PREGNANCY
25 Weeks Pregnant: Breathing for Two
Your baby’s fingernails and toenails are growing—don’t be surprised if they’re long when she’s born!
Written by
Dr. Harvey Karp
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PREGNANCY
Written by
Dr. Harvey Karp
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Bestsellers
Eyes, nose, fingers and toes: By week 25, they’re all formed!
Your baby’s fingernails and toenails are growing throughout your pregnancy… so don’t be surprised if they’re a bit long when your little one is born. Even though they may be long, the nails are thin and soft. They can be trimmed, but it’s usually better just to file them (so you don’t leave a sharp edge or accidentally nick a finger).
Your little love is also busy getting their lungs ready for birth. One important step is producing surfactant, a substance that coats the thousands of tiny air sacs inside the lungs. Without it, the sacs want to stick closed—the way your lips can stick together when they’re dry. Surfactant acts like a natural moisturiser, making each sac a little slippery—like a dab of lip balm. After birth, it helps the sacs open easily with each breath and keeps them from sticking closed when your baby exhales.
Your baby’s eyes are undergoing rapid development, too. Within the next month and a half, all the layers of their retina will be in place. Their eyesight will keep improving after birth—at first babies are very short-sighted. What you see clearly from 6 metres away, they can only see sharply from about 30 centimetres… everything further is a blur.
If you’re 25 weeks pregnant, you’re about 6 months pregnant!
Your baby at 25 weeks is about the size of a bag of coffee.
If you can’t quite catch your breath these days, you’re not imagining it! Feeling breathless happens for a couple of reasons:
You may also be feeling the effects of relaxin, a hormone that softens (and, well… relaxes) your ligaments and joints! Your pelvis will widen slightly, which is helpful for birth, but it can cause odd aches and pains in the last few months.
If you’re experiencing pelvic pain, sit and rest when you can, and avoid heavy chores or carrying bulky items. Sleeping with a pillow between your knees may help. Swimming is another great option—being in water relieves pressure on your joints and boosts circulation.
Those pregnancy hormones can also interfere with digestion. Constipation is a common issue. The usual advice applies: drink plenty of water, eat fibre-rich foods, and go for a walk after meals. Supplements such as probiotics, aloe vera juice, and magnesium may help. Check with your midwife or doctor before trying these, and ask about your iron intake, since iron supplements are a common constipation culprit.
The phrase “working mother” is redundant. — Jane Sellman
Disclaimer: The information on our site is NOT medical advice for any specific person or condition. It is only meant as general information. If you have any medical questions and concerns about your child or yourself, please contact your health provider. Breastmilk is the best source of nutrition for babies. It is important that, in preparation for and during breastfeeding, mothers eat a healthy, balanced diet. Combined breast- and bottle-feeding in the first weeks of life may reduce the supply of a mother's breastmilk and reversing the decision not to breastfeed is difficult. If you do decide to use infant formula, you should follow instructions carefully.
