Week 23: Getting ready to breathe

Your baby — around the size of an orange — is doing important lung work this week, developing the specialised cells that make surfactant, the substance that will let their lungs expand with their first breaths. Their inner ear is fully formed now, so their sense of balance is established along with their hearing.

All that extra blood flow can bring a few quirks: the odd nosebleed, bleeding gums when you brush, and sometimes tingling or numb hands (carpal tunnel) from fluid retention. You might also just feel warmer than usual as your metabolism runs hot.

A few small fixes: for a nosebleed, sit upright and pinch the soft part of your nose for ten minutes; a soft toothbrush and gentle flossing help tender gums; and if carpal tunnel bothers you at night, wrist splints can ease it.

It’s a good week to tune in to your baby’s movements as they grow stronger and more regular — there’s no magic number to count, but it helps to get a feel for their usual busy and quiet times. If that pattern ever changes or slows, call your maternity unit straight away; it’s always worth checking, and never a bother. And keep up the small habits that pay off now: gentle movement for your circulation, your daily pelvic floor exercises, and plenty of water.

Feeling warmer than everyone else and a bit puffy is par for the course now, as your blood volume peaks and your metabolism runs hot. Keep your fluids up, dress in layers you can shed, and put your feet up when you can. If swelling is sudden or severe — especially in your face and hands, with a headache or vision changes — that needs a prompt call, as it can signal raised blood pressure.

Coming up soon is screening for gestational diabetes, which in Australia is offered to everyone between weeks 24 and 28 and is Medicare-rebatable — your provider will let you know when to book.