Pregnancy week 25
8 Jan. 2026
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Pregnant in week 25? In this article, you can read all about pregnancy in week 25. You’ll get information on your baby’s development, changes in the mother’s body, and useful tips for this stage of the journey.
The lungs are the organ that takes the longest for the foetus to develop, and they won’t be fully developed for another couple of weeks. The airways are now taking shape!
It used to be thought that foetuses could not feel pain. However, after ultrasound-guided invasive examinations were performed, it was found that foetuses react to painful stimuli. During the first part of pregnancy, however, these movements are only reflexive.
Currently, there are divided opinions about foetuses and the development of being able to perceive pain, but what is known for sure is that they perceive pain from the end of the second trimester, which you are approaching. You don’t need to worry though, nothing that you do can cause any kind of pain. Not even if you walk into a hard table edge or if an older sibling is less careful with their stomach! The baby is well protected in the womb with double amniotic membranes and amniotic fluid around it. If, however, you fall and land on your stomach or parts of it, or experience something really hard such as a crash, then you should immediately contact emergency care for advice.
During the latter part of pregnancy, your uterus will train to give you strong and effective labour pains in order to deliver the baby. The uterus, which is a muscle, exercises this by contracting from time to time in a contraction.
Pregnant women can feel contractions more or less based on the baby’s movements. Contractions can feel different strongly depending on whether you are expecting your first child or if you are a new mother. Second-time mothers often feel contractions both earlier and more clearly than first-time mothers. However, many can feel a sense of security in recognizing the feeling from the first pregnancy.
As long as the contractions are not painful, they are considered normal. These contractions are called Braxton Hicks! Contractions should not hurt, but they may feel hard or uncomfortable as the uterus tightens. You may need to stop if you are active and wait until the contraction is over.
Contractions can be experienced as unpleasant and the feeling can be likened to being unable to hold. Especially when you have several contractions in a row or if they last a long time. It can usually help to take it easy, sit down and rest. Stress and anxiety are triggered by discomfort or pain, which can make the contractions feel harder.
If you have a lot of contractions, it is always good to tell your midwife. If the contractions are painful or if they increase in intensity or frequency, contact your midwife or the maternity ward immediately.
Depending on whether you have been pregnant before, as well as where the placenta is located, you may have felt foetal movement for several weeks or only for a shorter period. From this week, however, you should feel foetal movements daily! And in much the same way as the day before. If you are unsure of what you are feeling, talk to your midwife so you can feel your stomach and try to understand how the baby is lying. Then you can together feel and confirm what are movements from your child.
The longer the pregnancy progresses, the more powerful movements the foetus is able to perform. Remember that just because you are nearing the end of pregnancy, the foetal movements should not decrease in number or strength. However, it is common for the movements to change during pregnancy and feel different the closer you get to BF. This is because the baby is growing and the space in the uterus is decreasing.
If you want, you can note for your own sake how often you feel foetal movements and to what intensity, in order to get to know your baby’s movement patterns. You can feel both large and small movements. It is most common for pregnant women to feel foetal movement in the evening, but this may be because it is only then that you relax and feel it. This is precisely why it can be worth resting for a while during the day and actively sensing any movements.
If you have experienced a clear difference in foetal movements compared to before, or feel less than usual, you should contact your maternity clinic where you plan to give birth to your baby.
Your best chance of feeling a kick is after a meal. This is because energy-rich food passes through the placenta, which the baby senses and will move in conjunction with the nutritional intake. Sweeter foods or drinks cause a more rapid sugar build-up in the baby’s stomach, just as it does for us, so if the mother has eaten or drunk something sweet, there is a chance you can feel your baby move quite soon afterwards.
