25 Weeks

I am just trucking right along with this pregnancy!!! We passed a milestone last week. 24 weeks is the point that you always want to get to becuase at that point the baby would be viable if she came early!!! We are hoping for early, but not that early!!! I haven't had may many complaints about being pregnant. The last few days, I have had a terribly sore back!! I keep telling Joel that my pregnancy with Garrett was much easier!!!

Speaking of Garrett...we went to the doctor Monday. He weighs an amazing 19.1 pounds and is 27 inches long!!! He is one big boy!! He has moved up to the 90th percentile for weight. We also had to get shots while we were there. This was Joel's first experience with shots. I always feel so bad when he gets his shots. He didn't let me put him down all night after I picked him up from Marilyn's. The little stinker is fighting a cold right now. Believe it or not, he is being very good. He doesn't really let it get him down, or bother him.

25 Weeks
~The structures of the spine begin to form -- joints, ligaments and rings. These will protect the all important spinal cord which serves as the information transmitter for your child's body.
~Blood vessels of the lungs develop.
~Your baby's nostrils begin to open. There is a study out of Belfast that suggests babies at this stage have the capability of scent preferences!
~The nerves around the mouth and lip area are showing more sensitivity now. When baby is rooting for food later on, these will be valuable!
~His swallowing reflexes are developing.
~Dexterity is improving. Your baby can make a fist and would clasp objects placed in palm.
~Your child has now obtained an approximate length of 13.6 inches (34.6cm) and weighs 1.46 pound (660gm).

More Facts

~Your little grower’s physical proportions are evening out at this point and most of their remaining development will largely be weight gain and lots and lots of nervous system development.

~This week they’ll be scootching slowly out of the old breech position and start rotating (already!) into a better position for exit during their birth. Their head and feet are slowly rotating so that the head is pointed down towards the birth canal.

~Time is short (or really long, depending on who you ask)—just (still!) 14 weeks left before you can go back to being a single-resident human.

How's Mom

~Speaking of larger, you’re obviously carrying more weight now and your back is going to let you know. Don’t let this get you down or make you feel like a weakling—it all comes with the territory of being preggers. Try to practice good posture—it will alleviate some of the back fatigue as slouching is actually harder on your back.

~It’s also common for women to experience leg cramps during this period. Go ahead, strong arm someone who loves you into giving you a massage. Or if you're lucky enough to have the extra bucks, head to a spa that specializes in pregnancy massages and get the full-treatment.

~You may have already noticed that your hair seems fuller, thicker, more plentiful and darker-- especially your body hair. There are two basic reasons for this: 1) you're shedding much less (head) hair than you usually do and 2) your body's hormones contribute to the way your body hair is growing right now. Not to worry, all the hairiness will return to normal after you've delivered your baby.