Pregnancy Guide for Couples: Week 25
We’re in Week 25, and this week, we will talk about baby’s sleep and how you can exercise safely while pregnant.
What’s Going on with Baby
At Week 25, your baby is the size of a soccer ball!
At this point, your baby is spending a lot of time sleeping. As they sleep, they bounce back and forth between rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and non-REM sleep. Here are some interesting facts about REM sleep in fetuses:
Brain activity and eye movement patterns in fetuses are similar to those in newborns and adults. This is why experts believe babies experience REM sleep in the womb.
It’s not fully understood why babies in the womb experience REM but it could be to help develop their brain.
REM sleep is associated with memory consolidation, learning, and emotional processing in adults so it may affect the brain of a fetus in the same way.
What’s Going on with Mom
Hey Mom, are you curious about appropriate ways to exercise during pregnancy? There are plenty of ways to get your heart rate up and your feet moving throughout your pregnancy as long as your doctor has given you the green light. Here are some things to consider when exercising during pregnancy:
Stay hydrated. This is key! Hydrating yourself before, during, and after exercise is essential. Plan to drink more than you did pre-pregnancy since pregnancy can increase your fluid needs.
Warm up and cool down. Warming up before and cooling down after you exercise will protect your muscles from straining. This will also help you not to feel faint or dizzy.
Listen to your body. You may not be able to exercise the same way you did before you were pregnant. Make sure you don’t push yourself too hard and pay close attention to how you’re feeling.
Always stop and consult your doctor if you start having shortness of breath, dizziness, chest pain, or other problematic symptoms.
What’s going on with Partner
Exercising with Mom is not only good for both of your bodies in a physical sense, but it’s also an excellent time for you and Mom to spend quality time together. Before you know it, there will be more than just the two of you! Here are some things that you and Mom can do together during the pregnancy:
Walk
Prenatal yoga
Swim
Dance
Resistance band workouts
Prenatal exercise class
RESOURCE OF THE WEEK
If you want specific exercises that will help your baby be in the best position possible, read this blog!
