Your Nutrition Tip of This Week¹

Are Herbal Supplements or Remedies Safe?
Not all herbal supplements are regulated in Singapore, so it’s hard to know about proper dosing and their safety for expectant moms and their unborn babies. Before taking any herbal supplement, speak with your doctor.

Your Wellness Tips This Week

Continue to seek relief from common pregnancy symptoms such as back pain.

Back Pain²
If you are experiencing back pain during your 25th week of pregnancy, try a gentle stretching pose. It might help strengthen and stretch your back, pelvis, and thigh muscles.

• Kneel on your hands and knees. Your hands should be directly below your shoulders. Your knees should be about 25.5 cm apart.
• Slowly curl backward, bringing your head gently toward your knees and your bottom toward your feet. Your arms should be straight and extended, but not locked at the elbow.
• Hold for a count of about five.
• Slowly rise to your original kneeling position.
• Repeat several times.

Your Baby's Development at Week 25^{3, 4}

During the 25th week of pregnancy, your baby uses her tiny developing hands to learn about herself and her environment. Here’s what’s going on:

• This week, your baby weighs about 0.7 kg, and is about the length of a small cantaloupe.
• Reach for the stars! When you’re 25 weeks pregnant, your baby’s hands are fully developed. She even can make a fist.
• She can respond to familiar sounds like the sound of your voice
• The nerve connections in her hands continue to develop.
• She uses her hands to explore her environment.

Your Changing Body at Week 25 ^{5, 6}

During the 25th week of pregnancy and in the weeks that follow, your body continues its evolution of change.

• Your uterus extends beyond your navel but below your chest.
• Around the 25th week of pregnancy, your blood pressure returns to your pre- pregnancy level.
• Your lung capacity increases. It’s normal to breathe faster or experience a little shortness of breath.
• In preparation for breastfeeding, at 25 weeks pregnant, the milk-producing glands in your breasts grow larger and the skin around your areolas and nipples changes.

References:

¹ American Pregnancy Association. Herbs and Pregnancy. Available [Online] at: https://americanpregnancy.org/healthy-pregnancy/is-it-safe/herbs-and- pregnancy/. Accessed on 26 August 2023.
² Physiopedia. Low back pain and pregnancy. Available [Online] at: https://www.physio-pedia.com/Low_Back_Pain_and_Pregnancy. Accessed on 26 August 2023.
³ Verywellfamily. Week 25 of your pregnancy. Available [Online] at: https://www.verywellfamily.com/25-weeks-pregnant-4159047. Accessed on 26 August 2023.
⁴ Physiopedia. Foetal motor development. Available [Online] at: https://www.physio-pedia.com/Foetal_Motor_Development. Accessed on 26 August 2023.
⁵ American Pregnancy Association. 25 weeks pregnant. Available [Online] at: https://americanpregnancy.org/healthy-pregnancy/week-by-week/25-weeks-pregnant/. Accessed on 26 August 2023.
⁶ MedicalNewsToday. Causes of shortness of breath during pregnancy. Available [Online] at: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322316. Accessed on 26 August 2023.
* Comparison among all maternal milk in Singapore as of January 2022, as declared on the label.

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