26 Weeks Pregnant

You are now entering into the last stage of pregnancy. By now, your baby bump is showing and others will notice that you are pregnant. At week twenty-six of pregnancy, you can feel your uterus about 2-1/2 inches above the belly button. The new mom to be may be experiencing Braxton Hicks Contractions, these are tiny contractions but nothing that can cause premature birth. These contractions are the tightening of the abdomen. At this stage you may be feeling these more and more. They are perfectly normal, ask your doctor to go into a more detailed explanation about what these are and what they mean for you.

At week twenty-six you may notice that that you are feeling more tired and this is due to the weight gain. You will feel more pain and aches in the rib cage, heartburn, cramps and muscle pulls. These are all normal pains of pregnancy, but if they are lasting a longer period of time then you may want to talk to your doctor in order find out if what you are feeling is normal or not.

New moms should be keeping track of the baby’s development. This can be done by attending all of your doctor visits as they are scheduled. You may be due for some shots yourself, so make sure that whatever you need to get done that you do it before the baby is born. Most new moms at this stage are preparing their nurseries and narrowing down baby names. There is a lot to be done here but the most important thing here is to get a lot of rest. Don’t over do it.

Light exercise and activities are ok but you should limit the amount of strenuous activity that you may be used to. The last stages of pregnancy are imperative to the health of the baby.

Baby’s Development

The baby’s growth and development are picking up again at week twenty-six. The baby is about 9 to 10 inches in length and the baby weighs about 2 pounds by now. The baby is measured from crown to rump (head to bottom). The baby will soon start to open their eyes and they can even blink too. The eye development at this stage is now complete. The eye color is a pre-determined blue but after the baby is born the eye color can change.

If you have another sonogram at this stage of pregnancy, you will see that your baby actually looks like a baby. The baby’s development that is taking place this week is sense of touch and reacting to touch. The heart has started to pump blood and a more prominent heartbeat can be heard. The lungs are starting to develop blood vessels and the baby is making breathing movements like the chest moving up and down.

The circulation system of the baby is 100% fully functional. The umbilical cord has grown in size and is circulating blood to the baby. The placenta has become the size of the baby now. If the baby is a boy, the testicles will drop down to the scrotum down.

Changes With Your Body

Your body will continue to change throughout the twenty- sixth week of pregnancy. Your will experience more weight gain but your doctor should have discussed any issues that he may have had with your weight with you by now. So if you have not had that talk with your doctor then continue on doing what you are doing. Your weight gain at this stage should be about 20 to 23 pounds. But the weight may go up and down depending on water retention and bloating. The uterus is about 2-1/2 inches above the belly button and will grow even further in the next few weeks.

Some new moms to be will experience some Braxton Hicks Contractions; these are harmless growing pains that won’t have anything to do with the baby being born. Now the baby may be kicking their legs out and straightening out their arms. You may see the baby protrude from the belly. It really is an amazing thing to see. The baby depending on where he or she is sitting can cause some discomfort to you. You will have to try a position to sit or sleep in where it is most comfortable to you.

You can also alleviate these aches and pains by doing some light yoga exercise or some swimming or walking. You don’t have to over do it, but by stretching your muscles and your body, can really help you take away the aches and the pains.

What To Expect

There are so many changes to you physically in this stage of pregnancy. Some women go into a depression but keep a positive outlook. These changes are all happening because of the baby. Your body will go back to the way it was before the baby but the weight gain and all of the aches and pains are due to the baby. Remember some of this excessive weight gain is from water retention and bloating.

A few days after the baby is born, you will see some weight come off without even trying. It is important to not put any stress on your body, get plenty of sleep and stay hydrated. If you feel up to it, try very light exercises like walking or some yoga. You will feel much better about yourself if you move around a bit. If you notice stretch marks, try using a moisturizer or some cocoa butter. This will help reduce stretch marks as well as help keep your skin hydrated and smooth.

Tips/Advice

Now is a very critical stage in your pregnancy. If the doctor offers you advice or gives you some orders to follow, do them. You may feel like you can accomplish anything, you may feel great but the more stress that is put on the body is put on the baby. Remember you don’t have to superwoman; it is ok to rest every now and then.

Article Source : www.pregnancyweeks.us