25 Weeks Pregnant with Twins or Multiples

By the 25th week of your pregnancy, especially when you are expecting twins or multiples, your babies and you will have undergone numerous changes. These changes would have not only resulted in increased weight and tummy but also a sense of fatigue at times. It might get difficult for you to maintain the peak of your energy the way you used to. However, having an active lifestyle is necessary even with twin pregnancy at 25 weeks, since it helps the body maintain its strength, which is beneficial during delivery. Knowing what your body goes through during this week will help you manage things and make your pregnancy journey a tad bit better. Read on to know most things you must know if you are pregnant with twins or multiples.

The Growth of the Babies at 25 Weeks

The rate at which your babies were growing in the previous weeks will continue to be at the same pace, if not at a higher one. A lot more changes are expected in the upcoming weeks, which will ensure that your twins or triplets can survive outside the womb, and the growth is focused entirely on making that happen.

The lungs of the babies will develop around this time. The lungs take quite some time to start functioning, but by now, they will increase in size, causing them to fill out as much as possible so that they can take air in a substantial amount. In this week, as the size and the network within the lungs increases, numerous blood vessels develop as well along with a circulatory system. They prove to be the crux for keeping the babies alive, allowing the lungs to absorb oxygen from the inhaled air into the blood, which can then be transported to different organs in the body.

The skin that babies have around this stage is still a little translucent. But it will develop a brilliant sheen by itself, as it starts to form a tan and the fat deposits grow over it. Along with it, the blood capillaries begin to spread their branches all over the body. When the blood starts to pump through them, they start to get a reddish-tinge. This is precisely what makes the newborns get a healthy pinkish coloured skin.

What Is the Size of the Babies?

If you’ve ever seen a large turnip in the farms, that’s pretty much the size of your babies in this week. Their length and weight increase week by week, improving along the journey. When measured, their height usually comes somewhere around 35 centimetres while their weight tends to hover close to 650-700 grams. The weight of each baby, in the case of twins or triplets, will be slightly less, and the same goes for their height.

These are the foetal developmental milestones you babies have or are meeting at week 25. You will also go through a gamut of changes this week. The rest of the article will address most changes expecting mothers go through at week 25 of their pregnancies.

Common Bodily Changes

The changes that women pregnant with multiples or twins experience in the 25th week of their pregnancy are usually an extended version of their previous symptoms.

• Some women experience a massive peak in their sexual drive in the previous months prior to reaching the 25th-week-mark of their pregnancy. They might continue to have the same drive through this week, but most others will begin to experience a shortfall. The libido takes a major hit as the size of the stomach starts to increase immensely. This usually happens over a period of weeks. Some women may experience a sudden plummet in those emotions, causing them to feel even more strange, cranky or exhausted. It is essential for your partner to support you through it and understand that this is all a result of the pregnancy and hormones. However, as a result of the changes in your body, you will not be able to indulge in sex.

• The feeling of experiencing the presence of the babies inside your womb will be similar to experiencing gentle flutters. As the second trimester begins to approach its end, your body becomes extremely sensitive to the numerous activities your babies are undertaking by themselves. Not only are they getting stronger and more active with their physical experimentation, but the expanding uterus also puts itself in contact with numerous internal organs, including your stretched skin. Therefore, any jabs or kicks by your budding martial arts enthusiasts will be instantly recognisable to you. In a few women, the babies can be extraordinarily overactive, and their movements may cause minor pain.

• The energy that brought a sense of rejuvenation inside you when the second trimester began will begin to fade away as it reaches its completion. This is also a result of the extra work the body has to continuously undertake to take care of a constantly enlarging tummy, and the demands placed by the uterus. The exhaustion shouldn’t come as a surprise, especially when you have numerous activities of your own, such as a high-paced job, household responsibilities, and putting things together for your babies. Therefore, resting and relaxing is highly recommended. The absence of any restful periods tends to make it even worse.

Symptoms of Twin Pregnancy at 25 Weeks

The pressure that comes with a growing pregnancy will start making itself more evident in the coming weeks. This can make the 25 weeks pregnant with twins symptoms more evident. Here are some of them:

• At 25 weeks, your uterus will be pushing around all the organs in the abdominal region by quite a large degree. Your stomach and intestines will already be bearing the discomfort due to it. When hormones jump into the fray and make the situation worse, the chances of experiencing indigestion and acidity begin to increase at this week. It is usually the period when you may feel constantly full as well as end up passing gas quite frequently through the day. The intestinal trouble will tend to aggravate constipation by yet another degree. However, adequate water and fibre intake provide some relief.

