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Get ready for that "pregnancy brain" at 23 weeks pregnant! This week, it's not uncommon for expectant mothers to feel more absent-minded, forgetful, or just downright ditzy! If you're at the supermarket, you may forget where you parked your car. When talking to friends or family, you may not remember what you were talking about halfway through the conversation. You may become easily distracted and have a difficult time concentrating.
Forgetfulness during pregnancy, commonly called "pregnancy brain," is an annoying, yet normal experience that women experience in their second and third trimesters of pregnancy. Researchers don't know what causes "pregnancy brain," but some believe that hormones play a role.
"Pregnancy brain" has been an issue of debate in the scientific community. Some studies have found evidence of verbal and memory shortfalls during pregnancy, while other research studies have seen no decline in memory between pregnant and non-pregnant women.
Regardless of what science tells you, if you are feeling more forgetful at 23 weeks pregnant, don't be too concerned. You will be back to your old self a few months after your baby is born!
How to Cope with Pregnancy Brain
To cope with pregnancy brain and forgetfulness during pregnancy week 23, you may want to devise strategies to keep yourself organized so that you don't forget important appointments (such as your prenatal visits)! For example, you may want to carry a small notebook with you to jot down reminders, or set up reminders on your phone or PDA.
Are You Having Mixed Emotions at Pregnancy Week 23
At 23 weeks pregnant, your forgetfulness may also be tied to stress and your mixed emotions about your upcoming arrival. If you are a first-time mom, you may worry that you won't be able to be a good parent, or you may be scared about the pain of giving birth. Experienced moms may worry about sibling rivalry and how the other children will react to the new baby.
With everything that you are worried about with this new baby, it's no wonder that you are feeling more forgetful and disorganized these days!
Expect a whirlwind of emotions as your pregnancy week by week continues. All those pregnancy hormones during pregnancy week 23 can wreck havoc on your emotions. You may feel happy and cheerful one second, and you may be sobbing the next. Be sure to warn your husband or partner: "Never mess with a pregnant lady. You won't win!"
Tips for Dealing with Emotional Issues During Pregnancy
To help yourself feel better at 23 weeks pregnant, you may want to share what you are going through with a pregnant friend who is going through the same thing. She will be able to relate to you and you two can share in the joys and miseries of being pregnant.
As you are struggling with these emotional and cognitive issues during pregnancy week 23, your baby continues to grow strong within you! If your mom or sister had stretch marks during her pregnancy, don't be shocked when you notice those unattractive pinkish or purplish streaks on your own belly, breasts, or thighs.
Pregnancy Stretch Marks
Stretch marks are common in pregnancy, especially the second and third trimesters, as your skin is rapidly stretching to accommodate your growing size. In fact, over 50 percent of all expectant mothers will experience stretch marks to some degree during pregnancy.
Though there is not much you can do to prevent stretch marks, especially if you are genetically disposed to getting them, just remember that they will fade in time. Most women see an improvement in their stretch marks within 12 months after delivery.
Weight Gain at Pregnancy Week 23
Keep in mind that your pregnancy weight gain at 23 weeks pregnant for an average sized woman may be anywhere between 12 and 15 pounds! (You should gain less weight if you are overweight, and you should gain a little bit more if you were underweight before your pregnancy.)
At 23 weeks pregnant, your baby is working diligently on maturing. He or she weighs almost one pound now, and is just under 11 inches long - or roughly the size of an infant baby doll.
Although you are only halfway through your pregnancy week by week, if your baby was born this week, he or she has between a 10 and 20 percent chance of survival with the proper neonatal intensive care. With every week that passes that your baby stays in the womb, the better his or her chance of surviving into childhood.
Although you are only halfway through your pregnancy week by week, if your baby was born this week, he or she has between a 10 and 20 percent chance of survival with the proper neonatal intensive care. With every week that passes that your baby stays in the womb, the better his or her chance of surviving into childhood.
At 23 weeks pregnant, your baby's nervous and muscular systems are more developed now than in past weeks. Earlier in your pregnancy week by week, your baby sucked his thumb by accident, but now he can choose to do this.
Your baby's entire body is covered with lanugo (soft, downy covering of hair) at pregnancy week 23. Lanugo is constantly being shed and replaced throughout your pregnancy week by week. It insulates and keeps your baby warm, since he or she does not have a lot of body fat at this point. In the last weeks of your pregnancy, lanugo should be permanently shed and thicker, permanent hair will grow. (However, some babies, such as premature infants, may still have lanugo when they are born).
Now that you are in your second trimester of pregnancy, it won't be long before you start to feel Braxton-Hicks contractions, or false labor pains. At 23 weeks pregnant, you may have already experienced these false contractions. However, these "false" labor pains are more common in the third trimester.
Braxton-Hicks contractions at pregnancy week 23 are usually painless, though some women do feel a bit of pain. It may feel like an irregular tightening of your uterus muscles. The "contractions" come and go, and do not occur at regular intervals. They also will not get closer together as time passes.
Braxton Hicks Contractions VS. True Labor
As your pregnancy week by week continues, Braxton-Hicks contractions will occur more frequently. Although they can be nerve wrecking to feel at 23 weeks pregnant, because you may not be able to tell them apart from true labor pains, just remember that they are your body's way of preparing for your baby's delivery.
At pregnancy week 23, you should learn the difference between true labor contractions and Braxton-Hicks contractions. This will alleviate any of your fears and anxiety.
- Braxton-Hicks contractions are irregular and do not get closer as time passes. On the other hand, true labor contractions come at very regular intervals and last between 30 and 70 seconds. As time passes, they get closer together.
- True labor pains steadily increase in strength with time. Braxton-Hicks contractions are normally weak and don't get stronger. Sometimes, these false labor pains may start out as strong but get weaker with time.
- Braxton-Hicks contractions will sometimes stop when you rest, or even change positions. True contractions will not stop, regardless of changing positions or rest.
- You often feel Braxton-Hicks contractions in the front of your belly or in your pelvic area. True labor contractions start in your lower back and move to the front of the belly.
When to Call Your Doctor
If you think you are experiencing true labor at 23 weeks pregnant or beyond, it's important that you contact your doctor or healthcare provider immediately. Even if you are unsure of whether you are experiencing Braxton-Hicks contractions or true labor, call your doctor anyway. You want to be safe, rather than sorry.
True labor contractions are often painful. They feel like tightening of your uterine muscles, accompanied with discomfort or a dull ache in your lower abdomen. When you're in true labor, you may also feel pressure in your vagina or pelvic area. You may also leak fluid and experience flu-like symptoms (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea) and menstrual-like cramps.
Fortunately, for most women, you will not experience true labor contractions until around 37 weeks pregnant or beyond.
How to Relieve Braxton Hicks Contractions
If your Braxton-Hicks contractions are causing you discomfort at pregnancy week 23, you may want to call your physician, or:
- Get a Massage.
- Take a walk.
- Get some rest, or take a short nap.
- Drink water or tea to relax you
For now, at 23 weeks pregnant, try to take it easy and enjoy the rest of your second trimester!
Read About Your Pregnancy Week by Week - 24 Weeks Pregnant
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