Once you step into your twenty-fifth pregnancy week, you are inching closer and closer to the end of your second trimester, and you are getting closer and closer to the third trimester and delivery!
You probably feel like time is flying you by! At 25 weeks pregnant, you are about months and two weeks along, and it won’t be long before your little bundle of joy comes into the world.
Week twenty-five of pregnancy will bring many changes, both for you and your baby, many connected with the hormonal changes you are going through.
Keep reading to learn more about what you can expect at 25 weeks pregnant.
Physical Symptoms During Twenty-Fifth Pregnancy Week
Some of the main symptoms that a mom-to-be can start to feel around the week twenty-five of her pregnancy are very likely to include:
Heart palpitations
Your heart is working harder during pregnancy than it usually does; it pumps about 50% more blood, approximately 15% faster than usual. While some women do not notice any changes or issues connected to this topic, other women do feel a difference.
Heart palpitations are a common symptom during pregnancy, and they usually show up around the second-trimester mark.
Heart palpitations usually feel like pounding, fluttering, racing, extra beats, or skipping beats. Heart palpitations can be scary, especially when they catch you off guard while in the middle of an activity or rest. Rest assured, they are usually not dangerous and pass by pretty quickly.
Still, it is good to air on the side of caution as the baby grows and mention this pregnancy symptom to your healthcare provider at your next prenatal visit.
Hemorrhoids
Most pregnant women report experiencing swollen, itchy veins in the rectum, which we call hemorrhoids.
Hemorrhoids appear due to the bigger uterus and growing belly pressing down, paired with an increased blood flow to the area. Hemorrhoids are a form of varicose veins, and they are not dangerous, but they are painful and extremely uncomfortable.
If you notice them, talk to your healthcare provider about your options to solve the issue. Eating a lot of fiber-rich foods and staying away from spicy foods will make the process easier on your digestive tract.
Belly and breast itch
Around the twenty-fifth of your pregnancy, you are likely to feel a bit itchy in your belly and breast areas.
Itchy skin often happens during pregnancy, and the cause is not completely known, but this pregnancy symptom is often connected to hormonal pregnancy changes coupled with skin changes. However, if you feel itchy all over your body, consult your doctor.
Make sure to keep the skin moisturized and stay away from uncomfortable and itchy materials.
What Happens to The Baby During Week Twenty-Five of Pregnancy?
At twenty-five weeks pregnant, your baby weighs about 1.7 pounds and measures around 13.1 inches, which is about the size of a large ear of corn.
As each day of your baby’s development passes, you are gaining more and more baby fat, which will smooth out the baby’s skin and make the baby look chubbier. The color and texture of the baby’s hair might start to show and change around the twenty-five-week mark.
At twenty-five weeks, the baby is developing reflexes and the baby’s body is moving around a lot, and the future mom can feel the baby’s movements that are happening inside.
The baby enjoys jumping and playing inside your pregnant belly, and you will likely be able to feel these fetal movements at this point of your pregnancy.
Your baby can also hear your voice and other noises at this point in your pregnancy and fetal development. Palm creases are starting to show, while the fingerprints have formed already.
The baby’s eyelids are still closed. However, cells called rods and cones, which allow vision, have formed, and the baby can now sense light and dark.
Pregnancy Checklist During Week Twenty Twenty-Five
To stay safe and well-prepared during your pregnancy, you need to fulfill certain tasks to keep up with the journey and prepare for the baby’s arrival.
The list of things you need to complete during your twenty-fourth week of pregnancy will include:
Spend time with your partner
The second trimester is the perfect time to spend some time (or time away) with your partner before the baby comes!
You can still travel, so that might be an opportunity you want to take advantage of.
Pick the baby’s name (or at least try)
Since you have a bit of time now, it is a perfect time to start thinking about the potential names for your future baby.
Ask your family and friends for suggestions, but try to avoid peer pressure.
And do not worry about it too much; you are likely to change your mind a million times before the little one arrives.
Manage your stress
Now that delivery is creeping up on the horizon, it is expected that future moms will start feeling worried and anxious about the upcoming delivery.
And with the pregnancy hormones in the mix, you might feel a bit out of control at 25 weeks pregnant.
This makes the twenty-fifth pregnancy week the perfect time to learn some stress management techniques that will help you solve this issue.
Another great option is speaking to professionals that will keep your fear and anxiety at bay.
What To Avoid or Begin to Avoid?
It is imperative to avoid harmful things and activities during your pregnancy to protect you and the baby’s development during your pregnancy.
During week twenty-five, make sure to stay away from:
- Smoking, doing drugs, drinking alcohol, and being exposed to toxic substances.
- Sleeping on your tummy.
- Performing demanding workouts and carrying heavyweight.
- Touching kitty litter or cat feces.
- Drinking an excessive amount of caffeine and carbonated drinks.
- Getting tattooed as it poses a risk of infection.
- Eating junk food, deli meats, raw or undercooked meat, eggs, cheeses from unpasteurized milk, unpasteurized dairy foods, high mercury fish, and unwashed fruits and vegetables.
- Having close contact with anyone with rubella, chickenpox, or the Zika virus.