Day 164 of 280, second trimester
You are 23 weeks and 3 days
Feeling hot? Pregnancy can feel like having your own personal radiator strapped to you.
116 days until your due date
You may be much hotter and sweat more than usual in pregnancy, because you're carrying extra weight and have more blood pumping around your body.
In summer this can be hard to bear, so find ways to stay cool. In winter, you may find yourself walking around in a light sweater while everyone else is bundled up, and you may argue with your partner about whether the heating goes on or the windows open!
Drink enough through the day. Extra sweat can cause a rash in the creases under your breasts or in your groin, so wash often and dry these areas well.
Hot flashes can be worse at night, so pack away the pajamas for a few months and sleep naked.
As a matter of fact
Dreams of an older baby
It's common to dream of giving birth to an older baby who can already walk and talk!
This is thought to reflect worries about caring for a tiny, helpless baby; the older the baby, the more self-sufficient it seems.
Ask a Doctor
I keep having strange, vivid dreams. Is that normal?
Yes. In pregnancy it's common to dream more and remember your dreams, probably because of all the emotional and physical changes you're going through. Vivid dreams may be your unconscious mind's way of dealing with your hopes and fears about your baby and becoming a mother.
Hormones play a part too: higher estrogen is thought to lengthen REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, when we're most likely to dream. If your dreams are disturbing, try writing them down to get them off your mind.
Appointments and key dates around now
- Whooping cough vaccineUsually around 20 weeks, best before 32 weeks
Read the full 23 weeks pregnant guide
This is general information based on NHS guidance, not medical advice, and every pregnancy is different. Talk to your midwife or GP about anything that worries you. If your baby's movements slow down or change, or you have bleeding, severe pain or leaking fluid, call your maternity unit straight away. In an emergency, call 999.