Week 23

Your body is continuing to expand and stretch to accommodate the growth of your baby.¹ If you’re feeling particularly uncomfortable, or are experiencing any pain and discomfort, you should speak to your healthcare provider for support and advice.

• Bloating
• Pelvic girdle pain and back ache
• Bleeding gums
• Oedema (swelling, particularly hands and ankles)
• Tingling hands or carpal tunnel syndrome
• Increased appetite
• Nasal congestion and snoring
• Foetal movement

Your baby is about to double in size over the coming months. Currently measuring approximately 27.9 cm and weighing around half a kilogram, you may start to see a big difference in the next few weeks as they continue to grow rapidly.¹

• Consistently taking folic acid is recommended,² or if you haven’t already, consider taking a prenatal supplement that has the recommended amounts of vitamin A and D, iron and calcium³ which will also help support your oral health⁴
• Book your routine dental check up to help support your oral health during pregnancy⁴
• Staying active and keeping a healthy weight can help support overall health⁵
• Try to avoid alcohol consumption and smoking – both are known as risk factors for miscarriage^6,7
• Nourish your body with pregnancy-safe foods. Try to avoid foods high in mercury, such as mackerel and tuna, raw seafood, undercooked meat, poultry and eggs, unpasteurised foods and cheese with a mould rind such as brie, unwashed fruits and vegetables, and any type of herbal tea⁸
• Limit caffeine consumption to no more than 200 mg per day⁹
  As a guide:    
  1 mug of coffee contains 100 mg of caffeine    
  1 mug of tea contains 75 mg of caffeine    
  1 can of cola contains up to 40 mg of caffeine    
  1 bar of chocolate contains up to 50 mg of caffeine