Learn what’s happening in week 25 of pregnancy and find out how your baby is developing.
At 25 weeks, your baby is as big as cauliflower and is growing more fat and more hair. You’ve made it halfway through the sixth month of your pregnancy.
This is a great time to bond with your developing baby, so you can buy a children’s book and start reading to him/her every night. By week 25, the baby’s hearing has matured enough and he/she may respond to your voice with a kick.
What happens in your body in pregnancy week 25?
Maybe you’re getting nervous about delivery, or maybe it’s just your hormones, but you might start to have trouble sleeping this week. This is one of the most common complaints and symptoms of pregnancy at 25 weeks.
Other symptoms of pregnancy in the twenty-fifth week of pregnancy include constipation, bloating, and gas. Eat fiber-rich foods to avoid these unpleasant symptoms. Your baby is putting a lot of pressure on your digestive tract which may also cause hemorrhoids.
Your pregnancy hormones are slowing down your digestion, creating excess gas. Thanks to hormone fluctuations you can also experience aches and pain all over your body.
Here are a few effective ways to ease the aches a little:
- Eat right. Pregnant women need a balanced diet including whole grains, lean protein, vegetables, fruits and healthful fats.
- Take a nice stroll. Light exercise can help you cope with sore spots.
- Take a dip. Swimming can help ease the pressure on your body.
- Place a heating pad on your back to soothe the soreness.
- Get a rubdown.
Changes in Your Body at 25 Weeks Pregnant
Your uterus is probably the size of a soccer ball by this week and it is pushing other organs like the intestines and lungs to make space for itself. This can cause discomfort and pain.
Increased blood volume and fluid retention put pressure on a major nerve in your hand, which can lead to numb and tingly fingers and palms. This condition is known as carpal tunnel syndrome.
In week 25, you may notice a yellow fluid leaking from your nipples as your body prepares for breastfeeding. This fluid is the early milk made by your breasts and is called colostrum.
Some of the more positive body changes this week include your fast-growing nails and your beautiful locks, which are a result of your pregnancy hormones.
Your Baby at 25 Week of Pregnancy
At week 25, your baby is nine inches in length and weighs around one pound and a half. The skin is turning pink because small blood vessels (capillaries) are forming under your baby’s skin and filling with blood.
By the end of this week, blood vessels will also develop in the lungs which are beginning to develop a substance (surfactant) that will help them expand with oxygen after your baby is born.
However, your child’s lungs are still too undeveloped to send oxygen to the bloodstream and release carbon dioxide when he/she exhales. The nostrils are also starting to open and preparing for air intake.
Pregnancy Week 25 Tips
Maintaining proper dental health during your pregnancy is very important. Pregnancy increases the chances of gingivitis (bleeding gums) that leads to serious infectious condition periodontitis which is often associated with an increased risk of early labor and delivery.
Doing yoga or light exercise regularly is also recommendable because exercise keeps you fit in pregnancy and helps build endurance ready for labor.
Drink lots of fluids and eat fiber-rich foods to fight constipation, dizziness, and fatigue. This is also a good time to start thinking about baby names.