Your Baby at 25 Weeks Pregnant
 At 25 weeks pregnant, your baby weighs approximately 1.5 pounds, and he or she is just less than 13.7 inches long from head to heel. From this point onward, your baby's weight and length may vary somewhat. (Every baby is different; some babies will be born weighing 7 pounds and others 9 pounds.)
Your baby's arms and legs are getting plumper at 25 weeks pregnant, as he or she gains more fat. As more baby fat builds up, your baby's wrinkled skin will smooth out.
| | Fun Fact:
Did you know babies yawn in the womb? Researchers don't know why babies yawn in utero, but it's believed that yawning might help regulate the blood flow or amount of fluid in the baby's lungs. | | |
Your baby's capillaries are also forming this week. Capillaries are the tiny blood vessels that move blood from the heart to tissues in the body. During pregnancy week 25, air sacs and blood vessels in your baby's lungs will develop, getting him or her ready for that first breath.
So far in your pregnancy, your little one's nostrils have been plugged up, but they are now beginning to open.
With the advances in technology, if your baby were to be born early at 25 weeks pregnant, he or she has up to an 82 percent chance of survival with aggressive ICU treatment.
Mom's Changes at 25 Weeks Pregnant
At 25 weeks pregnant, you are positively glowing and in the prime of your pregnancy. You'll be measuring bigger, but you're not yet bulky. Your friends and family are probably showering you with plenty of attention. Embrace and love each minute of attention that's being poured on you.
If you have small children at home, they are probably just as eagerly anticipating the arrival of the newest member of the family as you are. Unfortunately, you still have several more weeks to wait, thus many women prefer to hold off having serious conversations with their children until closer to delivery. This is particularly the case with very young children, who may expect the baby to pop right out. | | Helpful Tip:
Begin writing and planning your birth plan at 25 weeks pregnant. Creating a birth plan can help you feel more prepared for your delivery, and it will nail down specifics on how you want your child's birth to go. . | | |
At 25 weeks pregnant, make sure that you continue to talk to your baby on a regular basis. Your little bundle of joy can hear your voice, and the more that you speak to him or her, the more familiar your voice will be. In fact, did you know that a mother's voice is one of the first sounds that a newborn recognizes?
Have you started thinking about your labor and delivery? Although you still have 15 weeks to go before your estimated due date, it's never too soon to plan how you want your childbirth to proceed.
Weight Gain at 25 Weeks Pregnant
Your weight gain at 25 weeks pregnant may be 16 or 17 pounds, possibly more. From this point onward, you are going to gain roughly one pound with each week that passes.
At 25 weeks pregnant, your uterus is about the size of a volleyball. As your uterus continues to expand, your center of gravity shifts upward and out to accommodate your baby's growth. As a result, you may notice that you don't have the grace or balance that you used to have. Make sure that you're extra careful about where you step. You don't want to accidentally tumble or fall when you're pregnant.
Thicker hair is a common pregnancy experience at 25 weeks pregnant. Many moms-to-be experience a fuller, thicker head of hair. While you're not actually growing more hair, you are not shedding the hairs you normally would. You can blame hormones for this change. Unfortunately, the same hormones that give you more voluminous hair also contribute to more body hair.
Shortness of breath is a normal sensation at 25 weeks pregnant. As your baby grows larger, the uterus places pressure on the wall between your abdomen and lungs. This can make it difficult for your lungs to fully expand, and consequently, you will be taking shallower and more frequent breaths. This is especially true for women carrying high or having twin babies. Feeling short of breath is typically harmless, but it can be a sign of a problem. For example, if your shortness of breath is sudden or severe, you'll want to get medical attention right away. This may be a sign of a serious complication.
Snoring might become a problem at 25 weeks pregnant. Snoring can affect one-quarter of all pregnant women, especially in the late second and third trimesters. This pregnancy symptom is largely due to congestion (which is relatively common in expecting mothers). Although you can't completely prevent snoring, you may be able to reduce its severity by sleeping on your left side and propping up your head with pillows.
Tingling and numbness in your hands are signs of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS), which is a common problem at 25 weeks pregnant. CTS is caused by swelling and inflammation of the carpal tunnel in your wrist. Symptoms typically begin or get worse in the second trimester, when you start retaining fluid. Carpal tunnel syndrome typically goes away after you have your baby, when the swelling you experienced in pregnancy disappears.
Understanding Sciatica Pain During Pregnancy
Some women will experience a condition called sciatica during pregnancy. This often happens when the baby's head presses against the pelvic bones causing the nerves in your lower back and legs to be compressed. Severe pain often results and can occur in the lower back, legs, and even buttocks. Some women will also experience numbness or tingling in the legs.
For some, the pain is so severe that they aren't able to lift their leg or walk without excruciating pain. So what is a woman to do? For most women, their symptoms disappear once their baby is born. Until then, there are many things you can do to help alleviate the pain:
- Apply a hot or ice pack for 10 minutes to the area that is most painful.
- Sleep on a firm mattress.
- Avoid sitting for long periods of time.
- Avoid frequent bending at the waist.
