25 week pregnancy video

Your Pregnancy Week by Week: Weeks 21-25

Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors

Week 21

Baby: Your baby is steadily gaining fat to keep warm. Growth rate is slowing down, but its organs are still maturing. Your baby's oil glands are making a waxy film, called the vernix caseosa, that covers the skin to keep it supple in the amniotic fluid. Buds for permanent teeth are beginning to form. If your baby is a boy, their testes have formed but remain in their abdomen. Baby makes strong kicks and turns. From head to heel, your baby is about as long as a large butternut squash -- 10.5 inches.

Mom-to-be: Congratulations! This week begins the second half of your pregnancy. You're starting to show! You may notice stretch marks on your breasts or belly. Your uterus is starting to extend above your navel. You've probably gained 10-14 pounds by now.

Tip of the Week: If you're interested in childbirth classes, now's a good time to start looking for one.

Week 22

Baby: Your baby's muscles are getting stronger every week now, and the eyelids and eyebrows are developed. Hair is also visible. Your baby moves a lot and responds to sound, rhythm, and melody. If you sing and talk to your baby now, those sounds may later soothe your newborn. If your baby is a girl, their ovaries have already formed. From head to heel, your baby is as long as an ear of corn -- 11 inches.

Mom-to-be: Your uterus is still growing, and you're probably feeling pretty good -- no more morning sickness. You may still be getting leg and foot cramps, though, and mild swelling of your ankles and feet. You may have heartburn more often as your uterus presses on your stomach. Finding it hard to stay cool? Blame it on pregnancy hormones! Your back, legs, and feet may ache from carrying pregnancy weight. Skin feel dry and itchy? Moisturizing your breasts and belly may help.

Tip of the Week: To curb cramping, eat more calcium and potassium. Have a glass of milk before bedtime or snack on potassium-rich foods, such as grapefruits, oranges, and bananas. If you do get a leg cramp, try flexing your toes back toward your face and keeping your leg straight.

Week 23

Baby: Your baby's skin is still wrinkled because your baby still has more weight to gain. Fine hair, called lanugo, on the body sometimes turns darker. Fingers and toes have fully formed -- they even have fingerprints! Baby may start hiccuping, causing jerking movements. At this stage, baby's skin is still wrinkled and translucent. Tip to toe, your baby is about as long as a head of romaine lettuce -- 12 inches.

Mom-to-be: You've probably gained about 12-15 pounds. While pregnant, you may notice an increase in vaginal secretions that are typically clear-to-yellowish with a faint smell. If the color or odor changes significantly, check in with your health care provider to see if you have an infection. Does the small of your back ache? Pain in your back and hips may increase as your ligaments loosen for birth. Lying down, getting massages, and applying a heating pad or hot water bottle to the area can help. You may need to pee less often now than in the first trimester.

Tip of the Week: As your skin stretches, it may become dry and itchy. Keeping it moist with lotions or creams can help.

Week 24

Baby: This is the approximate age your baby can first survive outside the womb. Your baby is starting to make white blood cells, which will help it fight off disease and infection, and may respond to your touch or sounds. Your baby may startle when they hear loud sounds. If you haven't felt the baby hiccup yet, you might now. Your little one is as long and heavy as a pineapple -- 12.5 inches, 1.5 pounds.

Mom-to-be: Expect to gain about a pound per week this month. Your health care provider may test you for gestational diabetes between this week and 28 weeks. You may notice some mild cramping after sex or orgasm -- this is normal. As your belly continues to grow, you may feel a bit unbalanced when moving. Your heart rate may be higher now as your body works to pump more blood.

Tip of the Week: Your partner might be able to hear the baby's heartbeat by putting an ear to your abdomen.

Week 25

Baby: Your baby's skin now becomes opaque instead of transparent. The baby's body is still covered with folds, as it needs to grow into its skin. Heartbeat can be heard through a stethoscope or, depending on the position of the baby, by others putting an ear against your belly.

Mom-to-be: Besides your uterus growing upward, it may be getting bigger on your abdomen's sides. You may have hemorrhoids, caused by increased blood flow, constipation, indigestion, and heartburn. As your baby continues to grow, you'll start to feel more kicks and rolls. Your uterus is now about the size of a soccer ball. Your breasts are growing faster now than any other time in pregnancy.

