By 25 weeks pregnant, you’re really feeling your baby’s motions and may even be able to elicit a response when you speak to him! Out of sight, his lungs are taking significant steps to prepare for the world, and he’s starting to put on a little weight. Okay, he’s still not made it to two pounds, but a layer of fatty tissue is beginning to develop beneath his skin that will fill him out and help him hold in body heat once he’s born!

Meanwhile, moms’ feelings vary. Some may find that they’re still in the comfortable period, where the woes of the first trimester have ended and the awkward third trimester hasn’t begun, but others will already feel unwieldy and overwhelmed. Adjust your schedule to meet your body’s needs, and give yourself a lot of grace to rest!

Your Baby’s Development At 25 Weeks

The average fetus is now between 1.5 and 2lb and between 13 and 14 inches in length. The baby has begun to develop the layer of fat necessary for life on the outside!

Baby spends most of his time sleeping, and during sleep he may dream. At this stage, a fetus does have REM (rapid eye movement) sleep and his limbs may move during this sleep, which are typically considered signs of dreaming, though it’s hard to define what dreaming might look like before birth.

His lungs are beginning to coat with surfactant, a substance that makes the surface of the lung more able to expand and carry out the task of taking in oxygen and passing it into the bloodstream. If you’re at risk of early delivery, your doctor may give you corticosteroid injections to speed this process and increase the odds that the baby will be ready to breathe at birth.

Quick Overview: Baby's Development At 25 Weeks Pregnant:

• Baby Size: Now around 13 inches, weighing about 1.5 pounds.
• Dreaming: Your baby experiences REM sleep; limb movements suggest possible dreaming.
• Fat Development: Gaining more body fat necessary for life outside the womb.
• Lung Development: Producing surfactant, essential for breathing after birth; early babies may need medical support.

Mother’s Symptoms At 25 Weeks

Pregnancy brings many physical changes, and you might notice various uncomfortable symptoms at this stage. Your body is adapting to your growing baby, leading to digestive issues, pain, swelling, skin changes, and even sleep problems. While many of these symptoms are common, it’s essential to watch closely for signs that could indicate more serious conditions, like pre-eclampsia, and report them to your doctor promptly.

Digestive Symptoms

Pregnancy changes how your body handles food and digestion. Thanks to hormones, pressure on your stomach from your growing uterus, and other changes, you may have heartburn and indigestion. OTC antacids (like Tums or Rolaids) are typically considered safe during pregnancy. However, check the ingredients since some antacids contain aspirin, magnesium trisilicate, or sodium bicarbonate, which are not safe during pregnancy.

You may also notice that you feel full more quickly when you eat, even though you’re still hungry! Your growing baby can put a squeeze on your stomach, making it hard to eat as much as you usually would in a single sitting. That’s okay – take your leftovers in a to-go box and plan to eat smaller meals more frequently.

Many pregnant women will also struggle with constipation. A stool softener is generally considered safe, but don’t take laxatives without checking with your doctor. Increasing your fluid and fiber intake may also be an effective option.

Cravings are a normal part of pregnancy. However, not everything you crave is healthy and safe for you and your baby. Check out our guide to common pregnancy cravings for tips on what your cravings may mean and what healthy choices may satisfy them.

Pain & Cramping

As pregnancy progresses, you may experience more soreness and discomfort from the changes to your body.

This may include rib pain as your rib cage expands to make room for your organs, back or leg pain from carrying around extra weight (have you bought a new pair of supportive shoes yet?), and more.

Back pain can come in a few varieties. It could just be the extra work your spine does to carry around a baby all day. Sometimes, it may be sciatica, which is pain caused by pressure on your sciatic nerve. This can cause hip pain as well. Your doctor may offer you stretches that will help relieve it. Contact your doctor immediately if you feel numbness in your feet or legs.

Some women will experience early labor contractions as back pain. If your back pain seems to have a recurring rhythm like contractions, check with your doctor.

Round ligament pain can feel severe but is normal and typically passes if you shift into a position where your round ligaments (under your uterus) aren’t doing so much work. OTV pain meds can also help.

Some women will also have pelvic girdle pain (PGP). Pain in the pelvic girdle – the ring of bone around your body at the base of your spine – can become strained, according to the Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists. Though it’s common, it can also be debilitating, and you should talk to your doctor about treatment options.

