Welcome to Week 25 of your pregnancy journey! At this stage, your baby is growing rapidly, and you may be experiencing a mix of exciting and challenging symptoms. Whether you’re enjoying the pregnancy glow or dealing with discomfort, this week is all about finding ways to stay strong, comfortable, and connected to your changing body. Here, we’ll cover what to expect for both you and your baby during this week, along with some personal insights from my own experience as I navigate my fourth pregnancy.
What's Happening with Your Baby
At 25 weeks, your baby is approximately the size of a Napa cabbage or a T89 calculator (for those who remember using one in high school!). This measurement is taken from head to butt, rather than head to foot, as your baby is curled up in the womb. Here’s a glimpse into your baby’s development:
Startle Reflex: Your baby’s nervous system is maturing, and their Moro reflex (startle reflex) is developing. This is why newborns sometimes startle themselves awake, which is one reason swaddling can be helpful after birth.
Capillary Growth: Tiny blood vessels are forming, making baby’s skin less transparent and giving it a pinkish tinge.
Weight Gain: Your baby is putting on fat, creating those adorable chubby cheeks and arm rolls.
Tongue Movement: A fun milestone—baby can now stick out their tongue! This is an early sign of developing feeding skills for nursing or bottle-feeding.
Changes You Might Experience
The second trimester is often called the “golden trimester,” but that doesn’t mean it’s symptom-free. Here are some common experiences during Week 25 and how to manage them:
1. Insomnia & Sleep Struggles
Many women experience pregnancy insomnia due to hormonal shifts, discomfort, or even low blood sugar at night.
💡 Tips for Better Sleep
- Try a bedtime snack with protein and healthy fats to stabilize blood sugar.
- Use a pregnancy pillow to support your belly, hips, and back.
- Try guided meditation or tart cherry juice, which may naturally boost melatonin.
2. Carpal Tunnel & Tingling Hands
Swelling during pregnancy can put pressure on nerves, leading to pregnancy-induced carpal tunnel.
💡 Relief Strategies
- Massage and ice baths for your hands.
- Using a TENS unit or wrist brace.
- Seeing an occupational therapist (OT) for treatment.
3. Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS)
Feeling like you constantly need to move your legs? It could be linked to low magnesium levels.
💡 Try This:
- Increase magnesium-rich foods (leafy greens, nuts, bananas) or take a supplement.
- Stretch before bed and try a warm bath with Epsom salts.
4. Hip & Pelvic Pain
Hip and SI joint pain is common as your body shifts to support baby’s weight. Poor sleep positioning can also contribute.
💡 Solutions for Pelvic Pain
- Sleeping Position: Place a pillow between your knees and ankles to keep your hips aligned.
- Stretch & Strengthen: Hip-shifting exercises and myofascial release with a soft massage ball can reduce tension.
- Wear a Belly Band: Extra belly support can help reduce strain when you’re on your feet.
Pregnancy Perks: The Hair Bonus!
With all the challenging symptoms, let’s celebrate a pregnancy win—your hair is likely thicker and more luscious thanks to hormonal changes preventing hair shedding. Enjoy it while it lasts, as postpartum shedding will come later!
My Personal Experience in Week 25
My Current Mindset: Counting Down the Weeks!
My 25th week of pregnancy has been a mix of excitement, physical discomfort, and proactive self-care. As I near the third trimester, I’m finding new ways to stay comfortable while keeping up with my active lifestyle. One of the biggest realizations I had this week was that I’m only 14 weeks away from meeting my baby! Seeing this number on my pregnancy tracking app made everything feel more real and exciting.
💡 My Current Focus:
- Comfort strategies to ease discomfort as I get closer to the third trimester.
- Consistently practicing prenatal fitness to stay strong and prepare for labor.
- Prioritizing rest & recovery when needed.
