By week 23 the inner ear is fully formed, which helps your baby sense which way is up as they tumble around.
Your baby this week
- Balance
- The inner ear is formed, giving your baby a sense of movement and position.
- Hearing
- Your baby can hear your voice and heartbeat, and louder sounds outside.
- Skin
- Skin is still thin and see-through, with blood vessels showing.
What you might notice
- Swollen ankles and feet, especially late in the day.
- Snoring or a blocked nose at night.
- Braxton Hicks more often. How to tell them from contractions.
- A dark line down the middle of your belly.
Call your midwife, doctor or maternity unit today if
- Your face, hands or feet swell suddenly, or you have a bad headache or blurred vision
- You have bleeding, fluid leaking, or regular tightenings or period-like cramps
- Once you know your baby's pattern, their movements slow down or change
- You have a fever, or it burns or stings when you pee
Any time of day or night. You will never be a nuisance for calling.
Coming up
Glucose test window.
A good moment to plan your leave and tell your employer if you haven't.
Questions to bring to your next appointment
- Is the swelling I'm getting normal, or should it be checked?
- When is my glucose test, and what do I need to do?
- What should my birth plan include?
For your partner
Talk your baby's name list through, or read aloud at night. Your baby can hear you now.
NUGA follows you week by week
Enter your due date once and NUGA knows you're at week 23. The day before each appointment, it gathers what you've noted and the questions to bring.
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This page draws on public guidance from:
General information, not medical advice. Every pregnancy is different, and your midwife or doctor knows yours. Last updated October 2026.