Week 23 of Pregnancy: A Grapefruit, and the Week I Noticed Movement After Sweet Food
Key takeaways
- By week 23, the baby is about 28.9cm long, roughly the size of a grapefruit.
- Hearing is considered largely developed by this stage, though how clearly sound is perceived through the womb still varies.
- There's no need to 'eat for two' at this point in pregnancy — the standard guidance remains balanced, regular meals.
- Some women notice more movement after eating something sweet, though research on this link is genuinely mixed, not settled.
- Talking or playing music to the bump, as covered in earlier weeks, doesn't need a confirmed reaction to be worth continuing.
Week 22 was quiet. Week 23 gave us something more specific to notice — not from talking or music, but from food.
What’s actually happening in your body
The baby is now around 28.9cm long, roughly the size of a grapefruit. Hearing is considered largely developed by this stage of pregnancy, though sound reaching the baby through the womb is muffled rather than clear. There’s also no need to be eating noticeably more at this point — NHS guidance is clear that there’s no need to “eat for two,” even this far into pregnancy.
What I actually felt
The baby wasn’t obviously responding to music by this point, at least not in a way I could clearly tell. What I did notice consistently was that whenever I ate something sweet, I felt a lot more movement shortly after. It became a pattern I started to recognise on my own, even without anyone telling me to expect it.
There’s some research looking at whether a rise in blood sugar after eating genuinely increases fetal movement, but the findings across different studies are mixed rather than conclusive — some show a real effect, others don’t find one. Whatever the exact mechanism, if you’ve noticed something similar, it’s a completely normal thing to observe, and not something to read too much into either way.
Nutrition focus this week
No need to increase your food intake at this stage — the same balanced approach from earlier weeks still applies. Keep up with your prenatal vitamin and the general guidance in our foods and drinks to limit or avoid during pregnancy.
What to discuss with your doctor or midwife
Nothing specific is required this week. If you’ve noticed a pattern in your baby’s movement — after certain foods, times of day, or activities — it’s worth mentioning at your next appointment simply as part of getting to know your own baby’s routine.
Frequently asked questions
Is it true that eating sugar makes the baby move more?
Some women notice this, and there is research looking into it, but the findings are mixed rather than settled. It’s a plausible pattern worth noticing, not a guaranteed effect.
Should I be eating more now that hearing is developed and the baby is bigger?
No — there’s no need to “eat for two” at any point in pregnancy, including now. Focus stays on balanced, regular meals rather than increased quantity.
Is it a problem if the baby doesn’t seem to react to music or sound?
Not at all. Reactions to sound vary a lot and are hard to notice reliably from the outside, even once hearing is considered developed.
What size is the baby at week 23?
About 28.9cm long, roughly the size of a grapefruit.
References
- NHS — Your Pregnancy and Baby Guide, Week 23. nhs.uk
Found this helpful?