- Don't engage in movements that make the pain worse.
- Consider physical therapy if your physician recommends it.
- Try to stand up straight.
- Use support cushions and a full body pillow (such as Snoozer Pregnancy Pillows) in bed.
- Don't lift anything heavy and when you do lift be sure to bend from the knees.
- Consider chiropractic care or physical therapy.
Remember like anything else, this too shall pass. Some women find that their sciatic pain is greatly relieved by getting a few days bed rest. In many cases, the pain subsides within 1-2 weeks, though it may not disappear completely until after delivery.
Overview of the Signs of Pre-Term Labor
 By this time, you should talk with your doctor to make sure you understand the signs of pre-term labor. There are many warning signs that may indicate your body is going into labor early. Some of the more telling signs include:
- Continuous cramping in the lower abdomen similar to menstrual cramps.
- Contractions that come at regular intervals or more than 4 contractions in one hour.
- Low backache that is constant.
- Pressure in the pelvis as if your baby were pushing down.
- Bloody or watery vaginal discharge.
You should talk to your doctor and find out what procedures they would like you to follow if you suspect you are in pre-term labor.
Some women start noticing an increase of vaginal fluid around this time, which can sometimes be mistaken for amniotic fluid. It is not uncommon for women to leak a little bit of urine after this point in pregnancy, due to the increasing pressure on the bladder and pelvis. How can you differentiate between amniotic fluid and urine?
If you aren't sure, wear a panty liner. If you soak it due to a constant small leak of fluid or a larger one, you should consult with your healthcare provider. Some women will notice a small trickle of fluid that can't be stopped when you squeeze the muscles you would squeeze to hold the flow of urine. If you are only leaking a small amount when you cough, laugh or get up on occasion, you might just be leaking urine. Be sure to consult with your physician if you are concerned. They can perform an ultrasound to measure the amount of amniotic fluid surrounding your baby. They may also do a vaginal exam and look for evidence of premature rupture of your membranes.
Pregnancy Health Tips at 25 Weeks Pregnant
Glucose-Screening Test During Pregnancy Week 25
 At some point between 24 and 28 weeks, your healthcare provider will order a glucose-screening test. This test is considered fairly routine and is used to check for gestational diabetes - a form of diabetes (high blood sugar) that develops during pregnancy.
When you arrive for the glucose-screening test (sometimes called a "one-hour glucose tolerance test"), you will be asked to drink a sweetened liquid that contains 50 g of glucose. This drink tastes like a very sweet version of sprite or orange soda. An hour later, a blood sample will be taken to measure how well your body metabolized the glucose. A blood glucose that is higher than 130 mg/dL is considered abnormal, and you will have to undergo further tests to verify whether you have gestational diabetes or not.
The one-hour glucose tolerance test will detect 90 percent of gestational diabetes, but it will also test abnormal for 20 to 25 percent of normal women.
If your test result is abnormal, your healthcare provider will likely recommend that you undergo another diabetes screening test, called the 100 g oral glucose tolerance test. This is a three hour test that requires you to fast (abstain from food) ahead of time.
During this three-hour test, you will also be required to drink a sweetened drink that contains 100 g of glucose. Your blood glucose level will be tested four times within that three hour period. If two out of the four blood tests come out abnormal, you will be diagnosed with gestational diabetes.
Gestational Diabetes - Complications & Treatment
 Gestational diabetes is a worldwide pregnancy complication that concerns many healthcare providers. In the United States, some studies estimate that the prevalence of this condition is as high as 14 percent of all pregnancies!
Gestational diabetes can cause major pregnancy complications, including having a very large baby and possible cesarean birth, preeclampsia, stillbirths, and respiratory distress syndrome. After birth, your baby is at higher risk for becoming obese and diabetic.
Although any pregnant woman can develop gestational diabetes, some women are at higher risk than others. These include women with a family history of diabetes, women older than 25, previous delivery of a baby weighing more than 9 pounds, polycystic ovary syndrome, hypertension, and current use of glucocorticoids.
With proper care, most women with gestational diabetes go on to deliver a health baby. Monitoring your blood glucose levels, exercising, and eating a healthy diet will help you control your diabetes and ensure you have a great outcome.
Gestational diabetes typically goes away after your baby is born.
Spotlight on Maternity Leave
 At pregnancy 25 weeks, you should start thinking about planning for maternity leave. Your due date may be 15 weeks away, but you'll want to discuss the details of your maternity leave with your HR department. It's always better to get ready now, rather than wait until the last minute. (Procrastination only leads to more stress on your part, and stress isn't good for your developing baby.)
Every company has varying guidelines for what they offer. Some businesses provide paid maternity leave; others are more stingy with their money, and they don't offer paid leave. Some companies may give you unpaid leave, instead. If your company doesn't offer maternity leave, you may want to ask the human resources department if you can use a combination of your sick days, short-term disability, personal days, or unused vacation days for your baby's arrival.
If you can't take paid maternity leave, finding out your individual company's policy now will help you make the right decisions for the future. Perhaps, you can start saving extra money for your little one's arrival. Good luck!
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