Tip of the Week: To soothe hemorrhoids, apply an ice pack or witch hazel, or try a sitz bath (soaking your bottom in shallow warm water). Over-the-counter suppositories and/or medicated wipes may also help. Don't take laxatives or mineral oil.

What's Happening Inside You?

By the end of the sixth month, your baby's finger and toe prints are visible. The eyelids begin to part and the eyes open.

Your baby may respond to sounds by moving or increasing the pulse, and you may feel the baby hiccuping.

Health & Pregnancy Guide

Getting Pregnant
First Trimester
Second Trimester
Third Trimester
Labor and Delivery
Pregnancy Complications
All Guide Topics

25 Weeks Pregnant | Pregnancy

When you're pregnant, you have lots of questions. Our week-by-week pregnancy guide is packed with lots of useful information. From what's happening inside your body, to how your baby is developing, and tips and advice on having a healthy pregnancy – this is your one-stop pregnancy guide!

1st trimester
2nd trimester
3rd trimester

Our week-by-week pregnancy guide is full of essential information. From staying fit in pregnancy to advice on your maternity rights, you'll find it all here.

Week 13
Week 14
Week 15
Week 16
Week 17
Week 18
Week 19
Week 20
Week 21
Week 22
Week 23
Week 24
Week 25
Week 26
Week 27

Welcome to week 25! You'll need to tell your employers now, if you haven't already, so that you can get maternity pay and benefits. If your partner plans to take paternity leave, they will need to tell their employer too. Did you know that female partners are also entitled to paternity leave?

What's happening in my body?

You could be starting to get a bit puffy and swollen in your face, hands and feet. This is probably completely harmless and caused by water retention – but do mention it to your midwife or doctor.

They will want to check your blood pressure, just in case it's a sign of a dangerous condition called pre-eclampsia.

Pre-eclampsia can happen in the 2nd half of pregnancy or after the baby is born. If you get any other signs, such as splitting headaches, vision problems, or pain just below the ribs, then call your doctor, midwife or NHS 111.

Feeling gassy after eating

Are you burping a lot? It's very common around now. You may be feeling more full than usual.

After eating or drinking you could get:

burning in your chest
bloating
nausea

This is probably indigestion and heartburn. Digestive problems are caused by your growing baby taking over some of the space where your stomach used to be.

It can help to:

eat smaller meals, so you don't feel too full afterwards
eat healthily and avoid rich, spicy and fatty foods
cut back on drinks with caffeine (such as tea, coffee and energy drinks)
sit up straight when you eat
give up alcohol and cigarettes

Around 1 in 4 families are single parent families. You may be worried about money or how you'll cope. It's important that you talk to people about how you feel and ask for help if you need it.

You can also talk to your doctor or midwife about local support groups. Gingerbread is an organisation for single parent families that can advise you on everything from benefits to childcare.

Get more advice on being a single parent on the NHS website.

2nd trimester pregnancy symptoms (at 25 weeks)

This week, your signs of pregnancy could include:

tiredness and sleeping problems (week 19 has information about feeling tired)
stretch marks (read about stretch marks on week 17's page)
swollen and bleeding gums (week 13 has information about gum health during pregnancy)
pains on the side of your baby bump, caused by your expanding womb ("round ligament pains")
piles (read about piles on week 22's page)
headaches
backache
nosebleeds
indigestion and heartburn (week 25 talks about digestive problems)
bloating and constipation (read about bloating on week 16's page)
leg cramps (week 20 explains how to deal with cramp)
feeling hot -dizziness
swollen hands and feet
urine infections
vaginal infections (see week 15 for vaginal health)
darkened skin on your face or brown patches – this is known as chloasma or the "mask of pregnancy"
greasier, spotty skin
thicker and shinier hair

You may also experience symptoms from earlier weeks, such as:

mood swings (week 8's page has information on mood swings)
morning sickness (read about dealing with morning sickness on week 6's page)
weird pregnancy cravings (read about pregnancy cravings on week 5's page)
a heightened sense of smell
sore or leaky breasts (read about breast pain on week 14's page) - a white milky pregnancy discharge from your vagina and light spotting (seek medical advice for any bleeding)

Read Tommy's guide to common pregnancy symptoms.

What does my baby look like?

