With the 25th week of pregnancy, the 7th month of your pregnancy begins. From now on, the physical changes will become increasingly challenging for many women—but at the same time, only a few weeks remain until your baby is with you. Find out here what is changing for you and your baby this week.

How big is your baby in the 25th week of pregnancy?

Your baby is about 22 centimeters long this week, comparable to a coconut. The crown-to-heel length is approximately 30 centimeters.

25th week of pregnancy: What's changing for you

Your belly will likely increase significantly in size during the 25th week of pregnancy and will grow faster from now on. This is partly because the volume of amniotic fluid continues to rise, but also because your body is now building up more fat reserves as a backup for after the birth. Many expectant mothers tend to arch their backs more and more as their belly grows. This is completely natural, and your body is actually prepared for it: women's spines are significantly stronger and more flexible in the lumbar area than men's. Nevertheless, you should consciously push your pelvis forward from time to time.

In your abdomen, the growing uterus increasingly displaces the surrounding organs. Your stomach has less space to expand, and the unpleasant consequence can be heartburn. Space also becomes tighter for the bladder and intestines, which you may notice through constipation or an increased urge to urinate.

25th week of pregnancy: Development of your baby

This week, your baby's sense of balance develops, and it learns to orient itself spatially. It can consciously influence its own posture more effectively, and its movements become more targeted. By the 25th week of pregnancy, it can better compensate for the rocking in the womb with its own movements. Your baby still has enough space to turn completely, but not for much longer. You may notice that it is getting tighter in your belly by the kicks and nudges you now feel more frequently.

This week, the buds of the second teeth are also forming, which will follow the primary teeth later. The nerve sensitivity in your baby's lips is also developing. This is important so that, in a few weeks, it can find your nipples if you decide to breastfeed and be able to suck.

Your baby's cerebral cortex now divides into different layers, which will later be responsible for sensory perception, and the lungs continue to develop week by week. In the deeper layers of the skin, capillary vessels form, supplying your baby's skin with blood and making it rosier. The fat layer beneath the skin is also growing, increasing by approximately 85 grams per week. Your child is becoming increasingly aware of external stimuli and, for example, reacts to loud noises with vigorous movements and a stronger heartbeat.

The childbirth preparation course

If you registered for a childbirth preparation course some time ago, your first session may already be taking place this week. The course is designed to prepare you physically and emotionally for the birth and the first period afterward. A course is especially recommended for women and their partners who are expecting a child for the first time—however, participation is not mandatory. Various childbirth preparation courses with very individual focuses are offered. Certain topics and practical exercises are included in every preparation course. To find out exactly what these are, where the courses are offered, and who covers the costs, see our article “ “.

This is now important

• The amniotic fluid is now renewed by your body approximately every two hours. You can support this process by drinking enough fluids throughout the day.

• Have you been suffering from a blocked nose for several weeks? This is because your mucous membranes are more blood-rich than usual. This phenomenon can now intensify and may even lead to snoring.

• Many women find the increased urge to urinate uncomfortable. However, make sure not to hold back urine and to empty your bladder as completely as possible every time you go to the toilet. If you experience pain when urinating or suspect a bladder infection, you should contact your doctor immediately to prevent a possible infection from spreading upward and, in the worst case, triggering early labor.

With our pregnancy calendar, we want to accompany you through this exciting time and provide you with relevant information, which also in exchange with our