Welcome to your week 25 pregnancy update where we outline the changes you and your baby are experiencing.

Your Baby

Does it feel like your little week 25 baby is punching you from inside your belly? Your baby’s co-ordination has come along so much in the last few weeks that he can now make a fist and can grab his feet for acrobatic fun and games inside his little womb palace. His lungs are continuing to develop and his nostrils are opening up. Babies at 24 weeks have been found to increase their breathing after their mothers eat, especially if the food contains sugar!

Baby will be moving around in the womb, and has what’s called a ‘righting reflex’, which enables him to adopt a head down position in the uterus.

The tooth buds developing under his gums are laying down enamel and he is really starting to make his presence known while he grows bigger inside you. Most of baby’s remaining development will be weight gain and nervous system development.

Just like adults, all babies are different and develop at varying rates in the womb. This information gives a general idea of your baby’s development and progress

The Mum Update

It may be hard to believe, but if your baby were delivered now, she would have a chance of surviving. Some of the greatest advances in medicine have been in the care of premature babies and with new treatment methods, such as ventilators, monitors and medication survival is increasingly likely.

If you take note of your baby’s movements you might notice  clear waking and sleeping patterns although he definitely spends 90% of his womb-time sleeping. Many women notice baby is noticeably more active when they are resting, perhaps because when a pregnant woman is active, her body naturally ‘rocks’ her baby to sleep.

Has your sexual desire increased or is sex the last thing on your mind? Generally women experience one of two sex-drive patterns during pregnancy. One is a lessening of desire in the 1st and 3rd trimesters, with an increase in the 2nd trimester. The second is a gradual decrease in desire for sex as pregnancy progresses.

Tip: If you are planning to paint your baby’s room organise for someone other than you to do it. Scraping or sanding any kind of paint during pregnancy is definitely not recommended as it could contain lead. Although modern paint contain low levels or even no solvents, it is recommended you don’t paint during pregnancy (except for small craft projects).
Itching is a common symptom during pregnancy. There are no bumps or lesions on the skin; it just itches. Nearly 20% of all pregnant women suffer from itching, often in the last weeks of pregnancy, but it can occur at any time.

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