Your baby, or foetus, is around 34.6cm long from head to heel, and weighs about 660g. That's approximately the size of a head of cauliflower, and the weight of 4 jacket potatoes.

This is an active time for your baby. A loud noise could make your baby jump and kick, which shouldn't hurt, but might take you by surprise. You might even feel the occasional hiccup.

Your baby is now peeing into the amniotic fluid. By now, most of the liquid around your baby is urine which provides cushioning and helps keep the temperature snug and stable.

Action stations

Start thinking a bit more about what you'd ideally like to happen when your baby's born. What kind of pain relief would you like? Who do you want to have with you? You can download an NHS birth plan template which will help you think through some of the big issues.

This week you could also...

It's time to break the news, if you haven't already. The latest you can leave it is 15 weeks before the baby is due, which is around now. As soon as you tell your employer, you will have maternity rights and can attend antenatal appointments during paid work time. You can also ask for a risk assessment of your work place.

It's a good time to tone up your pelvic floor muscles. Gentle exercises can help to prevent leakage when you laugh, sneeze or cough. Get the muscles going by pretending that you're having a wee and then stopping midflow. Visit Tommy's for more ideas about pelvic floor exercises.

Ask your midwife or doctor about online antenatal classes – they may be able to recommend one. The charity Tommy's has lots of useful information on antenatal classes and preparing you for birth.

Even if you've had children before, they're still worth going to as you can meet other parents-to-be. The NCT offers online antenatal classes with small groups of people that live locally to you.

To keep bones and muscles healthy, we need vitamin D. From late March/early April to the end of September, most people make enough vitamin D from sunlight on their skin. However, between October and early March, you should consider taking a daily vitamin D supplement because we cannot make enough from sunlight.

Some people should take a vitamin D supplement all year round, find out if this applies to you on the NHS website. You just need 10 micrograms (it's the same for grown-ups and kids). Check if you're entitled to free vitamins.

Get moving! It's recommended that you do 150 minutes of exercise a week while pregnant. You could start off with just 10 minutes of daily exercise - perhaps take a brisk walk outside. Check out Sport England's #StayInWorkOut online exercises (scroll to the pregnancy section). Listen to your body and do what feels right for you.

There's no need to eat for 2. You don't need any extra calories until the third trimester, which starts in week 28. Try and eat healthily with plenty of fresh fruit and veg, and avoid processed, fatty and salty foods. You may be able to get free milk, fruit and veg through the Healthy Start scheme.

How are you today? If you're feeling anxious or low, talk to your doctor or midwife who can point you in the right direction to get all the support you need. You could also discuss your worries with your partner, friends and family.

You may be worried about your relationship, or money, or having somewhere permanent to live. Don't keep it to yourself. It's important to ask for help if you need it.

Getting pregnant again is probably the last thing on your mind. However now is a good time to start planning what type of contraception you would like to use after your baby is born. Getting pregnant again could happen sooner than you realise and too short a gap between babies is known to cause problems. Talk to your GP or midwife to help you decide.

You and your family should follow the government and NHS guidance on coronavirus (COVID-19):

read government guidance on how to stay safe from COVID-19

get NHS advice about COVID-19

use the NHS COVID-19 app for England and Wales – it's the fastest way of knowing when you've been exposed to COVID-19

To find out about about COVID-19 and pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding, have a look at advice on the:

NHS website

Breastfeeding Network

World Health Organization

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Fetus 17 weeks.	Fetus 31 weeks.
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Fetus 32 weeks.	Fetus 9 weeks.
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Fetus 23 weeks.	Twins 10 weeks.
Fetus 10 weeks.	Fetus 11 weeks.
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Fetus 25 weeks.	Fetus 9 weeks.
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Fetus 12 weeks.	Fetal pedicle, 33 weeks.
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"Mom, there are two of us!", 11 weeks.	Fetus 32 weeks and 1 day.
Fetus 34 weeks and 2 days.	"Let's hide!", fetus 20 weeks.
Fetus 32 weeks.	Fetus 34 weeks.
"Let's hide!", fetus 20 weeks.	"Smile!", fetus 35 weeks 2 days.
Fetus 35 weeks.	Fetus 19 weeks.
Fetus 20 weeks pregnant.	Fetus 24 weeks pregnant.
Fetus 32 weeks. "I am a boy"	Fetus 9 weeks pregnant.
Fetus 33 weeks pregnant	;Fetus 12 weeks pregnant.
Fetus 20 weeks pregnant. "My legs"	Fetus 30 weeks pregnant.
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	Fetus, 28 weeks gestation
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Fetus, 9 weeks gestation	Fetus, 32 weeks' gestation
Fetus, 7-8 weeks gestation	Fetus, 7 weeks
Fetus, 22 weeks gestation	Fetus, pregnancy 22-23 weeks
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Fetus, pregnancy 31-32 weeks	Embryo, 8-9 weeks

