What's happening with your baby at 23 weeks
At 23 weeks, your baby is roughly the length of a grapefruit — about 29 cm from head to heel — and weighs a little over 500 grams. Weight gain is speeding up now as a thin layer of fat starts to build under the skin.
The skin itself is still thin and wrinkled, and blood vessels are visible through it, giving it a reddish tint. That visibility fades over the coming weeks as fat fills in underneath.
Baby is also practicing breathing movements — small rhythmic contractions of the diaphragm — even though there's no air to breathe yet. Hearing continues to sharpen, and loud, sudden noises can now make baby jump or startle.
Is 23 weeks considered viable?
Twenty-three weeks sits right at the edge of what's called viability — the earliest point at which a baby born prematurely has any real chance of survival with intensive neonatal care, and outcomes at this exact stage vary enormously and improve with every additional week. This isn't something to dwell on in a pregnancy that's progressing normally; it's background information, not a forecast.
If you're reading this because you're worried about preterm labor rather than out of general curiosity, that's a conversation to have with your provider directly, not something a week-by-week guide can assess for you.
For the large majority of pregnancies, 23 weeks passes without any of this becoming relevant, and the pregnancy continues toward a full-term birth.
Common symptoms at 23 weeks
Many people start noticing Braxton Hicks contractions around now — a tightening across the belly that comes and goes, usually painless, and different from the regular, intensifying pattern of real labor. They're your uterus practicing, not a sign labor is starting.
Round ligament pain, backache, and mild swelling in your feet and ankles are all common at this stage. Some people also notice itchy skin across the belly as it stretches, and stretch marks may be starting to appear.
Heartburn and leg cramps, especially at night, are also typical. All of these tend to come and go rather than steadily worsen.
What does baby's movement feel like at 23 weeks?
By 23 weeks, most people feel regular kicks, rolls, and jabs, and movements are becoming stronger and easier to identify. You may start to notice patterns — busier at certain times of day, quieter at others.
Hiccups are common too, felt as small, rhythmic twitches rather than the sharper feel of a kick. There's no fixed daily kick count you need to hit at this stage; what matters more is getting familiar with what's normal for your baby.
What to do this week
Start paying attention to your baby's general movement patterns so you'll notice if something changes later on. There's no need to formally count kicks yet at 23 weeks — that usually starts a bit later — but familiarity now helps.
The glucose screening test for gestational diabetes is typically done between 24 and 28 weeks, so this is a good week to ask your provider when yours is scheduled and what to expect.
Side-sleeping, especially on your left, tends to be more comfortable now and is generally recommended for the second half of pregnancy. A pillow between your knees or behind your back can help.
When to call your provider
Call your provider the same day if you notice regular contractions (more than four to six in an hour), new pelvic pressure, low back pain that comes in a rhythmic pattern, or any fluid leakage or bleeding — these can be signs of preterm labor.
Also call for a significant, sustained drop in baby's usual movement, a severe headache that doesn't ease, vision changes, or sudden swelling in your face or hands. It's always reasonable to call if something feels wrong, even if you can't quite describe it.