They will sleep for about 18 hours a day and move around for about 6 hours a day. They can react to sounds that come from outside your tummy, so you can read or play music to them – things they will recognise after they're born.
Indeed, throughout much of the pregnancy, your baby sleeps 90 to 95% of the day. Some of these hours are spent in deep sleep, some in REM sleep, and some in an indeterminate state—a result of their immature brain. During REM sleep, their eyes move back and forth just like an adult's eyes.
At seven months, your baby's eyes will start moving rapidly as if they were dreaming. This first sign of eye movement tells us that their brain is going back and forth between REM and non-REM sleep, and that they're developing adult-like sleep cycles.
Babies tend to move more at certain times of day – they may be more active while you sleep, and sleep while you're awake. Usually, unborn babies sleep for 20-40 minutes cycles (occasionally up to 90 minutes), and they don't move when they're asleep.
In most of these cases the baby is healthy. However, decreased fetal movement may indicate a higher risk of fetal illness or death in about 25% of cases, chiefly because of impaired oxygen and blood supply. In cases of intrauterine death, the fetal movements cease altogether for 24 hours or more beforehand.
A Word From Verywell
Because it's better to err on the side of caution, count your baby's kicks during the time they are usually most active. If you count less than than 10 kicks in one hour or 20 kicks in 2 hours, call your healthcare provider with your concerns.
Sing a lullaby or turn up the music (just make sure it's not too loud). If your usual chatter isn't getting your tiny gymnast to flip and roll, try singing a lullaby or peppier song or turning up the music (some moms put headphones on their tummies).
It's normal for fetuses to have quiet periods in utero. Sometimes a temporary dip in activity could just mean your baby is sleeping or low on energy because you haven't eaten in a while. However, a long lull in movement could also signal a medical problem like oligohydramnios (low amniotic fluid).
They also responded to maternal touch earlier in gestation than was previously known, between weeks 21 and 25 of pregnancy.
How often should your baby move? There's no set number of movements you should feel each day – every baby is different. You do not need to count the number of kicks or movements you feel each day. The important thing is to get to know your baby's usual movements from day to day.
When you are pregnant, your baby is exposed to everything you experience. This includes the sounds in the environment, the air you breathe, the food you eat and the emotions you feel. When you feel happy and calm, it allows your baby to develop in a happy, calm environment.
Baby may start to know when their father is touching mom's belly. Babies can sense touch from anyone, but they can also sense when touch (and voice) is familiar. And by 24 weeks into pregnancy, dad can usually feel baby kick – but the exact time varies.
Unborn babies in the womb spend most of their time resting, just like babies do. Your baby does really sleep 90 to 95 percent of the day during most of the pregnancy. Due to their developing brains, some of these hours are spent in deep sleep, some in REM sleep, and some in undetermined conditions.
Symptoms are things you feel yourself that others can't see, like having a sore throat or feeling dizzy. The most common symptom of stillbirth is when you stop feeling your baby moving and kicking. Others include cramps, pain or bleeding from the vagina.
eat healthily and avoid rich, spicy and fatty foods. cut back on drinks with caffeine (like tea, coffee and energy drinks) sit up straight when you eat.
There are lots of reasons you may not be able to feel your baby move. For example, it can be harder to feel kicks if your placenta is growing at the front of your womb (anterior placenta), or if your baby is lying facing backwards in your womb (anterior position) . Or they may simply be asleep !
Key Takeaways at 25 Weeks Pregnant
Baby is establishing a sleep pattern in utero. You'll notice (and feel) that they're active for part of the day and then quiet for 12 to 14 hours while they snooze.
Or that if you feel your baby moving more on the right side, then you're probably having a boy. But there's no evidence that there's a difference between the movements of boys and girls in the womb (Medina et al 2003).
Hiccups typically have a regular rhythm and occur in the same part of the belly over and over for a few minutes. Hiccups will feel like a jerking or pulsing jump, which may move your belly a bit. Kicks typically are not rhythmic and will occur all around the belly.
Babies also sleep up to forty minutes intervals, so may disappear for some time before returning. At times, more unusual movements maybe felt. These include repetitive rhythmic hiccups by the baby, and a sudden “shaking” caused by the baby's own startle response. Neither of these are of any specific concern.