comprise nearly entirely of meconium. It will appear as a tar-like substance that will be dark green, almost black. Actually, it's not unlike a darker version of Nutella.
Now that Nutella has been ruined for you forever (or maybe not, I don't know what you're into and I'm not judging), if you wanted your baby to have a taste in the womb, all you have to do is eat some.
Everything you consume ends up going through your digestive system to the placenta. The placenta has many jobs, one of which is providing nutrients to your baby. The flavors and tastes that make up what you eat seeps through the placenta into the amniotic fluid.
The taste buds on your baby's tongue that began development in week 9 and that connected to the brain in week 20, are now useful. Each time your baby swallows, your baby experiences your meals. Pickles? Your baby will taste the sourness in the fluid. Chocolate? A little something sweet to delight the tongue. Hot wings? You must really hate your baby.
All these flavor experiences are what will shape your baby's taste when out of the womb. Breast milk will have a distinct "mom" flavor that your baby will recognize from the flavored amniotic fluid.
But taste isn't the only sense that your baby is learning about. Your baby's been touching everything in the womb and getting acquainted with the shape of their own face and body parts.
Other things that are developing this week:
- Lips are beginning to fill with color
- The heart is a lot stronger now, pumping blood with a lot more pressure; it should be possible to hear your baby's heartbeat with just a stethoscope
- Fingernails have been growing since week 11, and are now covering the entire fingertip