Leg cramps and restless leg syndrome (RLS) symptoms are also common in pregnancy. They may be caused in part by a deficiency in iron or folate. Since the usual medications for RLS may not be safe during pregnancy, your doctor will probably recommend non-pharmacological options first, including exercise, massage, and warm baths. However, if symptoms interfere with waking life your doctor may discuss risks and benefits of other options. Even if it’s mild, do speak to your doctor about these symptoms, as there’s some evidence for a link between RLS and more difficult labor or even C-section, and some providers may wish to prescribe supplements.

Fatigue, Shortness Of Breath, Headaches

Thanks to the pressure on your lungs, higher blood volume, hormonal changes, and other factors, you may be tired or out of breath more quickly when carrying out normal activities.

This will also mean headaches, fatigue, and even mild dizziness for some women. Stop what you’re doing and sit or lie down. If symptoms persist or are severe, report them to your doctor. If they come with chest pain, if you faint or lose consciousness, or if you have a headache that won’t go away, seek immediate medical care.

Sleep Disturbances

Even though you’re exhausted, sleep may be difficult during pregnancy.

If heartburn and indigestion keep you up, an antacid and some minimal lifestyle changes may help. These include not eating in the last few hours before bed, keeping meals and snacks smaller and more frequent, and avoiding trigger foods. Sleeping with your upper body elevated can also help.

Sleep hygiene practices may help with rest. Establish a nighttime routine. Use a warm bath, stretching, or leg massage to mitigate RLS symptoms. Turn off screens before bedtime, and choose relaxing activities, reading material, or music as sleeptime nears. If you’re struggling with worries, write them down and promise yourself that you can get back to worrying in the morning, but that you should turn them off for now.

If you still find that lack of sleep is severe enough to cause daytime problems, speak to your doctor.

Skin & Breast Changes

As your skin stretches, expect to see stretch marks. These may appear on your stomach, chest, or other areas. These can leave scars and may feel uncomfortable or itchy. Many women choose to embrace them, but others don’t like the appearance. A gentle moisturizer or lotion, like cocoa butter, can reduce both the appearance (including long-term scarring) and any itching or pulling sensation.

During pregnancy, breasts can grow larger and feel tender or uncomfortable. A supportive bra can help. You may notice that you leak colostrum as well. This isn’t a problem in itself, but it can result in annoying dampness, leaking through your clothes and causing stains, and the dampness can result in cracked or bleeding nipples. Your skin may also stick to your bra or shirt and pull or bleed if you pull it away. To protect against this, you can insert a nursing pad into your bra. There are a wide variety of options, including disposables, reusable, and even soothing gel pads.

Pre-Eclampsia Warning Signs

Pre-eclampsia is a serious complication of pregnancy that requires extra monitoring and may require early delivery of your baby. Many pre-eclampsia symptoms may seem like normal parts of pregnancy, but with the intensity dialled up.

Watch out for severe headaches that don’t go away when you take an OTC pain medication, hydrate, and rest. If you have sudden, severe swelling, or if it affects your chest or face, call your doctor. Swelling that is more prominent on one side of the body is also a warning sign.

Severe nausea and vomiting, sudden weight gain, and vision changes can also be symptoms.

25 Week Pregnancy Symptoms Quick Recap:

• Heartburn & Indigestion: Pressure from an expanding uterus causes discomfort.
• Constipation & Diarrhea: Both are common; diarrhea lasting 48+ hrs or with fever needs attention.
• Cravings: Normal, though not all cravings are healthy or safe.
• Pain: Rib discomfort, round ligament pain (sharp or pulling sensation), leg cramps, restless legs (RLS), pelvic pain (pelvic girdle pain), backache (watch for rhythmic patterns).
• Fatigue & Shortness of Breath: Increased lung pressure, higher blood volume.
• Headaches & Dizziness: Can occur; persistent or severe headaches need monitoring.
• Sleep Issues: Difficulty falling/staying asleep caused by discomfort, heartburn, and anxiety.
• Skin Changes: Stretch marks (itchy or pulling sensations), spider veins.
• Breast Changes: Tenderness, enlargement, leaking colostrum, potential cracked nipples.
• Swelling: Normal if mild; sudden or severe swelling (face/chest uneven swelling) may signal pre-eclampsia.
• Pre-eclampsia Symptoms: Severe headaches, sudden swelling, rapid weight gain, vision changes (blurred/dark spots).

