23rd Week Growth...

How your baby's growing: Your baby is more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound. His skin is red and wrinkled. Blood vessels in his lungs are developing to prepare him for breathing. He can swallow, but he normally won't pass his first stool (called meconium) until after birth. Loud noises heard often in utero — such as your dog barking or the roar of a vacuum cleaner — probably won't faze your baby when he hears them outside the womb.
By week 23, your baby is taking on the shape of a full-term baby — but her bones and organs are still visible beneath a thin layer of translucent skin.
Although your baby continues to add fat to her body, she still looks wrinkly. This happens because Baby's skin develops more quickly than fat accumulates. However, she continues to grow, and by the end of the week will measure about eight to nine inches long.
Here are other developments this week:
*She'll begin moving around more than ever, stretching and flexing the muscles in her arms and legs, fingers and toes.
*Skin pigment is being deposited this week to create your baby's skin tone.
The end of this week is an important milestone: Your one-pounder would have a good chance of survival if born now--about 85 percent if given the right care. His body is well proportioned, although lacking in body fat, and the blood vessels in his lungs are developing to prepare for breathing. About 50 percent of "early preemies" experience complications ranging from eye problems to intracranial hemorrhage (spontaneous bleeding in the brain); the rate drops steadily from the 24th week onward.

How your life's changing:
If you dealt with headaches in your first trimester, they might be subsiding now. (Many women have headaches in early pregnancy, thanks to pregnancy hormones, changes in circulation, and/or sinus congestion.)You may notice some mild swelling sometime during your pregnancy, especially in your ankles and feet. It's called edema, and it happens because changes in your blood chemistry cause fluid to shift into your tissue and because your enlarging uterus puts pressure on the veins returning blood from the lower half of your body, slowing circulation in your legs. Edema is often worse at the end of the day and in the summer. Your body will eliminate the extra fluid after you have your baby (which is why you may urinate often and sweat a lot for a few days after delivery). In the meantime, put your feet up when you can, stretch out your legs when you sit, avoid sitting still for long periods, exercise regularly to increase circulation, and wear support stockings (put them on first thing in the morning). You may be tempted to skimp on liquids, but you need to drink plenty of water, because keeping hydrated actually helps prevent swelling. If you notice severe or sudden swelling in your hands and face, be sure to call your midwife or doctor because it may be a sign of a serious condition called preeclampsia.
As your uterus gets larger, it rests on top of the bladder, increasing your need to urinate frequently. At the same time, the growing uterus may trigger more back pain, pelvic pressure, leg cramps and headaches as you approach the end of your second trimester.
Some of this discomfort may affect how well you sleep. The closer you get to your delivery date, the more wakeful you may become. Anxiety, frequent urination, heartburn, and general discomfort may result in restless nights. Try to remember that this uneasiness will most likely stop once Baby arrives.
As the growing fetus commandeers more and more of the nutrients passing through your body, you'll have an increased need for vitamins and minerals. In addition to a prenatal supplement, in the second half of your pregnancy your health-care provider may prescribe iron supplements to bolster your iron stores and reduce the risk of iron-deficiency anemia. Symptoms of pregnancy-related anemia include excessive fatigue, weakness, shortness of breath, and dizziness. Contact your doctor right away if you feel any of these during the second or third trimester. While anemia won't harm the baby, it can really do a number on you.