- 25th week of pregnancy - what happens in week 25
- How your baby develops in the 25th week of pregnancy
- How you feel in the 25th week of pregnancy
- Test for gestational diabetes
- 25th week of pregnancy - symptoms and complaints
- What you should look out for in week 25 of pregnancy
What happens in week 25 of pregnancy
The 25th week of pregnancy marks the start of the 7th month of your pregnancy. It is now only around 15 weeks until you can hold your baby in your arms. Our Online birth preparation course will help you feel ready for this very special moment in your life.
In this chapter of our pregnancy calendar, you will find out what you can do about common complaints such as back pain and stretch marks. We also look at your baby's development during pregnancy. What is happening in its brain right now? Why can't the umbilical cord kink? Why is it so important to strengthen the pelvic floor during pregnancy? Why it is important to have a test for gestational diabetes.
How your baby develops in the 25th week of pregnancy
Your (no longer so) little miracle now measures around 30 centimetres. It already weighs 650 grams and will gain a lot more weight and size in the coming weeks. As more and more fat pads form, the skin gradually becomes less wrinkled and instead plumper and smoother.
SSW 25: The kicks become stronger and stronger
Do you remember that first fluttering in your tummy a few weeks ago when you weren't sure if it was your baby? Now you no longer have any doubts when you feel your baby's movements. Your little one is now kicking and thrashing very vigorously. You may also have noticed that it reacts to external stimuli. Loud noises, for example, can stimulate him to make violent movements and this increases his heart rate. Your baby's resting and waking phases will continue to alternate.
SSW 25: Perfect nutrient exchange via the umbilical cord
It is not least thanks to the umbilical cord that your baby thrives so wonderfully. It connects the foetus to the placenta and supplies it with everything it needs to survive. The umbilical cord is surrounded by a soft, jelly-like substance. What is this so-called Wharton's sulcus good for? It prevents the umbilical cord from kinking, which would hinder the transport of nutrients.
By the way, did you know that the length of the umbilical cord can vary greatly? It is particularly long in babies who are very active. Every movement stimulates the growth of the umbilical cord.
Practical help for you:
Emergency service midwife Katharina explains the most important things about the maternity pass online.
Brief digression: Umbilical cord wrapping in the foetus
Sometimes the ultrasound reveals that the baby has the umbilical cord wrapped around its neck. This fact frightens many expectant parents. Could the baby be strangled? Will it perhaps not be able to breathe? First of all, this concern is unfounded. For one thing, the baby is not yet breathing in the womb. Secondly, umbilical cord entanglement is very common.
Around 20 % of all babies have the umbilical cord wrapped around their neck or another part of their body at birth. Most of them are born without any complications. Only very rarely do problems occur, for example if the umbilical cord is pushed off during birth or the baby cannot slide properly into the pelvis. However, this can be recognised by a slight drop in the baby's heart rate during labour and action can be taken quickly if necessary.
If your baby is found to have the umbilical cord around its neck in the 25th week of pregnancy, this is nothing to worry about. There is a good chance that it will free itself from the cord before birth.
How you feel in the 25th week of pregnancy
Your belly is growing and growing. Over the past month, you have gained around 300 grams per week. Your centre of gravity is gradually shifting forwards due to your growing belly. To balance this weight, mums-to-be automatically assume a hollow back.
This strain poses no danger to your spine. Your body is naturally prepared for pregnancy. While only the last and penultimate lumbar vertebrae are tilted outwards in men, the lowest three vertebrae are tilted outwards in women. This means that the spine is more curved. The distances between the vertebral joints are also greater in women, making the spine more flexible. Despite this special anatomy, back pain is not uncommon due to the strain on ligaments and muscles.
You may also notice more and more blue shimmering blood vessels under your skin, for example on your breasts. This is due to the increased blood flow and is nothing to worry about.
