Pregnancy At Week 25

Pregnancy at week 25 is an exciting week! Your baby is so much bigger and stronger than ever before and as your head toward that due date the momentum just keeps gathering.

What’s happening with Baby

At 25 weeks pregnant, your baby is about 13 1/2 inches long and weighs roughly a 1 1/2 pounds. That’s about the size of your average acorn squash! That sounds so tiny, but that little baby is definitely viable and only has a few more months to bake before they are ready for the world! Your little baby is starting to fill out. She’ll lose that loose, wrinkled baby skin look and start to plump up and her skin will smooth out. She’s also growing more and more hair. At this point, if you could see your baby’s hair you would be able to tell whether or not they will be curly headed, blonde or ginger!

Your baby’s skin is getting pinker this week as capillaries are forming under the skin and filling with blood. Your baby at week 25 is looking more like a newborn and less like a squishy alien! In the second half of the week, your baby’s lungs will begin to develop capillaries as well, which will put them just one step closer to taking that first big breath of fresh air.

Another important breathing development that can start happening in week 25 of pregnancy is when your baby’s nostrils start to open. Up until this point in the pregnancy your baby’s nostrils have been stopped up, but now they are unclogging and your baby is starting to take some practice breaths.

What’s happening with your body?

During pregnancy at week 25 your miraculous, ever-expanding uterus has reached the size of a soccer ball. Congrats on already becoming a soccer mom! While that might seem huge, just wait until you’re 9 months (or more!) along. You will be yearning for that cute “little” bump you’re rocking these days. With the extra size might come some extra discomfort. Unless your doctor has instructed you otherwise, it’s still okay to continue to exercise and move around as much as you feel comfortable. Just remember to drink plenty of water, stay off of your back and stop exercising if you feel any pain, dizziness or discomfort. Keeping yourself active through all of the changes will help prepare your body for labor and help you stay healthy and happy for your baby.

Some common symptoms that might be cropping up around this time include: heart burn, varicose veins, carpal tunnel, and snoring. If you’re experiencing any burning in your chest and throat keep some Tums or Rolaids close at hand. Popping a few Tums a day might become a habit through the rest of your pregnancy. Varicose veins are never fun, but are totally normal. The extra blood volume during pregnancy puts strain of your veins which causes them to bulge and protrude. Avoid the development of varicose veins by wearing loose fitting clothing to aid the flow of blood. The increased blood flow during pregnancy can also put pressure of the nerves in your wrist, which can cause carpal tunnel syndrome. If you are experiencing tingly or painful hands talk to your doctor about wearing a wrist brace. Snoring is also an unfortunate side affect of pregnancy and the increased blood supply. The increased blood flow to your mucus membranes can cause you to become congested which will cause snoring. If your snoring is truly affecting your sleep then talk to your doctor. Snoring can also be a sign of sleep apnea which can be a more serious problem.

Suggestions for this week

If your feeling pretty uncomfortable at this point because of any of the symptoms I mentioned above or any other discomfort, then start addressing it now. There is only more baby to grow and more bodily change ahead so it’s smart to get ahead of the curve.

If indigestion and heart burn are really bothering you then considering adjusting your diet. Try eating five smaller meals a day instead of three big ones. The less food there is in your tummy to digest the easier it will be and the less pain you are likely to experience. Avoid carbonated or fatty foods because they take longer to break down. If your heart burn is the worst at night try to stop eating several hours before bed in order to give your stomach the time it needs to digest before bed.

If other physical pains are bothering you trying different stretches, routines, or habits to begin alleviating the pain. Maybe you need more rest at this point? Maybe you actually need to go on shorter and more frequent walks? Getting to know your body and listening to it is an important part of pregnancy at week 25, labor and motherhood in general. Start now and you will thank yourself later!

Featured photo credit: Phalinn Ooi via flickr.com

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