Information About 23 Weeks of Pregnancy

You are twenty-three weeks pregnant now. If you are having a boy, you and your partner may be trying to decide if you will want to have your son circumcised. There are many reasons why parents choose to circumcise or not circumcise their son. The American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend routine infant circumcision, but rather, they leave the decision up to the parents. In this week’s newsletter we are going to give you some information about circumcision. We will hopefully answer your questions and give you some basic information on how to care for your baby’s penis, circumcised or uncircumcised.

Baby’s Development

The baby is constantly growing and progressively gaining weight. The baby should be about a pound by now. It may not seem like a lot but babies are only born up to 8 to 10 pounds. It is perfectly normal for the baby to only be a bout a pound at this week in pregnancy. The baby should measure in at 11.4 inches. Each baby will develop differently, so if a friend says her baby weighed more at this stage, keep in mind that every pregnancy is different.

By now the baby will look like a newborn and if you are lucky enough to see a 3D sonogram image, it will change your life. The baby fat is starting to form at a very fast rate. The skin is starting to develop and gone is the transparent skin. The baby will continue to move more frequently, this is the best time of pregnancy when you can feel the baby moving around. You may see the baby suck his or her thumb on an ultrasound, it is not a coincidence, and the baby can suck their thumbs now.

The baby can now touch the umbilical cord and their own body parts in the womb. The baby will still swallow the amniotic fluid and it is dispelled as urine. The baby will be taking in more liquids and sugars as supplements. The baby can hear just about anything outside the womb. It is truly an amazing time in your pregnancy. The baby’s pancreas is developing and it has started to provide their body insulin. The lungs are developing and the baby is getting ready for breathing from the lungs.

Changes With Your Body

At 23 weeks pregnant your baby is capable of hearing noises outside the womb. Encourage your partner to talk to your baby during this time so your baby gets used to the sound of their voice. While this may seem unusually your partner will be rewarded when your little one instinctively turns toward the sound of their voice shortly after delivery.

You may also notice that your baby moves around a bit more when you are in a loud environment or when say you are vacuuming or engaging in other loud tasks. By pregnancy week 23 your baby’s middle ear is developing. At 23 weeks pregnant if for some reason your baby were born there is a small chance your baby would survive. It is much better however that your baby stay put for many more weeks to complete her development. Generally premature infants born between 23 and 24 weeks pregnancy have a survival rate between 10 and 70% that of a full term infant. Many factors need to be taken into consideration. Modern technology however has saved babies even as small as one pound so take heart heaven forbid you do deliver your baby early.

What To Expect

You will have had some many changes to your body and your mental state at this week in pregnancy and you are only half way through it. Don’t worry, these changes are temporary and they will all disappear after the baby is born. The best way you handle these aches, pains and emotional changes is by having a positive attitude. If you start feeling down, call someone and get together for lunch and go shopping. Having someone else to talk to will help you greatly.

If you have started to eat better, this may be something that you may want to continue on a regular basis. Stay on track by exercising and getting plenty of sleep. Start to shop for cribs, playpens, car seats and clothes. It always brightens your mood when you start getting ready for the end of the pregnancy. Make sure that you are going to doctor appointments and you are following all of the doctors’ orders.

It is important to maintain good hygiene as well. If you sweat excessively, take cool or warm showers. Hot baths are not good for the baby. Make sure that you have your blood pressure and urine checked very time you go to the doctor. This will help keep you updated on your health and the health of the baby.

Care of Your Baby’s Penis

Caring For The Circumcised Penis

After your baby is circumcised, the tip of your baby’s penis look raw or yellowish. The tip of his penis may be covered with a gauze pad. The dressing should be changed at every diapering to avoid infection. Petroleum jelly may be used to keep the dressing from sticking. Whether or not petroleum jelly should be used will depend on which method of circumcision was performed on your baby. You should receive instructions for proper care of your baby’s penis. Ask if you are not sure. Problems after a circumcision are rare, however, you should call your doctor right away if you notice any signs of infection such as redness, swelling, or foul smelling discharge or if your baby has problems urinating. Once the penis heals there is no special care required.

Care For The Uncircumcised Penis

There is no special care required for an uncircumcised penis. A simple wash with soap and water is all that is necessary. You should not retract the foreskin in order to wash underneath it. The foreskin and glans (the area underneath the foreskin) will separate as your child grows. Until this happens, do not pull back or try to forcibly retract the foreskin. Retracting the foreskin can cause tearing, scarring, or damage your son’s penis. It also can be painful. Once he is older and can retract the foreskin himself, he will want to gently retract the foreskin and rinse underneath, whenever he bathes.

Tips

Enjoy the last three months and a few weeks of your pregnancy. Some women enjoy it from day one and others go through such a tough first trimester that it is tough to enjoy. But soon after the morning sickness subsides, you really have to take the time to enjoy it. Motherhood is a blessing and you shouldn’t take it for granted.