What Does a Baby Born at 25 Weeks Look Like

Now that you're in week 25 of pregnancy, your uterus is near the size of a soccer ball and you may finally have that pronounced baby bump you've been imagining since the start.

Meanwhile, your baby's olfactory organ and lungs are becoming more functional in training for life on the outside.

Your Baby at Week 25

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At 25 weeks your uterus is nigh the size of a soccer ball, a fact that's probably pretty apparent if you're still trying to zip your old jeans. Billowy effectually inside that ball is your bouncing baby boy or girl, at present 9 inches long and topping a pound and a half. Your little kicker will be making his presence known quite vigorously for the side by side three weeks, his most active time in the whole pregnancy.

If your womb had a view, you'd see that your sweetie'south skin has taken on a pinkish hue — a sign that the fetal vascular organization is maturing. More than and more capillaries filled with blood are forming under the skin and in those developing air sacs in your infant's fledgling lungs.

Surfactant — an anti-stick substance that'll assistance the lungs expand with air in one case they're outside the womb — is starting to course, besides, getting baby ready for his outset gulp of fresh air (not to mention his first squall). On a related front — and located right on the front of that adorable niggling confront — are your infant's tiny nostrils. They've been closed until at present, simply this calendar week they gloat their grand opening, assuasive your babe to go through the motions of inhaling and exhaling.

Correct now there's no air to exhale, of course, so instead babe draws amniotic fluid in and out of those petite nostrils. These breathing practise runs might seem silly when in that location's no air around, but it's well worth the try, because when it comes to breathing, exercise makes perfect.

At a Glance

The startle reflex

Don't scare the babe! Your little one'southward startle reflexes are at present developing. Hmm, mayhap you tin can scare baby's hiccups away!

Baby fat

Infant fat is coming! Even though your infant-to-exist is yet lean, he's slowly putting on pounds and losing that wrinkly appearance.

Hair debut?

If your babe-in-waiting has pilus, and not all do, the texture may actually be seen at this stage of the game.

25 weeks pregnant is how many months?

If you're 25 weeks significant, you're in month 6 of your pregnancy. Only iii months left to go! Even so have questions? Here's some more information on how weeks, months and trimesters are broken downwards in pregnancy.

How big is my babe at 25 weeks?

Your baby is growing past leaps and bounds, reaching 13 inches — over a foot long! — in length and more than one½pounds in weight.

That'due south taller than two juice boxes stacked one on top of the other and nearly every bit heavy as four of them.

Infant's lungs are gearing up to breathe

What else is going on this week? No matter what your baby's skin color will somewhen be, it'southward turning pinker now — and not because he'southward getting overheated.

In fact, the amniotic fluid is perfectly climate-controlled, keeping him at an always-comfortable temperature. Instead, the pare is irresolute color because small blood vessels, called capillaries, are forming under the pare and filling with claret.

Subsequently this calendar week, blood vessels volition also develop in your baby's lungs, bringing them i step closer to total maturity — and i step closer to taking that first breath of fresh air. But at 25 weeks pregnant, those lungs are all the same very much works-in-progress.

Though they are already outset to produce surfactant, a substance that volition help them expand with oxygen after baby is built-in, the lungs are still too undeveloped to sufficiently send oxygen to the bloodstream and release carbon dioxide when she exhales.

Baby's nose starts working

The lungs aren't the simply system that's gearing up for air intake. Your baby's nostrils and nose are starting to work this calendar week, besides. This allows your little one to begin taking practice breaths.

It was previously believed that the nostrils stay plugged up until effectually at present in the pregnancy, only the latest research shows they open much earlier and stay that fashion through all 3 trimesters.

Of course, since there's no air in at that place, your baby is really only "breathing" amniotic fluid, just information technology'southward the do that counts, right?

Infant could also be able to smell various scents in utero by this week, too. If not, that sense will kick in by the 3rd trimester.

Your Body at Calendar week 25

25 Weeks Pregnant

Having a ball?

At 25 weeks pregnant, your ever-growing uterus has now reached the size of a soccer ball. Look at that — you're already a soccer mom and you didn't even have to purchase the minivan.

Simply while you're probably enjoying your cute soccer ball tummy upward in forepart, and getting to know your growing trivial midfielder through all those practice kicks, chances are you're not enjoying what's going on in your backside.

Hemorrhoids

More than than half of all pregnant women experience swollen, itchy veins in the rectum due to that bigger uterus pressing down as well equally to increased blood period to the area. And while they're not unsafe to your torso, hemorrhoids — a grade of varicose veins — can be downright painful and fifty-fifty cause rectal bleeding.

Constipation can aggravate them, and so your best bet at prevention is to increment your fluid and fiber intake and to consume plenty of fiber-rich foods, similar fruits, veggies and whole grains. Doing pelvic-floor exercises (Kegels) and trying not to strain when you poop tin can help likewise.

In the meantime, try witch hazel pads, sitz baths or ice packs to soothe your sore lesser — and keep in mind that they should go away after commitment — though you're probably getting tired of hearing that!

