25 weeks pregnant: puffiness, paperwork and a very active baby

The week of paperwork and puffy ankles, with a baby who now jumps at loud noises.

Updated October 13, 2026 · sources checked October 13, 2026

In short

At 25 weeks you are in month seven. The NHS says your baby is about 34.6cm from head to heel and may jump at loud noises. Puffiness in your face, hands or feet is usually harmless, but mention it so your blood pressure is checked. The one thing to do this week: make sure your employer knows your due date and planned leave.

Where you are at 25 weeks

Still in the second trimester (ACOG: until 27 weeks and 6 days), and at the start of month seven in Cleveland Clinic's grouping (weeks 25 to 28). Not sure of your exact week and day? Use our pregnancy week calculator, or check your date with the due date calculator. After IVF, your clinic's dates take priority.

Your baby this week

The NHS measures your baby at around 34.6cm from head to heel and compares this to a courgette (zucchini). This is an active time: a loud noise can make your baby jump and kick, which should not hurt but may surprise you, and you might feel the occasional hiccup.

Your baby is now peeing into the amniotic fluid; the NHS explains that by now most of the liquid around your baby is urine, which cushions them and keeps the temperature stable. Cleveland Clinic adds that more body fat makes the skin less wrinkled and plumper, and that the nervous system is maturing quickly.

Your body and common symptoms

Puffy face, hands or feet. Usually water retention. The NHS asks you to mention it anyway, so your blood pressure can be checked for pre-eclampsia, which can happen in the second half of pregnancy or after birth.
Burping and a burning chest. Very common now: your baby is taking up space where your stomach used to sit. The NHS suggests smaller meals, sitting up straight to eat, cutting back on caffeine, and avoiding rich, spicy and fatty foods. More ideas in our heartburn guide.
Feeling full quickly. Little and often is easier than three big meals.
Worries about money or doing it alone. If you are pregnant and single, you are far from the only one: the NHS notes that around 1 in 4 families are single-parent families. Your midwife or doctor can point you to local support, and the charity Gingerbread advises single parents on benefits and childcare.

Is this normal? When to call

Mild ankle puffiness at the end of the day is common. Call your maternity unit or OB-GYN straight away if swelling comes on suddenly, or if you have a severe headache that does not ease with simple painkillers, blurred vision or flashing lights, pain below the ribs, or you feel very unwell (NHS signs of pre-eclampsia). Call too for bleeding, fluid leaking, a change in your baby's movements, or regular tightenings: ACOG says not to wait if you have signs of preterm labor. UK: maternity unit, NHS 111 if you cannot reach it, 999 in an emergency. US: your OB-GYN or midwife, 911 in an emergency.

Appointments and tests around 25 weeks

	United States	United Kingdom
Routine check	Blood pressure and urine at your prenatal visit	NHS 25-week appointment if this is your first baby: blood pressure, urine, bump measurement, your baby's movements, your mental health, your birth preferences
Glucose screening	ACOG: usually between 24 and 28 weeks	NHS: between 24 and 28 weeks if you have risk factors

Your checklist for week 25

UK: confirm to your employer, at least 15 weeks before your due date, when the baby is due and when you want your leave to start (GOV.UK). They must confirm your dates in writing within 28 days.
UK partners: check eligibility for 2 weeks of Paternity Leave and Pay on GOV.UK. Partners can also take time off for 2 antenatal appointments.
US: check whether you qualify for FMLA, which gives eligible employees up to 12 workweeks of unpaid, job-protected leave (employers with 50 or more employees; at least 12 months and 1,250 hours worked).
US: if you need a stool, more breaks or lighter duties, the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act requires reasonable accommodations from employers with 15 or more employees (EEOC).
Open an NHS birth plan template, or ours, and jot down your first thoughts on pain relief and who you want with you.
Mention any swelling at your next appointment.

For your partner

If you plan to take leave, tell your own employer now too, and put the warning signs above in your phone so you both know when a call cannot wait.

Previous and next week

Week 24: viability and the glucose test · Week 26: movements and leg cramps · The second trimester · All weeks

Questions parents ask

Is swelling normal at 25 weeks pregnant?

Some puffiness from water retention is common and usually harmless. The NHS still asks you to mention it, because your midwife or doctor will want to check your blood pressure. Sudden swelling of the face, hands or feet needs to be checked immediately.

When do I have to tell my employer I am pregnant in the UK?

GOV.UK says to tell your employer at least 15 weeks before your due date when the baby is due and when you want your maternity leave to start. Your employer must reply in writing within 28 days.

Can a female partner take paternity leave?

Yes. The NHS week 25 guide notes that female partners are also entitled to paternity leave. GOV.UK lists 2 weeks of Paternity Leave for eligible partners, with rules on how to claim.

Sources

NHS — Week-by-week guide: week 25 checked October 13, 2026
Cleveland Clinic — Fetal Development: Week-by-Week Stages of Pregnancy checked October 13, 2026
NHS — Pre-eclampsia checked October 13, 2026
GOV.UK — Maternity pay and leave: how to claim checked October 13, 2026
GOV.UK — Paternity pay and leave checked October 13, 2026
U.S. Department of Labor — Family and Medical Leave Act checked October 13, 2026
EEOC — What You Should Know About the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act checked October 13, 2026
NHS — Your antenatal appointments checked October 13, 2026

Mamavela explains; it does not replace your midwife, doctor or pediatrician, who know your situation. If something worries you, call them. In an emergency, call 911 (US), 999 (UK) or 112.