Pregnancy Weeks 25, 26, & 27

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Your Pregnancy Week 25

What is happening with your baby at pregnancy week 25?^1,2

• The baby is very active and reacts to touch and sound. You'll be able to tell if they jump and kick because of loud noise.¹
• Your baby is passing pee into the amniotic fluid on a daily basis. The baby may get hiccups from time to time, and you can feel the jerk of each hiccup.¹
   

How big is your baby?

Your baby is approximately the size of a head of cauliflower, and the weight of four potatoes.³
 

Your Body

• Swelling in your hands or feet is possible. This could be due to water retention, which is common; consider resting and elevating your swollen feet to alleviate the problem.¹
  • Make sure to tell your doctor if you're experiencing any swelling so they can check your blood pressure and rule out pre-eclampsia, which can cause swelling.¹
     

Your Pregnancy Week 26

What is happening with your baby when you are 26 weeks pregnant?^4,5

• The baby's eyelids are now opening for the first time, and they will shortly begin blinking. Your baby's eyes will not turn the color they will remain until a few weeks after birth.
   

How big is your baby?

• Your baby is approximately the size of small marrow, and the weight of six large carrots.⁶
   

Your Body⁴

• Because the muscles of the pelvic floor are weakened during pregnancy and birth, you may notice that you leak pee when you cough, sneeze, or strain your stomach muscles.
  • Pelvic floor exercises can help to strengthen the muscles and improve their functionality.
     

Your Pregnancy Week 27

What is happening with your baby when you are 27 weeks pregnant?^7,8

• Your baby's heart rate should be around 140 beats per minute at this point. Even so, this is a lot faster than your own heart rate.
• The brain, lungs, and digestive system of your baby have formed but are still developing.
   

How big is your baby?

Your baby is approximately the size of a big leek, and the weight of a head of cauliflower.⁹
 

Your Body⁹

• You've probably gained a few pounds and are experiencing bloating and constipation. This is due in part to your growing baby squeezing your stomach, and in part to the pregnancy hormone progesterone.
  • Drink plenty of water,
  • pick high-fiber foods (such as brown bread instead of white),
  • eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables.
     

Tips for Tips for making your pregnancy better

How to Perform Pelvic Floor Exercising:¹⁰

• Close your bottom as if you're trying to prevent yourself from going to the toilet
• at the same time, draw in your vagina as if you were gripping a tampon, and your urethra as if you were trying to stop the flow of urine
• at first, perform this exercise quickly, tightening and releasing the muscles as quickly as possible,
• then slowly, holding the contractions for as long as possible before relaxing: Try counting to 10.
• Every day, try to do three sets of 8 squeezes: You could do a set at each meal to help you remember.
   

References:

1. NHS You and your baby at 25 weeks pregnant. Page last reviewed: 13.10.2021. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/week-by-week/13-to-27/25-weeks/   Last accessed at: 06.11.2021
2. Nemours KidsHealth. Parents: Week 25. Available at: https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/week25.prt-en.html  Last accessed at: 06.11.2021
3. NHS. Start 4 life. Week-by-week guide to pregnancy. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/start4life/pregnancy/week-by-week/2nd-trimester/week-25/#anchor-tabs Last accessed at: 06.11.2021
4. NHS You and your baby at 26 weeks pregnant. Page last reviewed: 13.10.2021. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/week-by-week/13-to-27/26-weeks/ Last accessed at: 06.11.2021
5. Nemours KidsHealth. Parents: Week 26. Available at: https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/week26.prt-en.html Last accessed at: 06.11.2021
6. NHS. Start 4 life. Week-by-week guide to pregnancy. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/start4life/pregnancy/week-by-week/2nd-trimester/week-26/#anchor-tabs Last accessed at: 06.11.2021
7. NHS You and your baby at 27 weeks pregnant. Page last reviewed: 13.10.2021. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/week-by-week/13-to-27/27-weeks/ Last accessed at: 06.11.2021
8. Nemours KidsHealth. Parents: Week 27. Available at: https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/week27.prt-en.html Last accessed at: 06.11.2021
9. NHS. Start 4 life. Week-by-week guide to pregnancy. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/start4life/pregnancy/week-by-week/2nd-trimester/week-27/#anchor-tabs Last accessed at: 06.11.2021
10. NHS. Exercise in pregnancy. Page last reviewed: 20 January 2020. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/keeping-well/exercise/. Last accessed at: 06.11.2021