In this article you will be able to read about everything related to your pregnancy in week 25. Here you'll find information about the baby's development, how the mother's body is changing and the tips you may need along the way. In week 25, the fetus is the size of a papaya!

Baby: The fetus is now about 30 cm!

The fetus is about 33 cm long and weighs about 700 grams. The lungs are the organ that takes the longest to develop and will not be fully developed for a couple of weeks. The respiratory system is now taking shape!

Does the fetus feel pain?

It used to be thought that fetuses could not feel pain. However, after ultrasound-guided invasive examinations were performed, it was found that fetuses respond to pain stimuli. However, during the first part of pregnancy these movements are only reflexive.

Currently, there are different opinions about fetuses and the development of pain perception, but what is known for sure is that they perceive pain from the end of the second trimester, which you are approaching. However, there is no need to worry, nothing you do can cause any kind of pain. Not even if you walk into a hard edge of a table or if a big sibling is less gentle on your stomach! The baby is well protected in the womb with double amniotic membranes and amniotic fluid around it. On the other hand, if you fall and land on your stomach or part of it, or experience something really hard like a crash, then you should immediately contact emergency services for advice.

Mom: 25 weeks pregnant

Can you sometimes see and feel your stomach getting hard and then relaxing? That's a contraction you're getting!

Contractions

During the later part of your pregnancy, your uterus will train itself to give you strong and effective labor pains in order to deliver the baby. The uterus, which is a muscle, practices this by contracting from time to time in a contraction.

Pregnant women can feel contractions more or less based on the baby's movements. Contractions can be felt differently depending on whether you are expecting your first baby or if you are a new mother. Omnivores often feel contractions earlier and more clearly than first-time mothers. However, many people can feel confident in recognizing the feeling from their first pregnancy.

As long as the contractions are not painful, they are considered normal. These contractions are called Braxton Hicks! Contractions shouldn't hurt, but they can be annoying or uncomfortable when the uterus tightens. You may need to stop if you are active and wait for the contraction to pass.

Tough contractions?

Contractions can be uncomfortable and the feeling can be similar to being held. Especially when you have several contractions in a row or if they last for a long time. Taking it easy, sitting down and resting can usually help. Stress and anxiety are triggered by discomfort or pain, which can make the contractions feel more difficult. If you have a lot of contractions, it is always a good idea to tell your midwife. If the contractions are painful or if they increase in intensity or frequency, contact your midwife or the maternity ward immediately.

Fetal movements

Depending on whether you have been pregnant before, and where the placenta is located, you may have felt fetal movement for several weeks or just a short period. However, from this week on, you should feel fetal movement daily! And in much the same way as the day before. If you're not sure what you feel, talk to your midwife and you can feel your belly and try to understand how the baby is positioned. Then together you can feel and confirm what the baby's movements are.

As the pregnancy progresses, the more powerful movements the fetus is able to make. Remember that just because you are nearing the end of your pregnancy, fetal movements should not decrease in number or strength. However, it is common for the movements to change over the course of the pregnancy and feel different as you get closer to term. This is because the baby is growing and the space in the womb is decreasing.

If you wish, you can note for yourself how often you feel fetal movements and at what intensity, to get to know your baby's movement patterns. You can feel both large and small movements. It is most common for pregnant women to feel fetal movement in the evening, but this may be because it is only then that you relax and feel it. That's why it can be worth resting for a while during the day and actively feeling any movements.

If you have experienced a clear difference in fetal movements compared to before, or feel less than usual, you should contact your maternity clinic where you plan to have your baby.

Here you can read about week 24.

Here you can read about week 26.