You’re past the halfway mark. Honestly, 23 weeks is a weird, wonderful, and slightly terrifying stage of pregnancy where things start feeling very "real." Your baby isn't just a flickering pixel on a screen anymore; they’re a tiny human with a personality that’s starting to show through their movements. When you look at pictures of fetus at 23 weeks pregnant, you’re seeing a person who is just beginning to put on the "baby fat" that makes newborns so squishy.
Right now, your baby is roughly the size of a large mango or maybe a bunch of grapes if you’re looking at length. They weigh about a pound and a half.
It's a huge week.
If you were to see a high-definition 3D ultrasound right now, the first thing you’d notice is the face. It’s fully formed. They have tiny nostrils. They have lips. They even have microscopic tooth buds hiding under their gums, waiting for their debut months after birth. But there’s a catch—they still look a bit wrinkled. Since their skin grows faster than the fat underneath it, they look like a very cute, very small, very translucent old person.
The truth about 2D vs. 3D pictures of fetus at 23 weeks pregnant
Most people walk into their doctor's office expecting those crystal-clear, sepia-toned 3D images they see on Instagram. The reality of a standard 2D anatomy scan is... well, it’s a bit more "ghostly."
A 2D ultrasound at 23 weeks looks like a cross-section of a person. You’ll see the spine—which looks like a beautiful, pearly string of beads—and the four chambers of the heart pumping away. It’s fascinating, but it’s not exactly "photo album" material for most. However, this is the view your sonographer uses to check the blood flow in the umbilical cord and the development of the brain’s ventricles.
✨ Don't miss: Why Do Women Fake Orgasms? The Uncomfortable Truth Most People Ignore
Now, if you opt for a 3D or 4D ultrasound, the pictures of fetus at 23 weeks pregnant change completely. You see the external contours. You see them sucking their thumb or crossing their legs. At this stage, the baby is incredibly active because they still have enough room in the uterus to do literal gymnastics. They aren't cramped yet.
Why the skin looks "red" or "transparent"
If you could see your baby without the barrier of the womb, they would appear quite red or pink. This isn't because they're hot or angry. It's because their skin is still so thin that the underlying blood vessels are visible. They are also covered in a waxy coating called vernix caseosa and fine, downy hair called lanugo.
This hair is basically a "bio-glue" that keeps the vernix stuck to their skin. Without it, their skin would get pickled by the amniotic fluid. Imagine sitting in a bathtub for nine months; you'd need some serious waterproof moisturizer, too.
What’s actually happening inside that 23-week body?
It’s not just about looks. The internal milestones at week 23 are what make this a "viability" milestone for many medical professionals.
- Lungs are practicing: Your baby isn't breathing air, but they are "breathing" amniotic fluid. This helps the lungs expand and develop.
- The inner ear is set: They can hear you. Like, actually hear you. Not just the muffled vibrations of your heartbeat, but your voice, your partner’s voice, and even loud dogs barking.
- Rapid Eye Movement (REM): Their eyes are still fused shut, but they are moving behind the lids. They are dreaming. Think about that—your 23-week-old fetus is already having subconscious experiences.
- The pancreas is working: It's starting to produce insulin, which is vital for processing sugar and growing that much-needed body fat.
The hearing part is particularly cool. Dr. Erica Wang, an OB-GYN, often notes that babies at this stage can develop a "startle reflex" to sudden noises. If you drop a pan in the kitchen, don't be surprised if you feel a sudden "thump" a second later. They're jumping!
🔗 Read more: That Weird Feeling in Knee No Pain: What Your Body Is Actually Trying to Tell You
What you won't see in the pictures
You won't see the complexity of the brain developing. At 23 weeks, the brain is entering a massive growth spurt. The surface, once smooth, is starting to form the grooves and folds that define human intelligence.
You also won't see the "breathing" movements clearly unless you’re watching a 4D video. It’s subtle—a rhythmic rise and fall of the chest that looks a bit like hiccups. Actually, you might start feeling hiccups soon. They feel like rhythmic, tiny rhythmic pulses in one specific spot, unlike the erratic kicks and punches of normal movement.
The Viability Factor
It’s a heavy topic, but it matters. 23 weeks is often cited as the "edge of viability." This means that with intensive NICU care, a baby born now has a chance of survival. According to data from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), the survival rates for babies born at 23 weeks have improved significantly over the last decade due to advancements in surfactant therapy and neonatal ventilation.
When you look at pictures of fetus at 23 weeks pregnant, you’re looking at a baby who is nearly ready for the world, even though they still need a few more months of "baking."
Navigating the emotions of the 23-week scan
Many parents feel a rush of anxiety before seeing these images. Is the heart okay? Are the kidneys functioning? Usually, the "big" anatomy scan happens between weeks 18 and 22, so by week 23, you might be having a follow-up or just a routine check.
💡 You might also like: Does Birth Control Pill Expire? What You Need to Know Before Taking an Old Pack
If the baby is in a "bad" position—maybe facing your spine or curled into a tight ball—the pictures won't look like much. It can be disappointing. Don't take it personally; some babies are just shy or sleepy during the appointment. Drinking some cold orange juice or having a snack about 30 minutes before the scan can sometimes wake them up and get them moving for the camera.
Common Misconceptions
People think by 23 weeks the baby is "done" and just getting bigger. Not true.
The nervous system is still wiring itself. The immune system is just starting to take "notes" from yours. If you see a 23-weeker in the NICU, they look fragile. They are fragile. The womb is doing a lot of heavy lifting right now in terms of organ maturation that isn't visible on a grainy ultrasound printout.
How to prepare for your 23-week ultrasound
If you’re heading in for a scan, here’s the reality:
- Hydrate: Fluid levels affect image clarity. Drink plenty of water in the days leading up to it.
- Wear separates: Don’t wear a dress. Wear a top and leggings or pants so the sonographer can easily access your belly without you feeling totally exposed.
- Manage expectations: If the baby's head is low in your pelvis, you might not get that perfect "face" shot.
The pictures are a gift, but they're just a snapshot. The real magic is the fact that you're carrying a human who can now recognize your voice. Talk to them. Read to them. They're listening.
Actionable Next Steps
- Schedule your glucose screening: Most doctors do this between weeks 24 and 28. If you haven't booked it yet, now is the time to put it on the calendar.
- Start a "Letter to Baby": Now that they can hear you, it's a great time to start a journal or record a voice memo. Mention what they looked like in their 23-week photos.
- Check your iron levels: Fatigue often hits hard around this time as your blood volume continues to expand. Ask your provider if you need a CBC (Complete Blood Count) at your next visit.
- Finalize your nursery layout: Before you get too heavy to move furniture comfortably, decide where the "big" items are going. You've got about 10 weeks of peak mobility left.
- Sign up for an infant CPR class: It's one of those things you hope you never need, but the peace of mind is worth the two hours of your Saturday.
Your body is doing something incredible. Even if the ultrasound photos look like a blurry Rorschach test, that little person is in there, growing eyelashes and dreaming about... well, whatever it is babies dream about. Probably the sound of your heartbeat.