25 Weeks - Pregnancy

Baby

Your baby is now 1 ½ pounds, with a length of about 13 ½ inches. His wrinkly skin is soon going to be a thing of the past, as he begins to accumulate fat deposits. Before you know it, he will be a plump newborn. If you were to look inside, you would see that your baby’s hair has formed in texture and color. He may or may not lose that hair after he is born. Some babies lose their hair and grow new hair, maybe even a different color.

The spine is strengthening this week, as the joints, ligaments, and rings form to protect the spinal cord from any injury. The blood vessels in the lungs develop, in preparation for breathing. Your baby’s eyes can open and close now, and they will react to light. His mouth is developing in preparation for the sucking reflex, as well as for swallowing. His nostrils are opening this week, and he may even be able to smell.

Mom

As your blood vessels swell, you may begin to feel some pain and numbness in your extremities, namely your hands and fingers or your ankles and toes. Most women that work on the computer feel it more in their hands, as women who are on their feet all day have problems with ankle swelling. Whatever the condition, be sure to take frequent breaks if possible. Stretch and work out your ligaments in between use, so blood continues to circulate well

In addition to the swollen ankles and fingers, you may also be feeling pretty clumsy. As your body changes its center of gravity, along with increasing water retention, you may feel a bit off balance. If you do feel tired or dizzy, be sure to lie down and rest for a while. You may need to take it a little easier in these last three months, with the baby getting so big.

Another complaint that many moms have this week is leg cramps at night. These painful spasms are common in the third trimester, as fluid accumulates in your leg joints. Prevent leg cramps by wearing support hose during the day and elevating your feet when you can. Also, get out and do some walking during the day and be sure you are taking in enough fluids. Eight glasses of water a day is ideal.

When you are getting a leg cramp in your calf, slowly straighten your leg and flex your toes toward your nose. It should work itself out after that. To lessen the pressure on your legs and back while you sleep, it will help to invest in a Pregnancy Pillow for support. It’s worth it to catch some sleep while you can. You need every minute you can get.

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PLEASE NOTE

This should be used as a general guideline and is for general information and educational purposes only. Please remember that all pregnancies develop at different rates. If you have questions about your baby's development, please contact your doctor or midwife.