The test for gestational diabetes in the 25th week of pregnancy
Between the 25th and 28th week of pregnancy, the sugar test is part of the check-up. The diabetes test is offered to all pregnant women.
Around 13 % of pregnant women develop gestational diabetes. Although this causes hardly any symptoms at first, it is important to recognise it at an early stage. This is to avoid risks for mother and child. For this reason, all pregnant women are recommended to have a screening for gestational diabetes carried out between the 25th and 28th week of pregnancy.
Gestational diabetes - what is it anyway?
This is a special form of diabetes that develops during pregnancy. In the second half of pregnancy, the need for insulin increases significantly due to the pregnancy hormones. Insulin is responsible for channelling sugar from the blood into the cells and thus lowering the blood sugar level. If the pancreas does not manage to produce enough insulin, the blood sugar level rises. Gestational diabetes is the result.
Symptoms of gestational diabetes
Most women do not notice any symptoms at all. May occur:
- Constant feeling of thirst
- Increased urination
- Kidney and urinary tract inflammation
- Excessive weight gain
- High blood pressure
If your baby is too big for the week of pregnancy, this may also be an indication of gestational diabetes.
Gestational diabetes - risks for baby and mum
If the disturbed glucose metabolism is recognised and treated at an early stage, there are usually no complications. However, untreated gestational diabetes can lead to high blood pressure and pre-eclampsia in the expectant mother. It also increases the risk of urinary tract infections and premature labour.
The affected babies are sometimes larger and heavier than average at birth. The child may also be malnourished. These children also have an increased risk of type 2 diabetes and obesity in adulthood.
How is gestational diabetes diagnosed?
According to the guidelines for prenatal care, a glucose challenge test (GCT), or GDM screening, with 50 g glucose is carried out between the 25th and 28th week of pregnancy. This can take place at any time of day. After one hour, the blood glucose level is measured. If the value is above 135 mg/dl, an oral glucose tolerance test (oGTT) should follow.
Your fasting blood glucose is measured first. You will then be given a test solution containing 75 mg glucose. Blood glucose levels are then checked after one and two hours. The following values are considered normal:
- Fasting: below 92 mg/dl
- After one hour: below 180 mg/dl
- After two hours: below 153 mg/dl
If one of these three values is elevated, you will be diagnosed with gestational diabetes.
How is gestational diabetes treated?
You are probably scared by the diagnosis and worried about your baby's health. However, these worries are usually unfounded. In many cases, it is enough to change your diet to get your blood sugar levels under control. A nutritionist can help you with this. You should avoid foods that cause your blood sugar to spike as much as possible. This includes all types of sugar and white flour products. Instead, opt for wholemeal products, lots of vegetables and high-quality proteins and fats. It is essential to ensure that you get enough calories. Your diet should also consist of 40-50% carbohydrates, 20% protein and 30-35% fat.
You should also make sure that you exercise regularly. If changing your diet is not enough to keep your blood sugar levels in the normal range, insulin therapy may be necessary.
Fortunately, in most cases, gestational diabetes disappears immediately after the birth. However, with this form of diabetes, there is an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the coming years. A long period of breastfeeding can help to reduce this risk. If you maintain a balanced wholemeal diet after pregnancy, you are doing your body good and reducing the risk of developing diabetes later on.
25th week of pregnancy - symptoms and complaints
SSW 25: Relieve back pain
As already mentioned, it is completely normal to have a hollow back due to your potbelly. Nevertheless, make sure that the hollow back does not become too extreme. Try to become aware of your posture and correct it if necessary. To do this, lift your chest, stretch your neck and straighten your spine.
What can you do if you are still plagued by nasty back pain?
- Try to take the pressure off your back when you sleep. You can do this by sleeping on your side and supporting your body with a nursing pillow. A small pillow between your legs can also be helpful to take the pressure off your hips.
