Week Twenty-Five Pregnancy

You Are

You are now at the midpoint of your second trimester and your body is working hard to make room for your growing baby. You might experience familiar symptoms such as back pain, hand and foot swelling, or Braxton Hicks contractions, as your body is getting you ready for labor. You probably have realized your uterus is bigger now and your baby is easier to see.

More hunger and intermittent heartburn are normal when your baby pushes against your digestive organs. You can alleviate these symptoms by drinking enough water, eating several small meals and engaging in mild exercise. If the restfulness during the night is a problem, pregnancy pillows can make a big difference.

Your Baby

Measurements at this point reveal that your baby is approximately the size of a cauliflower, measuring approximately 13.6 inches (34.6 cm) in height and 1.5 pounds (700 grams) in weight. The lungs are developing, and there is a surfactant production – it’s this substance that allows effective breathing outside the womb.

The senses of your baby are developing, as their eyes begin to open, and they respond to bright lights or loud noises around them. More powerful, more defined movements, such as kicks and rolls, are encouraging indicators of healthy and robust fetal development.

Even though your baby’s skin is still very thin at this stage, it is becoming less transparent as underlying fat stores build up. These accumulated fats will help your baby to keep a constant body temperature once they are born out of the womb.

Be sure to make all your prenatal appointments and enjoy the pleasure of this unique stage of pregnancy.