Week 25 of Pregnancy: What to Expect
Week 25 of pregnancy is a crucial time for both mother and baby. During this stage, the baby’s lungs are completely formed and the baby continues to grow.
Furthermore, the mother’s body undergoes major changes and she experiences various symptoms.
During week 25, the fetus can already open his eyes and has eyelashes. He can move his tongue from side to side, and his fingernails are already growing and prominent.
The fetus is very large in comparison to the rest of the baby’s body. However, little by little, the head will acquire a more proportionate size.
Week 25 of pregnancy: A crucial stage for the baby
At 25 weeks, your little one measures about 17 inches and weighs approximately 1.5 pounds. Of course, every baby grows at a different pace, but most babies measure about the same at 25 weeks.
Genetics and environmental factors have a great influence on the growth of your little one, though it’s not very noticeable at birth. As your pregnancy advances, the liquid and the functioning of the kidneys improve.
Amniotic liquid
As your pregnancy advances, the amniotic liquid that surrounds your baby becomes more and more similar to urine. The flow of blood in the umbilical cord and the placenta regulate the fetus’s temperature.
As the weeks go by, your baby’s temperature will come closer and closer to your own.
Brown adipose tissue
During the 25th week of pregnancy, babies start to develop brown adipose tissue. This fatty tissue allows the body to feel warmth and have energy. It usually appears on the chest, back and neck.
The skin’s keratin process
At 25 weeks of gestation, your little one’s skin layers will become stronger and the veins will be much more noticeable.
Your baby’s skin will produce more keratin, which is concentrated especially in his hands and feet.
How does the mother’s body change during the 25th week of pregnancy?
A pregnant woman’s body has already undergone many changes by the time she reaches 25 weeks. You’ll already have a very noticeable belly.
It’s very important to use adequate clothing for an advanced pregnancy, since you’re sure to gain weight. Stay away from tight, uncomfortable clothing, and opt for cotton underwear.
Sleeping issues during week 25
During the 25th week of pregnancy, a woman experiences major changes in her abdomen. Many times, the increase in size makes sleeping difficult.
On top of that, your baby’s movements are more noticeable than before, and he moves around a lot during the night.
During the day, your own movements work to rock your baby and, as a result, he spends most of the day sleeping. So, just when you’re ready to get some rest, your baby wakes up and starts to move!
Women tend to have a hard time falling asleep or sleeping comfortably at this stage of pregnancy. On the one hand, your baby’s increased size places pressure on your bladder, giving you that constant need to go to the bathroom.
Hormones are also to blame, since the increase in estrogen levels makes it hard to sleep.
“Excitement and anxiety about childbirth also keep women awake at night during pregnancy, especially in the later months”
Gastric reflux and heartburn
You’re very likely to be experiencing reflux or stomach acid pain at this point of your pregnancy. This is because the release of the progesterone hormone slows your digestion and relaxes your muscles.
As a result, your gastric juices spill into your esophagus. Furthermore, as your pregnancy advances, your baby will start to push on your stomach, making the issue worse.
The pressure your baby places on your stomach takes away room for food, thus causing further discomfort .
Gassiness
Gassiness during the 25th week of pregnancy is very common. Sometimes the pain caused by gas can be confused with contractions.
At this point, you’re drawing nearer to your due date, so it’s important to pay attention to your body’s signals.
Swelling of legs and feet
Swollen hands and feet are a common ailment at this stage of pregnancy, due to weight gain. Your weight gain causes your hormone levels to change, and your ligaments suffer as a result.
Different cardiac rhythm
Mothers also experience changes in their cardiac rhythm. As a result, you may be experiencing drastic mood swings and variations in your energy levels.
It’s very important that your partner understands these changes and helps you through them.
Your mood swings have to do with changes in your hormone levels, and this is completely normal.
Of course, after the birth of your child, your hormone levels will eventually go back to normal.
You can see your baby clearly in ultrasound images
This is the perfect time to have an ultrasound. At 25 weeks, you can see your baby perfectly.
While watching the ultrasound images on the screen, you might catch a yawn, a kick, or even see your baby sucking her thumb. Your baby’s heartbeats will be very evident and easy to hear.
This is a crucial stage in your pregnancy, so it’s important that you take care of yourself. You can still exercise or do light sports, always keeping in mind that any sudden movements can be dangerous to your baby.
Your baby’s healthy development depends a great deal on your habits during pregnancy. You should avoid any unhealthy habits that can negatively affect your baby, especially tobacco and alcoholic beverages.
Never forget that the life forming inside your womb is a great responsibility.
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
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