Week 25: From Here On Out, You’re Going To Get Wider

It’s pregnancy week 25, and here’s what’s going on…

MIND

It’s week 25, Scary Mommies! On a scale of one to 4 billion, how freaking tired are you of people asking what the baby’s name is going to be?! If it feels like one of the biggest parenting decisions you’ll ever make, maybe that’s because it’s next to impossible to find a name you and your partner agree on, or because your kid will be STUCK WITH WHATEVER YOU PICK FOREVER. It’s a mighty big decision, and the best advice we can give you is not to share your picks with the peanut gallery because you can’t please everyone and the feedback will drive you bat-shit fucking bonkers.

BODY

Your uterus is now the size of a soccer ball, which is a nice way of saying you feel like you swallowed a pillowcase full of lead marbles that’s now wedged between your ribcage and your bladder. Instead of your bump growing up and forward, you can start getting wider at this point, too. Oh, the joys! Prepare for some lady on the subway to tell you that “carrying wide” means you’re having a boy, followed almost immediately by the woman at the bakery counter telling you it means you’re having a girl — followed almost immediately by you punching both of them in the face because you feel wide enough as it is without strangers mentioning it all the time, dammit!

You might also feel some Braxton Hicks contractions, which are nothing to be concerned about as long as they’re infrequent (no more than four an hour) and irregular (real contractions get increasingly intense and closer together).

BABY

That sassy baby of yours can stick their tongue out already, and their skin is getting smoother as a layer of fat plumps up their wrinkles. Yay for chubby babies!

NEST

It’s time to get the crib all sorted! You’ll probably start crib shopping based on size and style to fit your needs. Most new cribs follow current regulations, but if you’re getting a hand-me-down crib, take caution: some old cribs are now considered dangerous and unlawful. Drop-sides are banned, while good cribs have stronger mattress supports and have been subject to more rigorous testing. Oh, and don’t get crib bumpers: they’re a SIDS hazard. I know, I know, you survived your parents’ choices, but there’s a good reason these things are banned now.

Aside from cribs, some parents opt to buy co-sleepers or bassinets. These are more compact beds that can live anywhere in the house. They can be handy if your baby refuses to sleep in the crib and will only sleep if you’re nearby.