- Strengthen your back muscles with gentle sports. Yoga is ideal for back pain during pregnancy. A good yoga exercise to relieve back pain is the "cat". To do this, start by standing on four feet. On the next exhalation, make a round cat hump. As you inhale, return to the starting position or a slightly hollow back. You can repeat this exercise as often as you like according to your breathing rhythm.
- Rest, put your legs up and warm the painful area with a hot water bottle. Massages also have a relaxing effect.
- Acupuncture can help to relieve back pain during pregnancy.
- Your doctor may prescribe a supportive pelvic belt for severe discomfort.
SSW 25: Preventing stretch marks
The baby bump gets rounder and rounder and the skin becomes increasingly stretched. The dreaded consequence for many women: stretch marks. These bluish-reddish stripes can appear not only on the stomach. Many pregnant women also notice them on other parts of the body, such as the thighs and breasts. It is not fully understood why some people are completely unaffected and others are left with obvious stripes. It is assumed that the tendency to develop stretch marks is inherited.
The bad news is that, depending on the connective tissue, these unsightly side effects of pregnancy cannot be completely avoided. Massages with creams and oils can promote blood circulation and elasticity in the tissue. The bluish discolouration of stretch marks disappears again in the months following the birth. In any case, regularly massaging your skin with a fragrant oil is a lovely ritual that allows you to take time for yourself and your body. You can use a ready-made product from the drugstore or make your own massage oil. Almond oil, for example, is a suitable base for this. Depending on your preference, you can add a few drops of essential oils. Lavender, neroli and camomile oils have a very relaxing effect.
What you should look out for in week 25 of pregnancy
Strengthen your pelvic floor
What is the pelvic floor anyway?
Everyone talks about it, but do you actually know where your pelvic floor is? It is a network of muscles, connective tissue and ligaments. It runs like a hammock between the pubic bone, the coccyx and the two ischial tuberosities. Tautly stretched, it supports the bowel, the uterus and the other internal organs. The muscles of the pelvic floor consist of three layers that surround the urethra, the vagina and the anus.
Why does the pelvic floor often cause problems during pregnancy?
During pregnancy, the effect of hormones causes muscles and ligaments to loosen. This also softens the pelvic floor in preparation for the approaching birth. At the same time, it has to support more and more weight due to the growing baby. This can lead to pregnant women feeling strong downward pressure. Mild pregnancy incontinence is also not uncommon. You may have noticed yourself that a few droplets of urine escape when coughing, sneezing or bending over.
Why is a trained pelvic floor beneficial for pregnancy and birth?
A strong pelvic floor prevents the risk of urinary incontinence during and after pregnancy. A strong pelvic floor keeps your baby in the correct position above the pelvis during pregnancy. A trained pelvic floor is also generally more elastic. This makes labour easier when the baby's head pushes out through the pelvic floor in the final stage of labour. At the same time, pelvic floor training makes you more aware of this part of your body. This will make it easier for you to consciously relax the muscles during labour. If you train your pelvic floor during pregnancy, it will not become so strong that it hinders the birth of your baby. This is because the loosening pregnancy hormones also have an effect on the pelvic floor muscles and connective tissue.
How can I strengthen the pelvic floor muscles?
Firstly, you need to become aware of your pelvic floor and learn to consciously tense and relax the individual layers. If you find this difficult, it is best to consult your midwife. She is sure to have some tips for you.
Pelvic floor training can be easily incorporated into your everyday life. Try to tense your pelvic floor as often as possible. This works both at work on the computer and at the checkout in the supermarket. Nobody will notice, I promise. Also make sure not to carry heavy things during pregnancy.
Our pelvic floor needs a lot of attention after the birth. First of all, we need to take it easy. After the Postpartum you are recommended in any case to Postnatal course to make. Midwife Katharina will help you through Targeted exercises regain your fitness and strengthen your pelvic floor in the long term. The pelvic floor exercises from the Online postnatal course are also well suited for targeted pelvic floor training during pregnancy.