When To Contact Your Doctor

Pregnancy brings many physical changes, and you might notice various uncomfortable symptoms at this stage. Your body adapts to your growing baby, leading to digestive issues, pain, swelling, skin changes, and even sleep problems. While many of these symptoms are common, it’s essential to watch closely for signs that could indicate more serious conditions, like pre-eclampsia, and promptly report them to your doctor.

Pre-Term Labor

Even when it’s time for baby, it can sometimes be challenging to be sure if your feelings are the start of labor. Preterm labor can be even harder to identify when you’re not expecting it. Some symptoms always warrant a call to your doctor.

Contractions are the most obvious sign of labor. That doesn’t mean they’re always easy to identify! If you’re not sure whether you’re having labor contractions or Braxton Hicks ‘practice’ contractions, try changing position and timing them. Labor contractions become more frequent and more intense; Braxton hicks do not and often disappear when you change position. For some women, a contraction will feel like an internal squeeze or a menstural cramp. Others will feel recurring lower back pain, or pelvic pressure.’ The NIH describes 6 contractions in an hour as “frequent” and a reason for concern. Your doctor may have a lower threshold and prefer to be contacted for fewer than that.

In sitcoms, we always know that a woman is in labor when her water breaks, usually dramatically. In real life, your water may not break on its own or happen until later in labor. When it does happen, it can be a gush or a trickle. If you think your water has broken, you should immediately seek medical care.

Losing the mucous plug may be a sign of labor. It can sometimes become dislodged by an internal exam and later reform, but if you notice what appear to be mucousy pieces, sometimes with pink or bloody streaks, what may be called a bloody show, check in with your doctor, as it could be a sign that your cervix is thinning or dilating.

In some cases, nausea and vomiting may also be a sign of labor. You’ll want to contact your doctor if there’s no underlying cause, like a stomach virus. Even if it’s caused by a contagious illness, though, severe vomiting can be dangerous, leading to dehydration, so you may still want to reach out.

Pre-Eclampsia

Symptoms of pre-eclampsia as described above (severe headaches, swelling that is severe or affects the chest or face, or vision changes) all warrant an immediate call to your healthcare provider.

Pain, Infection, & Other Symptoms

Call your doctor for any signs of vaginal infection, including itching and swelling. Call for any vaginal bleeding, or for changes in discharge.

Pain that doesn’t ease with treatment (including headaches), or that is severe and unusual, warrants a call to your doctor. If it just seems wrong, it’s okay to check in.

Cracked and bleeding nipples, fainting, inability to pass urine, pain or burning when passing urine, severe diarrhea, and chest cramps or pain are all good reasons to call your doctor.

Trust your instincts: it’s better to call if something feels wrong.

What Should Mom Be Doing At 25 Weeks?

Most women will have a glucose test between week 24 and week 28 of pregnancy. You may want to check with your doctor about when this will be scheduled.

Stay active (unless your doctor has said it’s not safe), but don’t overdo it. Excessive, repetitive heavy lifting isn’t advised at this point in pregnancy.

Consider asking for a whooping cough vaccine. It’s typically offered through week 32 and will also pass antibodies to your baby.

Check out our guide about routine tests performed during pregnancy to learn about other vaccines and tests that you may have received up until this point or will soon receive in the later stages of your pregnancy.

Quick Recap Of What Mom Should Be Doing At 25 Weeks Pregnant:

• Glucose Test: Scheduled between weeks 24-28; confirm timing with your doctor.
• Activity: Stay active, avoid repetitive heavy lifting.
• Whooping Cough Vaccine: This vaccine is recommended during pregnancy (protects your baby with antibodies).

What To Look Forward To

Most pregnancies will not involve further ultrasounds unless your doctor has raised a specific concern. However, you can hear your baby’s heartbeat at every appointment now. (Some doctors will whip out the portable ultrasound more frequently, and some may do a quick peek at week 28 or later to confirm the baby’s position.)

Starting at 28 weeks pregnant, you can do ‘kick counts’ and get to know your baby’s patterns!