I know! Let’s talk about pre-term labor.
Fun or what?
Now don’t pretend you haven’t googled the shit out of how far along you have to be before your baby is viable. The good news is that it’s around now.
That said, it’s best if the little weeble stays in there and cooks a little longer so if you experience some of these symptoms, it could mean that the party is getting started early and you should get in touch with your health care provider or shuffle yourself to a hospital.
Here’s what to watch for:
- Cramping that is similar to what you’d experience during your period
- Contractions that happen every 10 minutes or more (even if they aren’t painful)
- Low, dull or rhythmic backache
- Pressure in your pelvis like your baby is pushing down
- Any vaginal spotting or bleeding
- More vaginal discharge than usual or any change in it – like it’s watery or bloody (I know, this is a slightly embarrassing symptom to call up with, so just say you think you may be leaking amniotic fluid and they’ll take it from there. Plus, there is nothing they haven’t heard so there’s no point in being shy.)
The hard part is that back pain and cramping are often a part of pregnancy as a whole, so it’s not easy to distinguish between that and pre-term labor. The reason you should watch for it is because they can give you drugs to slow down your labor and other drugs reduce any complications your baby may have.
I know it’s a tricky road, I’ve been there. “Is that something?” “Was that normal?” “Should I call someone?” and I was always in fear of looking like an over anxious new mother or inconveniencing someone, but it really is no big deal to check it out when you weigh looking stupid against your baby having an extra day to develop its lungs so it’s got a better shot in the world.
Hey, there will be 9 billion things you’re going to look stupid for when you’re a mom – consider it practice.
Also, check out 12 Dangerous Pregnancy Symptoms You Shouldn't Ignore and Do You Know Your Closest NICU? so you know what to keep on your radar.
25 Weeks Pregnant Cheat Sheet:
- Your baby is about 13 inches long (or 33 cm) and weighs about a pound and a half (or 680 g).
- Your baby can hear what's going on and is working hard on their lungs.
- You might be experiencing sore gums, hemorrhoids, back pain, and itchy palms.
- You have around 105 days before you give birth.
How many months is 25 weeks pregnant?
Twenty-five weeks is just over six months pregnant.
This week's to do:
Postpartum setup. Whether you end up delivering vaginally or by c-section, you're going to have some healing to do. Here's a post about a Postpartum Recovery Station to give you an idea of what you might need.
Perineal massage. If you haven't heard of Perineal Massage it's worth checking out because it can lower your risk of third and fourth degree tears during a vaginal birth. (Here's a simple illustration of what I mean about tearing from the Shit We Should Know Series on Instagram.) Healthline has a pretty concise post on Perineal Massage if you want to get an idea of what it is. I love how their first step is to 'wash your hands' - thanks for the tip, lol.
How are you feeling this week? Let me know here.
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