25 Weeks Pregnant: Symptoms and Baby Development

25 Weeks Pregnant

25 Weeks Pregnant: Your Baby’s Development

At 25 weeks, your little one is starting to plump up! She’s adding fat every day, which is helping to smooth out the wrinkles in her skin.

In your baby’s brain, the cortex is forming layers. Most of the action is still controlled by other brain areas that developed much earlier. In addition to the brain, other parts of the nervous system are continuing to develop. It’s this important system that will help your baby learn to take in information from the outside world, process it, and react.

Have you been wondering if your baby can hear you? Her hearing is developing quickly and, at 25 weeks pregnant, she may even start to respond to familiar sounds like your voice by moving or changing her position. Give it a try!

You and your partner can sing or read to her now so she gets used to both of your voices. You may notice certain times of day when your baby is more or less active, but in general, at 25 weeks pregnant, you’re more likely to feel her movements when you’re still.

Want to keep up with how you and your little one are progressing during the last weeks of the second trimester? Download our second trimester guide for more information about your baby’s development, and more.

The Size of the Fetus at 25 Weeks Pregnant

At 25 weeks, your fetus is about the size of an acorn squash.

There’s so much going on with your baby, here’s an idea of what he may be looking like this week:

Mom’s Body at 25 Weeks Pregnant

You’re quickly approaching the third trimester, and your baby is getting bigger each day, which means that you are too.

At 25 weeks pregnant, your belly size can be gauged by your fundal height, which is the distance between your pubic bone and the top of your uterus — it’s likely about 25 centimeters. Your healthcare provider will measure your fundal height at your next visit.

Your growing uterus is also putting more pressure on your stomach and other organs at this time, which can lead to issues with digestion and even constipation.

Just how many months in are you at 25 weeks pregnant? Depending on how the weeks are divvied up, you could be approaching your sixth or seventh month.

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25 Weeks Pregnant: Your Symptoms

At 25 weeks pregnant, here are some of the symptoms you may be experiencing:

• Sciatica. As your uterus grows, it can put pressure on the sciatic nerve, causing hip and lower back pain at 25 weeks pregnant or further along in your pregnancy. To relieve any pain, you can apply an ice or cold pack to the area. You can also ask your healthcare provider about stretching exercises that may help. Before you take any over-the-counter pain medications, make sure you ask your provider if it’s safe to do so. The good news? These pains usually subside after your baby is born. Until then, if you experience any numbness in your feet or legs, or if nothing you try helps relieve the pain, let your healthcare provider know right away.

• Constipation. At this point in your pregnancy, your growing uterus can start to put pressure on your rectum. This, combined with higher levels of the hormone progesterone, can cause constipation, which can mean infrequent or difficult-to-pass bowel movements. If you take iron supplements, these can also contribute to constipation. To help prevent constipation or to try to ease the discomfort, stay hydrated and make sure you’re getting enough fiber in the form of fruits, vegetables, and whole-grain breads or cereals. Walking and other forms of exercise can also help your digestion; check in with your healthcare provider before starting an exercise program.

• Acid reflux. Those pregnancy hormones (we’re looking at you, progesterone!) can relax the valve that guards the entrance to the stomach, letting the contents of your stomach move up into the esophagus, which causes heartburn. If you’re experiencing this condition, try eating smaller, more frequent meals and eliminating spicy foods, or other foods that you find trigger heartburn. You may want to learn more about what not to eat during pregnancy.

• Leg cramps. Some moms-to-be are bothered by leg cramps during the second trimester, and it’s not uncommon for these cramps to strike at night. Try to keep up with moderate exercise, and stretch your calf muscles before you go to bed to try to minimize any discomfort. A warm bath or an ice pack can also help you feel better if you experience any leg cramping at 25 weeks pregnant.

25 Weeks Pregnant: Things to Consider

• Have you thought about pain management during labor? There are many options, from pain-relieving drugs and anesthesia to drug-free comfort measures. Ask your healthcare provider about your options, keeping in mind that you can always change your mind later. For a different approach to this topic, take our labor pain relief quiz. You may find that your growing bump is starting to invite comments from well-meaning friends and strangers alike. Of course, the details of the health of your pregnancy, including the size of your belly at 25 weeks pregnant, your weight, and eating and exercise habits, are between you and your healthcare provider, so don’t feel pressured to respond. If unsolicited questions or comments make you uncomfortable, it’s OK to head them off with a simple “Thank you for your concern.”

• If aches and pains are getting you down, consider adjusting your exercise routine. An exercise ball is a great tool to keep on hand for pregnancy exercises. It will help you stretch and tone your back, arms, and shoulders, among other things. Ask your healthcare provider for advice on easy and safe exercises you can do with an exercise ball. Some moms-to-be find gentle yoga exercises can help with aches and pains, too.

• If you haven’t already done so, sign up for a parenting class that will cover newborn care. One of the most important things to learn is how to put your baby to sleep to lessen the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). For starters, your baby should always be placed on her back, on a firm surface, and without blankets or toys in the crib. Learn more about how to reduce the risk of SIDS.

• If you’ll be having a baby shower in the third trimester, it’s time to get your shower registry organized! This is because the host of your shower will need the details to include in the invitations, and the invitations will need to be sent out well in advance to give guests enough time to set aside the date and buy a gift. Use our interactive baby shower registry checklist so you register for everything you’ll need.

• Check out what Pampers Parents have said about common items of baby gear. We asked thousands of Pampers Parents to vote and review lots of products from car seats to strollers…and even the best baby bottle. Check out all the best baby products.

25 Weeks Pregnant: Ask Your Doctor

• Will you need a glucose test? If you haven’t had one earlier in your pregnancy, your healthcare provider may offer you a glucose challenge test sometime between now and 28 weeks to assess your risk of gestational diabetes.

• Is a bit of vaginal bleeding normal? Bleeding at this point in pregnancy may be due to something relatively minor like an inflamed cervix, but always check with your healthcare provider if you experience any bleeding at all.

• What do you need to know about preterm labor ? Your healthcare provider can fill you in on the signs to look out for, and advise on what to do if you experience any of the symptoms.

• Do you recommend a 3D or 4D ultrasound?

• How much longer can you continue working?

25 Weeks Pregnant: Your Checklist

• Research your options, and talk to your healthcare provider about pain relief possibilities during labor.

• If you haven’t already done so, sign up for a childbirth class, including your partner if possible. These classes will prepare you for what to expect during labor and delivery, and your partner will find them useful, too.

• Start planning your maternity leave.

• Learn more about cord blood banking, and talk to your healthcare provider if this is something you feel you may be interested in.

• Download our fetal movement tracker so that you’re ready to start monitoring your little one’s movements when your healthcare provider suggests that you do so. It’s easy to use: Simply jot down your start and end time, and make a note of each movement you feel. Your provider can also give you an idea of what to be aware of when tracking your baby’s movements.

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