Pregnancy week by week · trimester 2
🥒 25 weeks pregnant: your baby is about the size of a courgette
At 25 weeks pregnant, your baby is about the size of a courgette, adding softness while the lungs keep maturing. First-time mums usually have a 25 week appointment.
Your baby this week
Your baby is about the size of a courgette, roughly 34.6cm long and 660g. They are adding fat, so their skin is becoming smoother and plumper. The lungs keep maturing, and the nostrils are starting to open. Your baby's hands are busy, opening and closing, exploring their face and the cord. They respond to sound and touch, and may become more active when you are resting. Hair may be growing on their head, with its colour still developing.
You this week
You may notice more aches as your bump grows, especially in your back, hips and pelvis. Heartburn, constipation and haemorrhoids are common, and not something to be embarrassed about. You may feel breathless when climbing stairs. Some mums feel tingling or numbness in their hands, called carpal tunnel. Sleep can be harder. Let people help you where they can, even with small things.
Kind things to do this week
- Eat plenty of fibre and drink water to keep things moving.
- Shake out your hands or rest them on pillows if they tingle at night.
- Say yes to offers of help; you do not have to do everything.
Appointments around now
If this is your first pregnancy, you will usually have an appointment with your midwife at 25 weeks to check your blood pressure, urine and the size of your bump.
Questions to ask your midwife
- Is my bump measuring as expected?
- What can I do about pelvic pain?
When to call your midwife or maternity unit
If your baby's movements slow down, stop or feel different to their usual pattern, contact your maternity unit straight away, day or night. Do not wait until the next day, and do not rely on a home doppler. Also call your midwife or maternity unit if you have bleeding, fluid leaking, a severe headache, changes to your vision, or sudden swelling of your face, hands or feet.
OBubba from bump to baby
Follow your pregnancy week by week, free.
OBubba is free through pregnancy, with a weekly update, kick counting and contraction timing. On the day your baby arrives, the same app becomes your baby tracker.
Questions
What happens at the 25 week appointment?
Your midwife will check your blood pressure and urine, measure your bump, and listen to your baby's heartbeat if you would like.
Why do my hands tingle at 25 weeks pregnant?
Fluid can press on a nerve in your wrist, causing tingling or numbness, known as carpal tunnel. It usually eases after birth. Tell your midwife if it bothers you.
Not sure how far along you are? Use the due date calculator.
Sources
OBubba gives general information. It is not medical advice and does not diagnose anything. Your midwife and maternity unit are always the right people to ask, any time of day or night.