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Critical stages of pregnancy - why are they dangerous?

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The wonderful period of waiting for a baby for almost every woman is far from serene: how many worries, worries and doubts arise in expectant mothers at this time - they simply cannot be counted. In most cases, all fears are in vain - the baby develops and grows safely. However, it must be remembered that there are also so-called critical periods of pregnancy, when inattention to oneself and one's body can lead to a disastrous result - its spontaneous termination.

First trimester

The beginning of a new life in a woman's body, or 2-3 weeks of pregnancy, is considered the first critical period. This is due to the fact that the egg can be fertilized, but due to changes as a result of inflammation, hormonal imbalances, the presence of nodes, scars, fibroids or synechia on the inner mucous membrane of the uterus, implantation does not occur, the embryo dies and is removed from the mother's body during menses. However, even if implantation has occurred, the embryo may stop developing and spontaneous miscarriage at an early stage , and the main reason for this course of events is chromosomal abnormalities.

The second critical period of the first trimester begins at 8 and ends at 12 weeks of gestation. At this time, the main cause of interruption is considered to be hormonal deficiency, which disrupts the process of placental formation. This condition may be associated with reduced work of the corpus luteum of the ovaries, excessive production of androgens by the adrenal glands - male sex hormones, as well as malfunctions of the pituitary gland or thyroid gland. The threat of termination of pregnancy can be eliminated with the help of properly selected and timely prescribed hormonal treatment, which will allow the baby to safely reach the due date.

In addition, throughout the first trimester of pregnancy, the fetus may stop developing due to the following adverse environmental factors:

harmful working conditions
bad habits
physical effects - radiation, vibration, intense sports training, etc.
acute infectious diseases (influenza, cytomegalovirus, herpes, rubella and others)
severe stressful situations

And even if the fetus develops further, the negative impact of most of these factors may appear after a few months of pregnancy or even after the baby is born: these may be anatomical disorders or severe malformations. Therefore, the entire first trimester of the development of a new life can be considered "critical".

Second trimester

The third critical period of pregnancy occurs at 18-24 weeks of gestation and is largely associated with the active growth of the uterus. At this time, spontaneous interruption most often occurs due to isthmic-cervical insufficiency (ICI), as a result of which the fetal egg descends under the influence of gravity, loses its integrity and triggers the mechanism of labor activity. However, shortening and expansion of the cervical canal, detected in time, allows suturing the cervix or installing an obstetric pessary and safely prolonging the pregnancy. Here we should also remember about infectious diseases, including intrauterine infection, which can disrupt the functions of the placenta, lead to the outflow of water from the fetal bladder and late miscarriage.

Another common reason for interrupting the process of gestation at this time is placenta previa or its low location: for various reasons, it can exfoliate, cause severe bleeding and death of the fetus. In addition, at this time, pregnancy may stop developing due to violations in the development of the brain and the most important functional systems of the baby, caused by the harmful effects of various negative factors on them in the first trimester.

Third trimester

In this trimester - at 28-32 weeks - the fourth critical period takes place. The threat of premature birth may occur due to insufficiency of the placenta, its premature detachment, severe forms of late toxicosis of pregnant women, ICI and various hormonal disorders. In addition, due to the overdistension of the uterus, most multiple pregnancies end at this time. Children born during this period are already viable, but they need long-term qualified medical care.

In addition to all the periods listed above, the critical periods for women who have had reproductive losses in the past are the days of planned menstruation, miscarriages or “fading” of pregnancies. Doctors believe that during these periods the body can “remember” the need for hormonal changes, so they carefully monitor the condition of the expectant mother and baby and prescribe treatment in a timely manner if any threat arises.