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You and your baby at 25 weeks pregnant

Your baby at 25 weeks

The baby is moving about a lot and responds to touch and sound. A very loud noise may make them jump and kick, and you'll be able to feel this.

Your baby is regularly passing urine into the amniotic fluid. Sometimes the baby may get hiccups and you can feel the jerk of each hiccup.

You at 25 weeks

You may have some swelling in your hands or feet. This might be caused by water retention, which is normal – try resting and lifting up your swollen feet to ease it.

Be sure to mention any swelling to your midwife or GP so they can take your blood pressure and rule out a condition called pre-eclampsia, which can cause swelling.

Other symptoms of pre-eclampsia include severe headache, vision problems such as blurring or flashing lights, and pain under the ribs.

It's common to get backache in pregnancy as your bump grows and your body prepares for labour and birth.

Find out ways to cope with back pain in pregnancy and how to protect your back.

Things to think about

Are you drinking too much coffee? See how much caffeine you can safely have in pregnancy.

If you're taking maternity leave from work, you need to tell your employer in writing at least 15 weeks before your baby is due – this is when you're 25 weeks pregnant.

If you're entitled to maternity allowance, you can claim from when you're 26 weeks pregnant.

Find more information on maternity allowance and other benefits for families at GOV.UK.

Find out about infections that can harm you or your unborn baby, including toxoplasmosis, cytomegalovirus (CMV) and rubella, and how to protect yourself against them.

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Page last reviewed: 13 October 2021
Next review due: 13 October 2024