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Week 26
How Big is the Baby at 26
Weeks Pregnant?
Your baby has put on quite a bit of weight by
pregnancy week 26 and is now a whopping 2 pounds (almost). Your baby's
crown-to-rump length is about 9-10 inches long, and her total length is about 12
inches during pregnancy 26 weeks! Your baby is now starting to add a little fat
to her bones, though she won't start accumulating too much fat until the last
few weeks of pregnancy.
Your Baby's Growth and Development
Your
baby's heart continues to grow and develop during pregnancy at 26 weeks. You may
even be able to hear your baby's heart beat through a traditional stethoscope
placed on your stomach by 26 weeks pregnant. Don't get too excited though, some
women can go their entire pregnancy without being able to locate their baby's
heartbeat using a stethoscope. The Doppler is a much more effective and
efficient way of measuring your baby's heartbeat throughout pregnancy.
In addition to organ maturation throughout the body, your baby's nerve
pathways in her ears continue to develop during pregnancy 26 weeks which will
allow your baby to respond to sounds more consistently. You might notice your
baby jumping more often now to loud noises when you are 26 weeks pregnant. This
is a good time to start playing some relaxing music to your little one when you
have the chance. Some parents even enjoy reading to their babies during this
time. If you haven't considered it, have your partner read to your belly. This
will help your baby become more acclimated to the sound of your partner's voice.
Believe it or not, one of the first things babies recognize outside the womb
besides smell is the sound of your voice, and your partner's voice.
Your
baby will continue breathing in amniotic fluid after twenty six weeks pregnant
and beyond. Boy babies usually experience a bit of growth during this week, as
their testicles begin to descend into the scrotum. This process typically takes
between two and three days to complete.
Your Growth and Development
Your uterus
should now be about 2 and a half inches above your belly button. Your uterus
will continue growing at a rate of about 1 centimeter each week as you continue
your pregnancy week by week. You have probably put on some weight at this point
in time, up to 23 pounds for some women. