Pregnancy: 23 weeks

How the child grows:

Turn on some music and dance. With a well-developed sense of movement, your baby can feel you dancing. And now that he's 11 inches long and weighs more than 1 pound, you can see him squirming. The blood vessels in his lungs are developing to prepare him for breathing, and his ears are picking up more sounds, preparing him for the new world. Loud noises that he'll already be familiar with, like a dog barking or a vacuum cleaner, won't frighten him when he's born.

Important: Each baby's development is unique. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of fetal development.

Changes in the expectant mother

You may notice some swelling in your ankles and feet in the coming weeks or months, especially at the end of the day or in hot weather. Slower circulation in your legs and changes in your blood flow can cause water to accumulate and cause swelling. Your body will get rid of excess fluid after delivery, so in the meantime, try to elevate your legs in any position and avoid staying in the same position for long periods of time. Also, try to exercise regularly to increase circulation. You may think that swelling is directly related to the amount of fluid you drink and thus try to reduce it, but you need to avoid dehydration and drink plenty of water, as it actually helps prevent fluid accumulation. While some swelling in your legs is normal during pregnancy, excessive swelling can be a sign of a serious condition called preeclampsia. See your doctor if you notice severe or sudden swelling of your feet or ankles, or especially swelling of your hands, face, or eyes.

Exercise improves sleep. "When I had trouble sleeping, a few friends suggested that I take a half-hour walk before bed. It really helped." – Linda.

Should cord blood be stored?

Cord blood banking is a procedure in which blood from the umbilical cord and placenta after the birth of a baby is collected, frozen, and stored for future medical use. Cord blood is valuable because it is a rich source of stem cells, the building blocks of the blood and immune system. Stem cells also have the ability to differentiate into other tissues, and cord blood can be used to treat diseases such as sickle cell anemia and leukemia. Only you can confirm the need for this process. When making your decision, consider the following factors:

• Optimistic mood of specialists

Research is in full swing around the world, and most experts are optimistic. For example, it is believed that in the future, people with cancer will be able to use their own stem cells from the umbilical cord blood that were collected at birth.

In light of recent animal experiments, it has been suggested that cord blood will eventually also be used to treat diabetes, spinal cord injuries, heart failure, strokes, and serious neurological damage. However, it remains unknown whether such research and therapy will be applied to patients.

It's expensive. Cord blood banks typically charge a $2,000 registration fee, plus an annual storage fee of about $125.

Genetic disorders.

• If your baby has developed a genetic disorder, cord blood is not suitable for therapy because it contains the same genetic codes.
• You will probably have a better chance of finding the stem cells you need in a community bank than among your relatives.
• The chance of an exact tissue match between two brothers is only 25 percent, according to Dennis Confer, chief medical officer of the National Marrow Donor Program, a nonprofit that supports the nation's largest community-based donor organization. By contrast, the chance of matching cord blood at the nation's community banks is 75 percent, he says.
• Doctors are not yet ready to officially recommend cord blood banking. The American Academy of Pediatrics and some other experts have suggested creating a private bank, something like a blood bank, to store cord blood that would be available to the public. In such a situation, you would be eligible for a special cord blood banking program, in which your cord blood would be collected, processed, and stored for five years at no cost.
• If your child is a minority, cord blood banking may be more important. According to 2003 estimates, Caucasian patients have an 88 percent chance of finding a suitable donor, compared to 58 percent for African Americans.

This week's activity: Write a letter to your child. Your child will appreciate such a gift in a few years. Listen to your heart, and if you need help, start with:

Descriptions of your feelings towards the child.

• Imagine some pleasant moment you will spend with your baby.
• Describe your hopes, dreams, and wishes for the child.
• Think about what motherhood means to you and how you can be the best mom for your baby.

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