You have probably already got used to your belly, which is now noticed by everyone, because the 26th week of pregnancy is on the calendar. As a rule, by this date a woman already knows a lot about her situation, peculiarities of the fetus’ development inside her womb, as well as about future motherhood. This time has brought you a lot of pleasant and not very pleasant moments, but you are rapidly approaching the most important event – the birth of a little baby.
So you can know more about your condition, we will try to briefly, but in detail talk about the key points of this term.
26th week of pregnancy: how the baby is developing
In the body of the fetus in the 26th week of pregnancy, active preparation of the respiratory system for the first breath continues. In the respiratory organs (in particular the lungs) continues active production of a special substance called surfactant. This substance will perform a very important function after birth, which is to open the lungs, allowing the baby to take its first breath.
If an ultrasound is done at 26 weeks of pregnancy, there is a chance to capture the incredible moment when the baby sucks his or her finger. This indicates that the fetus has already developed the sucking reflex well enough, which will later be necessary for lactation (breastfeeding).
The skin of the fetus still has a reddish tinge and also appears somewhat thin (you can see the network of vessels). However, the process of thickening the skin, eliminating the red hue and smoothing out the folds is still going on. The external signs and facial features are already almost identical to those of a newborn.
Almost all of the touch, hearing, and visual receptors have completed their formation. The baby is able to distinguish between sound stimuli, so a woman may notice that the baby inside her reacts to the sound of her voice, music and other sound vibrations. Regarding vision, the eyeball is already formed, but the eyelids are tightly closed, but very soon the fetus will learn to blink.
Fetal size at 26 weeks of pregnancy
The growth of the child in the 26th week of pregnancy can reach an average of 35-36 centimeters, but it all depends on heredity and the rate of development. Regarding weight, the index passed the 900 grams, but it is also worth noting that the set of mass also depends on the peculiarities of the baby’s development, heredity and a host of other factors.
Fetal body proportions are already approaching the appearance of a newborn baby, that is, gradually thin limbs gain muscle and fat mass, which makes them stronger. The baby is actively turning over, moving and changing its position in every way, which indicates the normal pace of its development.
26 weeks of pregnancy: feelings
Regarding the symptomatology at the 26th obstetric week of pregnancy, it is worth highlighting such moments:
- Painful sensations in the pelvic area and lower back – these are signs that your body is actively preparing for the upcoming birth. The body produces a fairly large amount of the hormone relaxin, which affects muscles and ligaments, provoking their stretching. The pain occurs mainly during movement and does not cause significant discomfort, otherwise you should consult a doctor;
- Training contractions are quite normal for the end of the second trimester. These cramps are more characteristic of the third trimester, and they are similar to petrification in the abdominal area and pulling pelvic pain. Such phenomena can occur after significant physical exertion during the first half of the day;
- The emergence of anxiety or strong excitement against the background of expectation of imminent changes in life, which are associated with the upcoming childbirth. These psychological manifestations are quite normal, but if there are signs of severe stress or depression, appropriate measures should be taken;
- The urge to urinate and defecate is also a symptom that will stay with the woman until the birth. It is impossible to avoid this symptom, so you will have to get used to it. However, you should be attentive to the sensations – if you feel a carnage, pain or something similar, you should take appropriate measures.
Ultrasound at 26 weeks of pregnancy
As a rule, a mandatory ultrasound scan at 26 weeks of pregnancy is not scheduled. Scheduled ultrasound examination will be performed somewhat later. However, if a pregnant woman has any complaints, it may be a reason for an unscheduled check-up. Appoint an additional ultrasound may himself a doctor, if he sees a valid reason for this (eg, suspicion of any fetal abnormalities).
If an ultrasound scan at 26 weeks of pregnancy is done, the doctor may determine the rate of development of the baby, its brain volume, height, weight and several other parameters. Also, the specialist’s attention necessarily extends to assessing the development of the placenta, the amount of amniotic fluid and the quality of blood circulation in the uterus.
What happens to the mother’s body in the 26th week of pregnancy?
The baby in the 26th week of pregnancy continues to grow and develop, which contributes to active changes in the woman’s body. The breasts continue to increase, but the rate of growth is slightly lower than it was in the first trimester. But even with the minimal growth rate of your breasts, you may need to change your bra to a larger and more comfortable size more often.
Naturally, there are still significant stretch marks on the body in the breast and abdomen areas, and there may be unpleasant streaks in the thighs. Some women are predisposed to pigmentation, which at this term can also appear. You should not worry too much if you notice that your skin has become more sensitive to various irritants – this is quite normal for pregnant women.
Your abdomen seems even more noticeable at the 26th week of pregnancy – it has increased in size, it has become more forward. You may notice that the waist is somewhat spread out to the sides, such a thing is also considered quite normal, because the fetus inside you requires enough space, which is provided by the uterine cavity, which does not stop its growth.
Many pregnant women also face the problem of swelling (most often swollen feet) – this should not worry you too much. Such phenomena are due to more active blood circulation and an increase in the amount of blood in the body, which will last until the 35th week. You can somewhat reduce the appearance of swelling by regular foot baths with cool water.
26th week of pregnancy: what to pay attention to
At 26 weeks of pregnancy, you should be extremely careful about intimate hygiene, because your body at this stage is focused on protecting the developing fetus, which increases the likelihood of your illness. At this stage, there is a very real risk of developing genitourinary organ infections. To avoid this, follow all the recommendations of your doctor, have regular checkups and more often take care of your body, paying particular attention to the intimate areas.
