Overview
At week 25, you’ve been pregnant for around 6 months and are nearing the end of your second trimester. You still have plenty of time left in your pregnancy, but you may want to think about signing up for childbirth classes. You may also want to consider yoga or meditation, to prepare your body and mind for the final stretch of pregnancy.
Your baby is now taking up quite a bit of room in your midsection. You may be feeling awkward or uncomfortable as your body adjusts. The second trimester is often more comfortable for women than those early months of pregnancy, but your energy levels may be dropping as you near the third trimester.
As baby grows, you do too. Your body will gain weight to support your developing baby. If you started your pregnancy at a normal weight, you may be gaining a pound a week during the second and third trimesters.
You may notice outward changes to your body in the second trimester, such as darkening nipples, expanding stretch marks, patches of darker skin on your face, and a line of hair running from your belly button to the pubic hairline.
Make sure you are addressing your mental health during this time as well. While physical changes are obvious, feeling down or depressed for consecutive weeks is a serious matter. Speak with your doctor and friends and family if you:
- feel helpless or overwhelmed
- have difficulty getting excited for things you used to enjoy
- find yourself in a depressed mood for most of the day
- have lost the ability to focus
- have thoughts of suicide or death
Preparing for a new baby is hard work, and your health should come first.
Your baby now weighs 1.5 pounds and is 12 inches tall, or about the size of a head of cauliflower or a rutabaga. The physical growth of your baby is matched by other development, including being able to respond to familiar sounds such as your voice. Your baby may begin to move when they hear you speak.
At week 25, you might be getting used to feeling the baby’s flips, kicks, and other movements. In just a few weeks, you’ll want to keep track of these, but for now those flutters can simply be a joyous reminder of your growing baby.
Did your doctor prescribe bed rest during part of your pregnancy? The reasons can range from intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) to placenta previa to premature contractions and beyond. Ask about your specific restrictions. Some bed rest plans allow you to move around your home and just avoid lifting heavy objects. Other bed rest plans are strict orders for no activity. These plans require you to either sit or lie down until further notice.
By the conclusion of the second trimester, you may be dealing with a host of new symptoms. These could remain for the rest of your pregnancy. Some symptoms you might experience during your week 25 include:
- darkening nipples
- stretch marks
- skin pigmentation
- body aches and pains
- swollen ankles
- back pain
- heartburn
- sleeping difficulties
When you’re pregnant, the hormones in your body relax the valve to your stomach so it doesn’t close properly, resulting in heartburn. Your favorite foods may trigger heartburn, especially if they are spicy or salty.
These symptoms, along with your baby’s increasing size and your changing body, may result in sleep difficulties by week 25. Getting adequate rest is important. To help fall asleep at night, try to sleep on your left side with knees bent, use pillows to position yourself in a comfortable position, and elevate your head.
Glucose screening
You’ll likely be tested for gestational diabetes sometime between weeks 24 and 28. For your glucose test, you will have your blood drawn 60 minutes after consuming a sugary liquid provided by your doctor’s office or lab. If your glucose levels are elevated, you may need further testing. The point of this test is to rule out gestational diabetes. If you are diagnosed with gestational diabetes, your doctor or their staff will provide you with information on monitoring your blood sugar during the remainder of your pregnancy.
Childbirth classes
Now is a great time to consider childbirth classes. These courses will provide you with information on labor and delivery. Your partner or another person who will help you at childbirth should attend so you can both learn about pain management options and labor techniques. If your class is offered at the facility where you will give birth, you will likely also learn about the labor and delivery rooms.
Yoga classes
In addition to a traditional childbirth class, you may want to consider enrolling in yoga sessions. Practicing yoga can help you prepare mentally and physically for childbirth by teaching breathing and relaxation methods. In addition, research in Psychology suggests that yoga can reduce depression symptoms in pregnant women. Another study in the Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies shows that yoga, as well as prenatal massage therapy, can decrease depression, anxiety, and back and leg pain in women who are showing signs of depression. That study also indicates that yoga and massage therapy increase gestational age and birth weight.
Call your doctor if you experience any of the following symptoms:
- severe cramping, or abdominal or pelvic pain
- difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- signs of premature labor (which include regular tightening or pain in your abdomen or back)
- vaginal bleeding
- burning with urination
- fluid leaking
- pressure in your pelvis or vagina