Your Pregnancy Week 25
Baby
Your baby continues to grow and develop inside of you. Measuring about 13 1/2 inches long, he weighs approximately 1 1/2 lbs. In the coming weeks, your baby will continue to grow and mature at a fast rate, gaining some baby fat and filling out his long, lean frame.
As he gains weight, his skin begins to become less wrinkled and he begins to look more and more like a newborn. Also, his skin is finally gaining some color. His hands are fully developed by this week, fingerprints and all! And at 25 weeks, the structure of the spine is beginning to form.
Mom
How are you feeling? Only three weeks to go until your third trimester! Soon, you'll be seeing your OB/GYN about every two weeks.
Feeling hot? You may notice that you feel more hot and sweaty than usual. Though added weight could be contributing to this, it's mostly due to your increased blood supply and the fact that your lungs are now doing 50% more work than they are used to! Because you are sweating a bit more now, it's important to avoid dehydration. Be sure to drink approximately 8 glasses of water a day, 10 is better. Drinking more will also help combat any swelling you are experiencing. It's probably a good idea to dress in breathable fabrics, even if it's winter, to help wick excess moisture away from your body. Remember, you can always layer your breathable fabrics if you are worried you won't be warm enough.
How are your wrists feeling? If you are experiencing any tingling, burning, numbness, or pain in your wrists around week 25, it's quite possible that it could be carpal tunnel syndrome. Women develop carpal tunnel syndrome during pregnancy because the carpal tunnel, a narrow rigid passageway of ligament and bones in the wrist, becomes excessively swollen. This presses on the median nerve, which controls sensations to the palm side of the thumb and fingers and runs from the forearm to the hand. The result may be pain, weakness, or numbness in the hand and wrist, sometimes radiating up the arm.
Luckily, this usually subsides about 3 weeks after pregnancy. In the meantime, try wearing a wrist splint to reduce discomfort. You can easily find one in any drug store and the best part is that they aren't that expensive.