Dental health

Want to up your chances of keeping your infant safely inside you until term? Whip out the dental floss and make certain you're brushing your teeth at least twice a day, since research links skilful dental wellness and oral hygiene with longer pregnancies.

Sounds kind of zany, but brushing your teeth at least twice a day, flossing regularly and visiting the dentist every six months can reduce the take a chance of gingivitis — a common condition in which your gums become inflamed, red and even begin to drain.

If yous don't take proper care of your teeth, the consequence can be periodontitis, which has been linked to premature nascence and even an increased take a chance of preeclampsia.

Pregnancy Symptoms Week 25

Heartburn or indigestion

Snoring

Tingling hands (carpal tunnel)

Symphysis pubis dysfunction (SPD)

Restless legs syndrome (RLS)

Fast-growing hair

Tips for You This Calendar week

Play the baby name game

Yous've been playing Proper name That Infant for a while now. Ask yourself these questions before committing to a baby name: What exercise the initials spell? Are there bad-mannered rhymes? What are any likely nicknames?

Consider the cadence, and be conscientious well-nigh combinations that could turn your child'due south name into a joke. How long will information technology have for Savannah Anna to become Savannah Anna Assistant?

Slather on moisturizer

Your uterus is now the size of a soccer ball — and all that stretching may be causing your tummy to itch.

Pare irritation is a common trouble that tends to announced during the fifth or sixth month of pregnancy, when you're actually starting to show. Unfortunately, information technology simply seems to get more pronounced equally time passes and your belly continues to grow. Slather on moisturizer or calamine lotion if needed.

Organize your kitchen

If a 30-minute meal takes xx minutes more than than y'all've got, you lot need a speedy kitchen at your service. Make sure you take the correct gear on hand, and use it.

Your microwave tin do more than than warm a cup of tea or reheat leftovers: It can even be used to cook a whole dinner!

On the flip side, a slow cooker can be your best time-saver. Don't permit the name fool yous: Toss in whatever you have in the firm, including meat, beans, veggies and goop; turn it on in the morning; and come home at the terminate of the day to a delicious hot repast — plus plenty of leftovers for tomorrow.

Cleanup is a breeze besides. Simply rinse the pot and run it through the dishwasher, but check your directions get-go.

Rely on your blender to produce smoothies in seconds, your nutrient processor to chop everything before you count to five and a toaster oven to warm or melt anything in less time than information technology takes to preheat your oven.

Feeling down? Talk to your doctor

Depression during pregnancy and postpartum depression (PPD) are surprisingly mutual. Some symptoms include crying, irritability, a lack of ambition and poor sleep, amid others.

One study suggests that downplaying positive emotions — aka "I don't deserve to be happy" — might increase your adventure for the condition. Sound familiar? Talk to your dr. as soon as you lot can nearly getting assistance.

Snack on good for you sweets

Need some sweetness snack ideas? When you've been hitting past the midday slump, nosh on carrot or oat bran muffins (they can replace donuts and coffee cake) along with a wedge of cheese or a container of yogurt.

Or option yourself up with apple tree wedges and peanut butter, all-fruit jam spread on a whole wheat English muffin, cottage cheese with strawberries, tangerines and cinnamon, yogurt topped with walnuts and dried fruit, or a smoothie.

Take notation of heart symptoms

Your eyes are nevertheless another seemingly random office of the trunk affected past those kooky hormones. During this fourth dimension, your vision might exist less sharp — Is that you, Beloved? — and your contact lenses might be less comfy to wear.

Another twist in the eye story: Even though you're retaining fluid, ironically, your eyes may be drier than always.

But don't worry — eye symptoms, like pare symptoms, volition disappear afterward commitment. Just be certain to let your practitioner know what's going on, so your doc can "continue an heart on things."

Simplify your grocery list

You don't accept to buy candy food if y'all want to stock up on healthy staples.

When it comes to produce, snacks and dairy products, retrieve minor, user-friendly and gear up-to-nibble — await for single-serve packs of yogurt, 8-ounce tubs of cottage cheese, individually wrapped string cheese, pre-cutting fresh fruit salads, mini packs of baby carrots and small boxes or bags of raisins, nuts, dried fruit and trail mix.

And don't forget to load up on modest cans of love apple or vegetable juice. That mode, no matter how busy y'all are, you can grab and go with a nutritious bite (and sip) in hand.

Other shortcuts you should definitely accept: using frozen vegetables and fruits, ready-washed numberless of salad, and fast-cooking cuts of meat and poultry (for stir-fry or fajitas).

From the What to Expect editorial team and Heidi Murkoff, writer ofWhat to Expect When You're Expecting. What to Wait follows strict reporting guidelines and uses simply credible sources, such as peer-reviewed studies, bookish research institutions and highly respected health organizations. Acquire how we keep our content authentic and upward-to-date past reading our medical review and editorial policy.

What to Look When You lot're Expecting, fifth edition, Heidi Murkoff.

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