• As you approach the completion of your pregnancy term, the chances of haemorrhoids will begin to increase. Haemorrhoids are extremely irritating and get worse in cases of twins or triplets when the weight might be a lot more than a single pregnancy.

• You may have trouble passing stool, and you will spend a lot of time in the toilet. You may also visit the toilet a number of times to urinate. Your toilet is most likely to become your second home! Around this time, the bladder is under immense physical pressure because of the growing uterus, leading it to expel even the smallest quantities of urine as quickly as possible.

• You may feel constipated at this time. Therefore, prioritize a nutritious, fibre-rich diet and ample hydration to mitigate potential problems.

• Heartburn, a potential digestive problem, could arise due to your growing babies pressing on your stomach and pushing stomach acid upwards, leading to discomfort. Over-the-counter antacids usually provide relief. If concerned, consulting your doctor is advisable for peace of mind.

Twin Pregnancy – Belly at 25 Weeks

Some women have their bellies growing right until they deliver the child, whereas some, after a certain point in the pregnancy, have their stomachs pretty much around the same size until delivery. Both cases are normal and the babies delivered are entirely healthy. At week 25, you could gain more weight, which is shown on your belly eventually. The final trimester is nearly here, and the baby continues to grow and mature.

Twin Pregnancy at 25 Weeks – Ultrasound

The 25th week is usually not a time where doctors would recommend an ultrasound scan, since within a week or two, conducting a fortnightly scan would become the norm to track the final development of your babies. If it is done, you will notice that your babies will indulge in some thumb sucking or swallowing exercises to practice their breastfeeding abilities. Similarly, you will also observe them be cute and chubby in the coming weeks.

Pregnancy Diet at 25 Weeks

Anaemia, in this phase of the pregnancy, is common. Hence, it is essential that you adhere to a diet that is rich in oatmeal, beetroots, pulses, and so on. Intake of protein and amino acids is also necessary, along with numerous fruits and vegetables, all of them in a safe quantity.

Pregnancy Care Tips at 25 Weeks

Taking care of your pregnancy in the 25th week requires adherence to some straightforward tips. We have also mentioned some things to avoid at 25 weeks pregnant with twins.

Dos

• Keep track of your weight on a regular basis to check for any discrepancies.
• Undertake a glucose screening test to check for signs of diabetes.
• Increase the intake of fibre and keep yourself hydrated to help your body deal with digestion issues, especially constipation.
• Have scheduled, balanced, freshly made meals to provide your body with the energy it needs.

Dont’s

• Avoid skipping exercises altogether but tone them down to not be as stressful.
• Don’t give in to the craving for fried foods or canned products.

What You Need to Shop for at 25 Weeks

Your body is going through some changes, and you might need clothes in a bigger size. If you haven’t bought any, you could go shopping and get some in soft and breathable fabrics like cotton. The baby is once its way; there’s time for his arrival, though. However, if you want to save some time and energy later, you can shop for some essentials such as the ones given below:

• Diapers that we well within the expiry date.
• Lots and lots of tissues.
• Book a cradle for your little one.
• Some baby clothes, booties, mittens, etc.
• Heaters or coolers if the due date is in an extreme season.
• Steriliser.
• Breast Pump.

FAQ

1. Is It Safe to Travel When You Are 25 Weeks Pregnant With Twins?

It is recommended not to travel after the 28th week of a twin pregnancy. But do consult your doctor even at the 25th week.

The 25th week of a twin or multiple pregnancy is the beginning of another period of the journey. Along with more physical, hormonal, and emotional changes that cause anticipation and anxiety even, there will still be numerous happy moments that will present themselves to you in the final trimester and keep you engaged and proud to be the mother of your children.

References/Resources:

1. Twin pregnancy; radiopaedia.org; https://radiopaedia.org/articles/twin-pregnancy-1

2. 25 weeks pregnant: baby’s development, stomach pain and planning the birth; tommys.org; https://www.tommys.org/pregnancy-information/im-pregnant/pregnancy-week-by-week/25-weeks-pregnant

3. Twin Pregnancy: Answers from an Expert; hopkinsmedicine.org; https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/staying-healthy-during-pregnancy/twin-pregnancy-answers-from-maternal-fetal-medicine-specialist

4. Twin pregnancy: What twins or multiples mean for mom; mayoclinic.org; https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/pregnancy-week-by-week/in-depth/twin-pregnancy/art-20048161

5. Pregnancy at week 25; pregnancybirthbaby.org.au; https://www.pregnancybirthbaby.org.au/pregnancy-at-week-25

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