1. Sleep Struggles & The Pregnancy Pillow Solution
One of the biggest challenges I faced this week was insomnia due to discomfort, especially hip and pelvic pain at night. I noticed that my sleeping position was contributing to discomfort, particularly SI joint pain (sacroiliac joint pain) on my left side.
💡 How I Found Relief:
- I brought back my pregnancy pillow, which had been temporarily put away.
- I made adjustments to my sleeping position, ensuring that both my knees and ankles were supported to maintain a neutral pelvis.
- I experimented with different pregnancy pillows, including a C-shaped pillow, which created a cozy nest for me and my kids (who often sleep with me).
🔥 Pro Tip: If you’re struggling with hip pain, using a straight pillow between your knees and ankles might be a better option for easy movement at night compared to a C-shaped pillow, which can be harder to reposition when flipping sides.
2. Managing SI Joint & Pelvic Pain
As pregnancy progresses, I’ve been experiencing left SI joint pain, which is common as the body shifts to accommodate a growing baby.
💡 How I Manage Pain:
- Hip-shifting exercises: I focus on shifting weight to my left leg while bringing my hip crease back, which helps stretch and relax the pelvic floor on the left side.
- Myofascial release: Using a soft massage ball, I work on the glute area (between the tailbone and sitz bone) to release tension.
- Wearing a belly band: On days when I am more active, I’ve found that extra belly support makes a huge difference in preventing discomfort.
🔥 Key Takeaway: The combination of targeted exercises, self-massage, and external support help me get quick relief from SI joint pain!
3. Staying Active: Prenatal Workouts & Baby Positioning
Despite minor discomforts, I have been keeping up with my workouts and focusing on baby’s positioning as I approach the third trimester.
💡 My Fitness Routine at Week 25:
- MamasteFit Birth Prep Circuit: A mix of inversions, hip shifts, and exercises to encourage baby into a head-down position while relieving tension.
- Strength training: I’m still doing the prenatal strength workouts we include in the MamasteFit program, focusing on movements that support my core, pelvic floor, and overall endurance for labor.
- Daily movement: I’m prioritizing gentle mobility work and stretches to maintain comfort and flexibility.
🔥 Why It Matters: Since baby’s vestibular system is developing now (which helps with balance and spatial awareness), incorporating daily movement and position changes can encourage baby to settle into an optimal birthing position!
Preparing for Birth: Positioning & Fitness
Now is a great time to focus on baby’s positioning and birth preparation exercises.
💡 Try the Birth Prep Circuit
- Inversions to encourage head-down positioning.
- Hip shifts and myofascial release for pelvic comfort.
- Strength exercises to support labor endurance.
🔗 Check out the MamasteFit Birth Prep Circuit, a free PDF with pictures and QR code video breakdowns!
Conclusion
Every pregnancy is unique, and Week 25 can bring its own set of experiences and challenges. It’s essential to listen to your body, take care of your mental and physical health, and prepare for the exciting changes ahead. As you near the final stretch of pregnancy, it’s time to focus on comfort strategies, baby’s position, and mental preparation for labor.
If you’re looking for more support during your pregnancy, consider exploring our online prenatal fitness programs and childbirth education courses. You can bundle these for additional savings!
Prenatal Support Courses
Learn the science of pregnancy and birth to take the mystery of labor away! Understand why you are feeling what you feel, and learn strategies to confidently move through pregnancy and birth!
- 9h+ of Video
- Support Group
- Close Captioning
- 5 Workouts/Week
- Gym Workouts
- Self-Paced
Instructor
GINA
Workout on-demand with our prenatal fitness workout videos! Each workout is 30-40 minutes to follow along as you exercise at the same time!
- Birth Prep
- All Trimesters
- Mobility Work
Instructor
GINA
Find comfort and relief from pelvic girdle pain throughout your pregnancy and postpartum period! This program incorporates myofascial sling focused exercises to stabilize across the pelvic girdle joints.
- 3 Weeks
- On Demand Workout Videos to Follow