Week 23: Doubling Up

Your baby is about the length of a brinjal now and is preparing for a major growth spurt over the coming month

By Associate Professor TAN Thiam Chye Head & Senior Consultant, Dr TAN Shu Qi Associate Consultant, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, KK Women's and Children's Hospital

What's Happening to Your Baby?

top-down shot of 3 brinjals on a table next to each other

Your beautiful baby is now as long as a brinjal, measuring around 26 to 32cm and weighing between 450 and 550g. Get your back and knees ready — baby's weight will likely double over the next four weeks. The baby's skin is translucent now, which means that you could see all of the organs and blood vessels if you were somehow able to sneak a peek into your womb. Your little dear is also starting to have breathing motions as well.

What's Happening to You?

Dizzy spells that you may experience could be associated with low blood pressure or interference with your blood circulation when you're lying flat on your back. Try sleeping on your side and avoid any exercises that require you to lie flat on your back. If your shoes are feeling tight, you might need to go up a size — time to head to the mall! This could be the result of fluid retention in your ankles, which is fairly common. Occasionally, swollen legs can be associated with high blood pressure in pregnancy so if you have any concerns, do speak to your doctor.

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This article was last reviewed on 28 Jun 2021