The 25th week of pregnancy signals an important period in fetal growth. At this stage, the senses of your baby develop and become efficient in responding to sound and light. The lungs of the baby continue to develop.
On the other hand, the skin and organs of the baby also experience prominent developments as they grow closer to attaining complete development, as will be explained in the following section.
What Does Your Baby Look Like in Week 25?
By week 25, babies are about 33 cm long and weigh 700-800 grams. They are also active and manage to move their limbs freely, turning from one side to another. Such activity shows that the nervous system is well developed, along with the senses.
The baby’s skin has also developed, become thicker and less translucent, and a little body fat has started accumulating.
In addition, hair in the head, eyebrows, and eyelashes becomes more noticeable, while facial features develop, giving the baby an appearance of being more infant-like.
When Does the Development of Hearing Start?
Hearing starts developing at this point, and the baby can differentiate sounds.
At this point, the inner ear is almost fully formed, and the auditory nerve is also more developed. This helps the baby hear all sorts of sounds inside the mother’s body, like heartbeats, blood flow, and movements, and also sound waves reaching her uterus, especially her voice. That is also a reason why babies are naturally drawn to their mother’s voice after they are born.
From this week onward, you will be able to strengthen your relationship with the baby by gently speaking to him or listening to some soft music together.
When Does Vision Start Developing?
At week 25, there are visible changes in the eyes of the baby. The lids that were closed start to open, and the retina becomes sensitive to light. The baby is also able to differentiate between light and darkness when the mother’s tummy is placed in front of bright lighting.
This development doesn’t mean that the baby can see easily yet, but this development indicates that their visual system is getting ready for light and other stimuli.
Can the Baby Smell Inside the Womb?
At week 25, the olfactory neural receptors are also developing. Contrary to expectations, the baby is actually forming a memory regarding odors while in the womb.
Although it is not possible for the baby to breathe air, they drink some amniotic fluid, which enables them to smell the foods eaten by their mothers.
Some studies indicate that babies are able to distinguish certain scents that they are familiar with from before birth. The importance of having a mixed diet during pregnancy to establish the newborn’s sense of smell is highlighted by this point.
Is The Baby Able to Taste Now?
The development of the baby’s taste buds occurred a few weeks ago, and they’re now more refined, allowing them to differentiate tart, sweet, salty, and umami flavors depending on the foods the mother consumes.
Now, the baby is also capable of tasting some flavors from the amniotic fluid. Therefore, if you are consuming vegetables, fruits, or smoothly seasoned foods, your baby might taste these flavors.
Exposure to flavors from the early months helps the baby accept food after birth, too. Because of that, doctors recommend that a healthy and balanced diet be followed during that period.
When Does a Baby Begin to Develop the Sense of Touch?
Touch is one of the first senses to develop in week 25. In this case, the baby will be able to touch their face, suck their fingers, and even reach the uterine wall.
Although it seems quite simple, these movements constitute training for the baby’s sensory nervous system, which helps them to get used to their limited surroundings.
You may notice your baby moving more and responding to external stimuli, such as bump touching, as the skin develops greatly and the sensory nerves lead to the brain by transmitting mechanisms.
The Relation between the Development of Senses and Brain Growth
At this stage, the infant’s brain is developing quickly, and the five senses begin to work together more harmoniously.
Complex neural systems develop that connect the senses to the brain, allowing for perception of what is going on around them. These changes prepare the baby not only for life after birth but also lay the foundation for cognitive skills.
How Can You Support the Development of Your Baby’s Senses?
Your daily lifestyle is affecting your baby’s sensory development. For instance, you can support your baby’s brain and nervous system by following a diet rich in proteins, vitamins, and minerals.
Talking to them, reading stories, or playing soft music are some of the ways of nurturing a baby’s sense of hearing and forming a closer bond.
You can also contribute to their development by getting plenty of rest and sleep, doing exercises that induce relaxation, and remaining calm to keep the baby safe from stress hormones.
When Should You See a Doctor?
In most cases, the development of your baby’s senses proceeds just fine, but you should seek immediate help if you observe:
- A considerable decrease in the movements of the fetus compared with the last few days.
- Unusual symptoms, like bleeding or persistent cramps.
The baby’s physical and neurological development should be checked with routine ultrasound examinations to determine whether the baby’s sensory development is normal.
Indicators of Healthy Senses
Greater movement of the fetus and reaction to sound and light are also indicative of proper sensory development in the baby. You can witness your baby reacting to your voice or some musical pieces, and also to light and touch on the stomach.
These developments mean that the baby’s senses are not yet fully developed, but are an indicator that the brain continues to develop and prepare for life outside the womb.
In Conclusion…
The 25th week of your pregnancy is a critical phase in the development of your baby because the development of the senses of your baby is accelerated in these weeks. Regular medical checkups and your overall health are very important during these weeks because the impact of these weeks has a great influence on the health of your baby in the future, as the foundation for the interaction of your baby with the world would be formed during these weeks.