25th Week of Pregnancy
What changes are occurring with your body?
Your uterus is approximately the size of a soccer ball, and the top of your uterus can be felt about halfway between your belly button and the bottom of your sternum.*
How big is your baby?
Your baby is now 13 inches long and weighs anywhere from 1½ to 1¾ pounds.*
What is happening with your baby?
While it does not appear that your baby is that big, he or she is slowly gaining some baby fat, making his/her appearance less wrinkled. If your baby has hair, the color and texture could be seen at this point. However, it can change after the baby is born.
Your baby's Gender...You hear all sorts of ways to tell if you are having a boy or a girl. If the baby’s heart rate is fast, you are having a girl. If the heart rate is slower, then it is a boy. Others will guess the sex of the baby based on how you are carrying the baby. If you are carrying low then it is a boy, and if you are carrying high it is a girl. These are just a few of the wives’ tales that pregnant women often hear.
However, there are only two scientific ways to determine gender. This can be determined by an ultrasound or amniocentesis. Even if you have had an ultrasound after 20 weeks, it is not 100% accurate in predicting the sex of the baby. Ultrasound technicians, nurses, and doctors can be wrong. Since an amniocentesis looks at the genetic make-up, gender can be determined this way. Normally an amniocentesis is not warranted unless there is a complication in the pregnancy.*
What should you plan for this week?
You may be tempted to have a keepsake ultrasound performed during the last part of your pregnancy. Although these services offer a novel means for creating special memories, there are health concerns that need to be considered. The ultrasound procedure involves high frequency sound waves to produce diagnostic images.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, an ultrasound should be requested by a physician for a medical reason and performed by trained professionals, such as sonographers, radiologists, or obstetricians. Several organizations have released statements regarding keepsake ultrasound. To read the statements, please see our article on keepsake ultrasounds
Tips for making your pregnancy better:
Whether or not you know the gender of your baby, you may want to begin thinking about baby names. You and your partner may have already discussed this and have a name picked out. Ask yourself the following questions concerning the names you are leaning towards:
- What do the initials spell out?
- Are there any nicknames that are associated with this name?
- What other words rhyme with this name?
This is just a guide to think through as you pick a name for your child.
Tips for mom’s partner:
How long has it been since your partner had a manicure or pedicure? These are just a few of life’s luxuries that may be put aside while a woman goes through her pregnancy, but having one could greatly lift her spirits. Get her a gift certificate or schedule an appointment for a manicure or pedicure. If money is tight, give her a pedicure or manicure yourself. All you need is a few supplies to give her “salon quality” treatment.
Supplies:
- Bowl or pan with warm water
- Mix some lotion or bath oil with sugar to use as an exfoliant
- Soft towel to dry her hands and feet
- Lotion or cream to apply afterwards
- A color of nail polish she likes or clear if nothing else is available
- Nail clippers and file
- Flip flops that allow her to walk around without ruining her freshly painted toes
* The information that the American Pregnancy Association provides is used as a general guide for healthy pregnancy development, although development may vary due to the mother’s health or a miscalculation of ovulation. Each woman and pregnancy is unique and may be experienced differently. Remember that babies develop at different rates, even before they are born. The purpose of this developmental information is to give you a general idea of how your baby is growing, and you must remember that your baby’s growth may vary from that which is outlined.