What's happening with your baby at 25 weeks
At 25 weeks, your baby is about the size of a rutabaga — around 34 cm from head to heel and weighing close to 660 grams, though these numbers vary from baby to baby. Skin is still thin and wrinkled, but a layer of fat is starting to build up underneath it, which will gradually make it look less see-through.
Capillaries are forming just under the skin, giving it a pinkish tone for now. Hair on the scalp is coming in with its own color and texture, though it can still change after birth.
Your baby's lungs are developing the tiny air sacs and blood vessels needed for breathing, and beginning to produce surfactant — a substance that helps the lungs expand after birth. That process continues for weeks yet, which is part of why every additional week of pregnancy matters for lung maturity.
Do you need to take the glucose test this week?
Most providers schedule the one-hour glucose screening test somewhere between 24 and 28 weeks, so week 25 falls right in that window for many people. It checks how your body processes sugar and screens for gestational diabetes — a type of high blood sugar that can develop during pregnancy and usually resolves after delivery.
For the standard test, you drink a sugary liquid and have blood drawn an hour later — no fasting required beforehand. A high result doesn't mean you have gestational diabetes; it means you'll be asked to take a longer, three-hour follow-up test to confirm.
Gestational diabetes is common and manageable with monitoring, diet adjustments, and sometimes medication. Your midwife or doctor will walk you through your results and what, if anything, they mean for the rest of your care.
Common symptoms at 25 weeks
At 25 weeks, expect Braxton Hicks contractions, back pain, leg cramps, and swelling in your feet and ankles as your body adjusts to a growing uterus and shifting center of gravity. Heartburn, itchy skin, and trouble sleeping are also common this week.
Braxton Hicks are irregular, usually painless tightenings of your uterus — a kind of practice run. They tend to ease up when you change position, rest, or drink water.
Other symptoms this week can include hemorrhoids, increased vaginal discharge, restless legs at night, and mild shortness of breath as your uterus pushes up against your diaphragm. All of these are common, but it's still worth mentioning anything that feels severe or unusual at your next visit.
What to do at 25 weeks pregnant
This week, prioritize the glucose screening test if it's scheduled, and start paying attention to your baby's regular movement pattern so you'd notice a change. If you're Rh-negative, your provider will likely start discussing the RhoGAM shot you'll typically need around 28 weeks.
If you haven't already, this is a good time to research childbirth classes and hospital or birth-center tours — many fill up weeks or months ahead. Some people also start looking into maternity leave logistics around now.
It's worth learning the signs of preterm labor before you might ever need them: regular contractions, pelvic pressure, low back pain that comes in a rhythm, or fluid leaking from the vagina. Knowing what's normal makes it easier to recognize what isn't.
When to call your provider at 25 weeks
Call your provider the same day for signs of preterm labor — regular contractions, pelvic pressure, a change in vaginal discharge, or fluid leaking — as well as vaginal bleeding, a severe headache, vision changes, or sudden swelling in your face or hands.
A noticeable drop in your baby's usual movement is also worth calling about, especially once you're used to a regular pattern. Trust your sense that something feels different — providers would rather hear from you and rule things out.
None of this means something is wrong. Most people who report these symptoms go on to have straightforward next steps, but they're not something to wait out at home.