Your Pregnancy at Week 25

Your Pregnancy at Week 25

Your baby is practicing breathing!

Week 25

your baby this week:

Your baby is looking more like a newborn. With every ounce of weight gained, their skin becomes less wrinkled. Their skin is getting pinker too, as every growing fetus's skin first does, regardless of their final skin tone, thanks to the capillaries (small blood vessels) forming under their skin; Blood vessels will begin developing in your baby's lungs this week, as well.

Speaking of lungs, your little one's beginning to produce lung surfactant, which is a combination of phospholipids and proteins, to coat the alveoli (the air sacs by which oxygen comes into the body) and prevent them from sticking together when your baby exhales. Their little nose and nostrils are beginning to work as well, preparing for that first, big breath of air.

This week, your baby can also sense which way is up and which way is down, respond to your voice, and startle at loud noises. Your baby's been busy!

your body:

By week 25, your uterus is about the size of a bowling ball; so your body is pure, unnatural magic if you're still wearing pre-pregnancy clothing. You may feel hotter - sweatier - than normal, due to your body’s increased blood flow. Dress in breathable fabrics to help wick off any excess moisture from your body. The same advice can apply during winter months, though you might decide on wearing a few extra layers of breathable clothing whenever you go out. And make sure you’re drinking enough water to avoid dehydration and combat any swelling.

Drinking extra water this week will also help you with another complication sometimes caused by your body's extra blood flow during pregnancy. Hemorrhoids, a type of varicose vein, are quite common during pregnancy and may even cause rectal bleeding. Hemorrhoids are very painful, and constipation (another joyous symptom of pregnancy) can make them worse. Drinking plenty of water and taking more fiber may also help.

You may experience some tingling, burning, numbness, or pain in your wrists around week 25, which could be carpal tunnel syndrome. Many women develop carpal tunnel syndrome during pregnancy if their carpal tunnel, a narrow, rigid passageway of ligament and bones, located in the wrist, becomes markedly swollen. When this happens, it presses on the median nerve, which controls sensations running from your forearms, down to your wrists, then to your fingers and thumbs. This may result in pain, weakness, or numbness in the hands and wrists, though sometimes it might radiate up the arms. Luckily, this usually subsides after pregnancy. In the meantime, wearing a wrist splint (found online and at most drugstores) may reduce discomfort.

Your glucose screening test should happen sometime between weeks 24 and 28 of your pregnancy. If you haven't been tested for gestational diabetes already, you need to make sure this test is scheduled soon. Don't stress over it, as this test is quite easy to take. You'll be told by your doctor to avoid food for a set amount of time and given a sugary type of solution. You'll drink the solution at the end of your fast and then, a little later, your blood is drawn to see how well your body processed the sugar. If your test confirms gestational diabetes, you may have to monitor or manage your sugar levels by using a glucometer to prick your finger for daily testing.

Louise Broadbridge - Our Expert Midwife

Hi, my name is Louise, I am a Registered Midwife, founder of Let's Talk Birth and Baby and the face behind Instagram's The Honest Midwife. I have worked in health settings for the past 30 years, the majority of which have been working in children and family settings.

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your tips & to do's:

week 25, you should feel your baby moving around inside of you regularly. If you haven't felt anything in a little while and you're worried, turn on some music, drink a glass of ice, cold water, and see if it wakes your little one! You can also lightly massage your stomach to nudge your baby awake. Just be sure you're gentle about pressing into your stomach.

Now is a good time to learn what the signs of preterm or premature labor look like. Talk to your midwife or doctor about these signs and ask what you should do if these signs occur before week 37 of pregnancy. Preterm or premature labor looks like: swelling in the hands or face; constant or severe vomiting; an increase or change in vaginal discharge, including a rush of amniotic fluid or blood; a low, dull backache; pain while urinating; sharp pains in your stomach; more than five contractions or sharp cramps within a one-hour period; and intense pelvic pressure (feels like the baby is pushing down, or like you might need to go poop). If you experience any of these symptoms, contact your midwife or doctor immediately.

Strollers have come a long way.

Travel systems, joggers, reversible seats, power folds, cup holders, and everything in between, from affordably priced to astronomically priced, make purchasing a stroller more complicated than ever before, almost like choosing a new car to lease. Except... you'll probably use the stroller as often or more than you use your car! Choosing the right one is an important decision. Consider these questions, first:

1. Will you be in and out of the car?

Do you live on a second or third-floor walkup? Are you dealing with limited storage space? If you answered yes, the weight and fold of the stroller matter to you. When you visit stores to check out possibilities, take measurements and practice the fold and lift.

2. How will you be using the stroller?

Are you in the city, using evenly paved surfaces, or are you outdoors, using rough, varying terrain? Small tires and a compact frame are better for parking lots, sidewalks, grocery stores, airports, and the like, and easier to navigate through crowded areas. Large, air-filled tires and a solid frame are better for outdoor activities, such as hiking and jogging, and places like dog parks and sandy beaches.

Ask other parents for their personal stroller suggestions. What do they use? What was a waste of money and space? What would they do differently, if anything at all?

Don't forget to write in your pregnancy journal this week!

your symptoms

Below is a list of pregnancy symptoms commonly experienced during week 25.

  • Swelling, or edema, in your ankles and/or feet
  • Stretch marks and/or unwanted hair growth
  • Sweating
  • Thicker hair
  • Stronger nails
  • Braxton Hicks
  • Tingling, numbness, or pain in your hands and wrists
  • Bleeding and/or swollen gums
  • Interrupted sleep
  • Backaches and/or leg cramps
  • Crazy dreams
  • Fetal activity
  • Fetal hiccups

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Our Top Rated Products to Buy This Week

Chicco Bravo 3-in-1 Trio Travel System

$449.99
The top-selling Bravo 3-in-1 Trio Travel System from Chicco combines the full-size Bravo Quick-Fold Stroller with the top-rated KeyFit 30 Infant Car Seat.

Fisher-Price® Deluxe Kick and Play Piano Gym

$31.49
Combining a classic play mat with a kick-at musical instrument, the Deluxe Kick & Play Piano Gym from Fisher-Price entertains your baby with music, lights and sounds.

Motherhood Maternity Stretch Pregnancy Leggings

$10.00 - $28.00
Comfortable and Versatile - Maternity leggings are made with a blend of cotton, spandex, and polyester, ensuring a relaxed fit.

Mustela® 1.52 fl. oz. Maternity Stretch Marks Serum

$23.99
Mustela's Stretch Marks Serum is a concentrated hydrating serum designed for use during pregnancy and postpartum.

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Articles shown are a mixture of informative pieces, anecdotal accounts and professional advice from our panel of Bloggers, Writers and Experts. The views and opinions expressed in these articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official view of this site.