Welcome To Week 23

Your Baby: The Beginning Of Braxton Hicks

Your growing fetus weighs in at around 1 pound (450 g) and measures 8 inches (20 cm) in length. His body is well proportioned, but it still slender, with little fat. He's also sporting new developments from head to toe: his fingernails are almost completely developed; meconium, the baby's first bowel movement, is forming in his intestines; and the lanugo that covers his body is darkening. You're probably feeling a lot of movement and may even notice some early, relatively painless contractions, called Braxton Hicks. Don't worry -- these contractions don't mean you're going into labor, and your baby is unaffected by them.

Your Body: Striations Of Sorts

It is during this part of your pregnancy that there will be no question from physical appearance that you are carrying a baby with you! You are growing and with this growth may come stretch marks. The majority of women that go through a pregnancy will tell you that they got stretch marks on their abdomen. Some women also get stretch marks on their breasts, hips and buttocks. The skin is being stretched by the growth of the baby and enlargement of your breasts in preparation for breastfeeding. Short of putting lotions and oils on the stretch marks during the pregnancy, there is not really anything you can do to prevent them. During your pregnancy they may appear red, brown, or even purple but once the you deliver they will fade and turn a more silvery shade and won't be as noticeable.

On a Different Note: State-Of-The-Art Technology

At this point, you're probably eager to get a peek at your growing baby - and all of his body parts. If you've already had your ultrasound and want to see more, check out this about ultrasound tool, which spotlights the fetus' head, legs and arms, genitals, size, and position, among other things.

Weekly Tip

Take a 20-minute break and treat yourself to a manicure. If pregnancy hormones are doing their job, your nails are strong and shiny - the perfect showcase for a slick of colorful polish. Be daring: You may not get another chance to pamper your nails for a while, so why not paint them bright red or pastel blue?