Remember that your emotional health is also very important. Worry, worry and other uncomfortable things for the psyche at this stage is considered quite normal, but to tolerate them stoically and silently is not worth it. If you feel the need to communicate or speak out, don’t hold back, ask your partner or friends to pay attention to you, to talk, to go somewhere or something like that. If you are experiencing serious nervous disorders or depression, you should see a specialist as soon as possible.
Don’t forget the benefits of following a routine during the day and all of life’s moments. You should establish a certain and most comfortable time for waking up, observe healthy habits (washing your face, brushing your teeth, having breakfast and so on) and determine for yourself specific tasks to which you will devote your next day. Regimen is useful in the diet – try to eat often, but in the same hours, and choose only products that are healthy for your health. By the way, drink plenty of water and freshly squeezed juices.
The 26th week of pregnancy: what you need to discuss with your doctor
You may be interested in the 26th week of pregnancy – Do you need an ultrasound or not? As a rule, in the absence of objective reasons for unscheduled ultrasound examination is not appointed. However, you should share warning signs, if such were noted – probably require adequate measures to establish the cause of pain, discomfort and other things.
If you experience pain in your lower back and lower abdomen, ask your doctor how to reduce or eliminate the discomfort. In some cases, your doctor may advise you to wear a special supportive underwear or bandage. Also special massage or exercises may be prescribed, but remember – everything is strictly individual.
Reason enough for professional advice – is it possible to have sex during pregnancy? If you feel the need for intimacy (it is quite normal and there is no need to be ashamed), but you fear for the life of your baby, then clarify this point with your doctor. As a rule, a specialist will answer you that there is no prohibition to have sex at all terms of pregnancy, but there are individual characteristics and problems that can adjust this point.
The 26th week of pregnancy: tips
On the breasts, hips and abdomen at 26 weeks of pregnancy you can see significant stretch marks – this can cause you a lot of physical and psychological discomfort. It is impossible to avoid the appearance of such marks on the body during pregnancy, but after delivery most of them will disappear or become less noticeable if you enter your normal weight. To somewhat reduce the activity of appearance of stretch marks and make them less noticeable, you should use these tips:
- Several times a day, apply moisturizing cream to the necessary areas of the body – usually a special product purchased at the drugstore and guaranteed safe for the life and health of the baby and mom;
- While applying a moisturizer or mask, perform a light skin massage to improve blood circulation in the inner layers of the dermis;
- Practice contrast showers, but choose the temperature carefully – remember that the flow of water should not cause you discomfort.
The 26th week of pregnancy is a relatively calm period in the whole term of pregnancy. However, there are a lot of things you are not allowed to do right now, and a lot of things are just difficult. If you strive to stay physically active, no one can forbid, but you should choose only safe options – for example, safe for pregnant women gymnastic exercises or short walks in the fresh air.
Make sure your diet is as rich in vitamin D and iron as possible. Reconsider your eating habits and food preferences – it should be good quality, healthy and fresh products. Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as cereals. If you like pasta, give preference to whole-grain varieties. Also try to avoid preservatives and semi-finished products, as their use risks food poisoning, which is very dangerous for you and your baby now.
At this stage, you should already begin to actively prepare for childbirth – look for information, study examples. In this kind of study you should not worry and imagine the worst variants of events – save your psyche and trust only specialists. By the way, you can already choose a name for the baby, if you know its gender (some parents deliberately do not do this to save intrigue).
26 weeks of pregnancy: questions and answers
A lot of time has passed since the birth of new life in your body, so you may think that you already know literally everything. However, there are many more discoveries and important moments ahead of you, so your inquisitiveness and curiosity will only play into your hands, so to speak.
You can always count on the good advice of your more experienced friends and relatives. There is a lot of literature and thematic sites that are not stingy with useful information for expectant mothers. Do not neglect the opportunity to consult with a specialist, and for some questions you will find answers right now.
The 26th week of pregnancy is how many months?
If you keep a pregnancy calendar, week 26 symbolizes the continuation of the 7th month of your interesting situation. There is still quite a lot of time ahead before the birth, so it is worth continuing to actively prepare and self-improve.
How does the baby lie in the belly at 26 weeks of pregnancy?
As a rule, the position of the fetus at this term is head to the cervix. However, because there is enough space in the uterine cavity, the baby can take different positions and move around in all kinds of ways. If your baby is not pointing with its head toward the cervix, you should not worry, because there is still enough time for the baby to take the right vector for delivery.
Where is the uterus at 26 weeks of pregnancy?
The uterus at 26 weeks of pregnancy continues to actively increase, as evidenced by a clearly rounded and cured forward belly. The position of the organ at this term is about 28 centimeters above the pubic bone.
How often should the baby move at 26 weeks of pregnancy?
To diagnose the development of the baby, it is very important to record and notice how often and with what intensity it moves. Experts do not note clear norms regarding fetal movements, but by this term, within an hour it should make itself known at least 15 times. It is worth noting that the reduction of these signs of active activity or, conversely, their increase may indicate problems and developmental abnormalities, in particular a lack of oxygen.
26 weeks of pregnancy – what trimester?
The term of pregnancy at 26 weeks is the end of the second trimester. Immediately after the end of this week will come the third trimester of carrying your baby, which is considered very important and the most difficult for the female body.
