In this 23rd week of pregnancy, the baby’s weight is 25 weeks is on average 550 g and its size of 28 cm. His weight gain is accelerating, and he will gain a lot of weight by the end.

At 25 her baby moves a lot, it alternates the phases of sleep – which remain the majority – and the waking phases during which it is very active. Awake, he can thus chain 20 to 60 movements per half hour, sometimes creating real small bumps on the stomach. 

Her sexual organs are totally differentiated.

On the buds of milk teeth, ivory begins to form. The irises of the fetus at 23 weeks gradually become pigmented, but it will take a few years after birth for her eyes to have their final color.

The baby at 23 weeks gestation, i.e. 25 weeks, has its different senses, which are more and more sharp. He is very sensitive to the world around him, even in the belly of 25 weeks : noises, voices, light, caresses on the stomach. He may even react by jumping to a loud noise.

His brain continues to grow rapidly. Neurons have now finished their division and migration: they will now differentiate, and the neural circuits that connect them to each other are formed. Unnecessary cells are destroyed.

This is the middle of the 2nd trimester, the baby at 25 weeks is considered viable. If he were born, he would certainly still be very fragile and would require heavy care, but his chances of survival are real. According to Epipage2 (epidemiological study on small gestational ages) which followed between March 2011 and December 2011 6700 premature infants (1), 59% of children born at 25 WA and 75% of those born at 26 WA survived.

At the start of the 6th month of pregnancy, the belly begins to weigh well. The uterus continues to develop and moves further and further up into the abdominal cavity, pushing up the abdominal organs and the diaphragm. Frequent urges to urinate, constipation, gastric reflux are common ailments at this stage of pregnancy, as are musculoskeletal pain in the lumbar and pelvic region which will increase until term. To fight against this imbalance, the pregnancy belt is very useful. 

Sleep disorders – difficulty falling asleep or awakening at night – may appear from 25 weeks of amenorrhea, or 23 SG. The stomach which prevents to find a comfortable position, heartburn which causes pain when lying down, snoring due to physiological changes in the respiratory tract, sensations of heavy legs, restless legs syndrome, muscle cramps but also concerns about during childbirth are all physical and psychological factors that can interfere with sleep. Small nocturnal sweats are also frequent: they are due to the cardiac system and to the thyroid which are running at full speed in this 6th month of pregnancy.

Under the effect of pregnancy hormones secreted by the placenta, it is normal to have more abundant white discharge during pregnancy, especially between the 4th and the 7th month. If these leucorrhoea are even more abundant, have an abnormal consistency, odor or color, are accompanied by burning or itching of the vulva, it is however advisable to consult. It may be a yeast infection caused by candida albican (this is called candidiasis). This fungus, present in the normal state in the vaginal flora, particularly appreciates acidic environments, but the hormones of pregnancy cause acidification of the vagina. Yeast infections are therefore frequent during pregnancy, even more so in summer. Other germs can be involved: other fungi, chlamydiae, gonococcus, etc. In all cases it is important to treat because during pregnancy any infection of the genital area can lead to contractions, or even a threat of premature delivery.

Fish bring many benefits to pregnant women and to 23 week fetus. They provide essential fatty acids, such as omega 3 and 6, and are a source of protein. In addition, they are rich in iodine. Both mom-to-be and baby need it to keep their thyroid working. Until about the 20th or even 22 weeks of pregnancy, babies depend on their mother’s iodine for the manufacture of their thyroid hormones. Next, the baby at 23 weeks pregnant needs it to make its own thyroid work. A lack of this trace element can have harmful consequences for the psychomotor development of the fetus. It is for this reason that it is recommended to consume foods rich in iodine. 

A pregnant woman can use iodized salt, of course in reasonable amounts. Fish and seafood contain iodine. They are excellent for your health. However, when you are pregnant, you should avoid large fish such as shark, sea bass, monkfish, ray, tuna or swordfish. This does not mean that it is serious if she has eaten this type of fish once or twice before this. 6th month of pregnancy. The key is to limit its consumption throughout pregnancy, and even in everyday life. Large fish contain mercury. This is because a large fish feeds on small fish which themselves have ingested mercury. Consequently, it accumulates high rates. This toxic substance is harmful to the fetus. Raw shellfish (oysters), raw fish (sushi) and smoked fish should be avoided during pregnancy, because there is a risk of contamination with listeriosis. It is preferable to eat small fish such as sardines, mackerel, cod or anchovies. 

If the mother-to-be used to eat this type of food, it is strongly advised to stop from this 23th week of pregnancy and beyond childbirth if she is breastfeeding. 

• go to the prenatal examination of 6th month of pregnancy, 4th compulsory consultation of pregnancy. The gynecologist or midwife will carry out the usual examinations: weight gain, blood pressure measurement, uterine height measurement, listening to the baby’s heart. Some practitioners routinely do a vaginal examination, while others will only do it when there is a warning sign, such as pelvic pain or contractions;
• continue preparations for the baby’s room;
• if the pregnancy ends in winter, get a seasonal flu shot. This vaccine, safe for mothers and babies, is recommended to all pregnant women by the High Council of Public Health (2) because of the increased risk of the occurrence of pulmonary and cardiac complications, especially in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters.

To find restful sleep in the five months pregnant woman, we will make sure to apply the usual sleep hygiene rules:

• sleep as needed, but no more;
• have regular times of getting up and going to bed;
• avoid too long and / or too late naps;
• avoid the use of screens (television, computer, tablet, smartphone) in the evening, because their blue light disrupts the secretion of melatonin, a pro-sleep hormone (3);
• go to bed as soon as the first signs of sleep are felt (yawning, chills, heavy eyelids);
• reserve the room and bed only for sleep and sexual activity;
• if sleep does not come within 15-20 minutes after going to bed, do not stay in bed but get up and find calm activity (reading, sudoku, embroidery, etc.);
• avoid exciting drinks after 16 p.m. (coffee, tea);
• avoid meals that are too heavy, too fatty, especially in the event of esophageal reflux.

Other tips are specific to pregnancy and 2nd quarter :

Alternative medicines are interesting aids during pregnancy for 

• sleep on your left side so as not to compress the inferior vena cava, thus avoiding discomfort and pain in the legs;
• use pillows or a nursing pillow placed between the legs, behind the back and under the stomach to find a comfortable sleeping position;
• prefer cotton night linen in case of night sweats.

fight against sleep disorders:

• in homeopathy: to promote falling asleep, take Coffea 15 CH (in case of excitement, a continual influx of thought), Gelsemium 15 CH (in case of apprehension of not sleeping, in a hyperemotive mother-to-be) or Ignatia 15 CH (in case of anxiety), 5 granules at bedtime. In the event of nocturnal awakenings every 2 hours with anxiety: Sepia 15 CH. If you wake up between 1 and 3 a.m. with anxiety: Arsenicum Album 15 CH (3); if you wake up between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m. with concerns: Nux Vomica 15 CH (4). Note that there are also homeopathic specialties grouping together several strains. Ask your pharmacist for advice.
• in herbal medicine: certain specialties are compatible with pregnancy. Seek advice from your pharmacist, midwife or doctor, because some plants should be avoided during pregnancy.

Relaxation techniques such as sophrology are also interesting in the event of sleep disorders. Also think about acupuncture.