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25 Weeks Pregnant: Your Baby Responds to Your Voice

Medically reviewed by

Sarah Riffle, RN Jul 30, 2026

Line illustration of a cauliflower: at 25 weeks pregnant your baby is about the size of a cauliflower, roughly 21 to 23cm crown to rump

Line drawing of a 25-week foetus with a hand raised near its ear, responding to familiar sounds

Line drawing of a woman's torso at 25 weeks pregnant, showing the uterus inside a full rounded bump

Your baby is the size of a

Cauliflower

~630–820 grams

~21–23 cm / ~8.3–9.1 in

Key Takeaways

At 25 weeks pregnant, your baby may react to sound. According to Mayo Clinic, your baby might move in response to familiar sounds such as your voice, and now spends most sleep time in rapid eye movement (REM).

Mayo Clinic gives no measurement at week 25. Between its week-24 and week-26 figures, your baby is roughly 210 to 230 millimetres from crown to rump and weighs about 630 to 820 grams.

This is the gestational diabetes screening window. SOGC says all pregnant women should be offered blood glucose screening between 24 and 28 weeks — so if you haven't had it yet, it is likely coming up.

Your Baby at 25 Weeks: Development & Growth

At 25 weeks pregnant, your baby may respond to your voice with movement and now spends most sleep time in rapid eye movement, according to Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic gives no size at week 25; between its week-24 and week-26 figures, your baby is roughly 210 to 230 millimetres from crown to rump and about 630 to 820 grams.

The headline this week is sound. Mayo Clinic explains that at 25 weeks "your baby might move in response to familiar sounds, such as your voice." The connection you have been talking to may now be talking back, in the only way it can — a kick, a shift, a roll.

Sleep is changing, too. Mayo Clinic notes that "your baby spends most sleep time in rapid eye movement," describing this as "when the eyes move quickly even though the eyelids are closed." The same dreaming-stage sleep you know is already part of your baby's day.

On size, Mayo Clinic gives no figure for week 25 — an honest gap in the source. For a bracket, its neighbouring weeks help: at week 24 the baby is "about 8 1/4 inches (210 millimeters) long from crown to rump" weighing "more than 1 1/3 pounds (630 grams)," and by week 26 "9 inches (230 millimeters)" and "nearly 2 pounds (820 grams)." So somewhere in between this week.

Just before now, the skin was catching up. Mayo Clinic notes that at week 24 "your baby's skin is wrinkled and see-through," with "a pink or red tint due to blood moving through the blood vessels." Layer by layer, your baby is filling out.

Your Body at 25 Weeks: Symptoms & Changes

At 25 weeks pregnant, many mothers are in the fuller, steadier part of the second trimester, though common discomforts can still come and go. SOGC lists tender breasts, constipation, backaches, headaches, mood swings and leg cramps among them. This is also the week the gestational diabetes screening window is open, and the point by which most mothers feel a predictable movement pattern. Every pregnancy is different.

Movement is often the reassuring theme now. SOGC notes that "by 24 weeks, almost all women will feel their baby's movements in a predictable way," adding that a baby's patterns "tend to be consistent for any one baby, in any one pregnancy." A rhythm you can recognise is exactly what you are looking for.

The glucose screen is the appointment of this window. SOGC states that "all pregnant women should be offered blood glucose screening for GD between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy," and that the test — a "glucose challenge" — is measured "1 hour after you consume a glucose drink" and "can be conducted at any time of day as it is not a fasting test."

Gestational diabetes is common, and treatable. SOGC notes it is "increasingly common, with about 7% of women having the condition," and reassures that "there is excellent treatment for GD, and most women diagnosed with GD have normal deliveries and healthy babies." A high first result simply means a second, more detailed test.

Everyday symptoms haven't necessarily left. SOGC lists tender or swollen breasts, constipation, gas and bloating, backaches, headaches, mood swings and leg cramps among the common discomforts of pregnancy. Any of these can still be part of your week.

Your body is carrying more each week. SOGC explains that weight gain "isn't just the baby" — "your placenta, increased blood volume, larger breasts, and fat stores to support breastfeeding, also contribute," and that a steady pace of roughly 0.4kg a week in the second and third trimesters is typical for a healthy pre-pregnancy weight. A rounding middle is your body doing its job.

What to Do at 25 Weeks Pregnant

NUTRITION AT 25 WEEKS PREGNANT

Keep the second-trimester increase modest. SOGC states: "In the second trimester you need about 340 extra calories per day," noting this "generally equates to 2 or 3 additionally servings from any of Canada’s Food Guide’s food groups" — for example a piece of toast and a cup of milk. Quality over quantity.
Stay on top of iron. SOGC advises increasing "your daily iron intake to 27mg daily during the final six+ months of pregnancy to support an increase in red blood cells and fetal tissues" — and notes that, "like most women, you may need a good supplement to meet this need."
If your glucose screen flags anything, lean on your care team. SOGC says managing gestational diabetes "involves choosing a healthy diet, gaining the recommended weight during your pregnancy, getting exercise, and if needed, taking insulin or pills to lower your blood sugar." Diet is the first tool, not the last resort.

