25 weeks and 4 days pregnant

This 3D image shows the back of the baby, taken using a scanner setting that enhances the reflections from the skeleton. The back of the spine, ribs, and shoulder blades are clear. This technique has opened up many new possibilities for visualizing your baby’s development.

All the nerve cells are now on the surface of your baby’s brain; what they need to do next is make connections with each other.

Your baby’s brain is so complex that it needs the entire length of your pregnancy not only to grow, but also to mature. It is continually forming new connections and sensory pathways.

The nerves that make up the brain’s grey matter started in the centre of the brain on the outer surface of the lateral ventricles (there is one ventricle in each hemisphere of the brain). The lateral ventricles contain the part of the brain known as the choroid plexus, a loose, seaweed-like structure that produces the fluid that bathes your baby’s brain and spinal cord. Constantly circulating around the brain, this fluid protects and buffers the brain from the harder structure of the bones of the surrounding skull.

The gradual, wave-like, outward movement of nerve cells in the grey matter, which started more than 12 weeks ago, is now complete. Coming to rest close to the brain’s surface, these cells need to mature, branching out to make multiple connections, or “synapses”, with other nerve cells.

The surface of your baby’s brain is very smooth at this stage but as the cortex matures, beginning to form six clear layers, it takes on its familiar wrinkled appearance.

Whether you want to clothe your bump in figure-hugging fabrics and proudly show it off, or choose looser styles that may fit you for longer and obscure just how pregnant you are, is a personal choice.

• If you’re happy to show your bump, you may feel comfortable in stretchy fabrics that can expand as your tummy does. The downside to wearing tight clothing is that your skin may be sensitive to anything snug-fitting. Tight tops will also bring attention to your breasts.

• If you feel more comfortable not showing the profile of your bump, choose baggier clothes, such as tunics, smocks, and overshirts. These may be more comfortable and will cloak your bump for longer.

• If you want to bare your bump, do so when the weather is warm enough. One advantage is you may find you can wear some pre-pregnancy tops.

I’m getting quite big – should I adapt my swimming style?

You may find that in these final couple of months, you need to change your swimming style to one that is more comfortable; many women opt for breaststroke, which can also help to get the baby in to an optimum position.

If you don’t feel up to swimming lengths, just relax in the pool instead. Being in the water will relieve pressure on your abdomen and help to ease lower back pain.