WHAT SUPPLEMENTS TO TAKE AT 25 WEEKS PREGNANT

Keep taking 400mcg of folic acid daily. The Public Health Agency of Canada states that "a daily multivitamin with 400 mcg (0.4 mg) of folic acid is recommended for anyone who could become pregnant," and advises: "Continue taking folic acid throughout your pregnancy and while breastfeeding."
Don’t raise your folic acid dose on your own. The Public Health Agency of Canada advises: "You should not increase your dose of folic acid beyond 1 mg per day without talking to your health care provider." A higher dose is a conversation, not a supermarket decision.
Check that your prenatal covers iron. SOGC notes that, like most women, "you may need a good supplement" to reach 27mg of iron a day — and the second and third trimesters are when this matters most.

LIFESTYLE TIPS AT 25 WEEKS PREGNANT

Keep moving — aim for at least 150 minutes a week. SOGC advises that "pregnant women should accumulate at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity each week," spread across "at least 3 days a week, and up to 7 days a week." Walking, swimming and stationary cycling all count.
Notice your baby’s pattern. SOGC says "your perception of your baby’s movements is one of the strongest indicators of your baby’s wellbeing," and that "the best time for counting is often in the evening, when babies tend to be more active." Now that a rhythm is emerging, this is worth paying attention to.
Keep caffeine to 300mg a day. Health Canada recommends a maximum daily caffeine intake of 300 mg for people who are pregnant. For reference, Health Canada puts one 8oz (237ml) cup of brewed coffee at about 135mg — so roughly two cups is the ceiling, and that total includes tea, cola and chocolate.
Build in pelvic floor exercises. SOGC notes that "pelvic floor muscle training (e.g., Kegel exercises) can be performed every day to reduce the risk of urinary incontinence." Easy to fold into a daily routine.

When to Contact Your Doctor or Midwife

Most of week 25 is milestones and routine testing, not alarms. But some symptoms should always be checked. Contact your doctor, midwife or other health care provider if you experience:

Any concern about your baby's movements. SOGC advises that "if you ever have concerns regarding your baby's movement pattern, you should have the baby assessed as soon as possible," and that mothers should always trust their intuition. If you do a kick count and don't feel 6 movements in 2 hours, contact your health care provider as soon as possible.
Any vaginal bleeding. SOGC advises: "It's important for you to take any vaginal bleeding seriously. Contact your health care provider as soon as you notice any bleeding." Bleeding in the second trimester always warrants assessment.
Signs of infection, or heavy bleeding. SOGC advises that if you have "signs of infection like fever or heavy bleeding, you should see your care provider right away." If bleeding is heavy or you feel very unwell, seek emergency medical care immediately.
Persistent low mood or disruptive mood swings. SOGC advises that "depression or disruptive mood swings are not normal and it is important to seek help for these more serious concerns."
Severe abdominal pain, a severe or persistent headache, or any symptom that frightens you. Sudden, severe pain warrants urgent assessment — seek emergency medical care immediately if it is intense or you feel faint. For anything that simply worries you, your health care provider is there for exactly that.

Questions fréquemment posées

Can my baby hear my voice at 25 weeks pregnant?

Your baby may now react to it. Mayo Clinic notes that at 25 weeks "your baby might move in response to familiar sounds, such as your voice." It also describes an end-of-week milestone: "your baby might be able to respond to your voice with movement." Talking, reading and singing may now prompt a kick or a shift.

How big is my baby at 25 weeks pregnant?

Mayo Clinic gives no measurement at week 25, so an honest estimate uses the weeks either side. At week 24 the baby is "about 8 1/4 inches (210 millimeters) long from crown to rump" and weighs "more than 1 1/3 pounds (630 grams)"; by week 26 it is "9 inches (230 millimeters)" and "nearly 2 pounds (820 grams)." So at 25 weeks, roughly 210 to 230 millimetres crown to rump and about 630 to 820 grams.

When is the gestational diabetes test in Canada?

The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC) says "all pregnant women should be offered blood glucose screening for GD between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy." If you have risk factors, SOGC notes "you will be tested earlier in your pregnancy." The screen is a "glucose challenge," measured "1 hour after you consume a glucose drink," and it "can be conducted at any time of day as it is not a fasting test."

Should I feel my baby move in a pattern at 25 weeks pregnant?

Usually, yes. SOGC says "by 24 weeks, almost all women will feel their baby’s movements in a predictable way," and that patterns "tend to be consistent for any one baby, in any one pregnancy." If you are worried about a change, SOGC advises having the baby assessed as soon as possible — and if a kick count gives fewer than 6 movements in 2 hours, contact your health care provider.

How much caffeine is safe at 25 weeks pregnant?

Health Canada recommends a maximum daily caffeine intake of 300 mg for people who are pregnant. Health Canada puts one 8oz (237ml) cup of brewed coffee at about 135mg, so roughly two cups a day is the ceiling — and that total should include tea, cola and chocolate, which also contain caffeine.

Week 24 Week 26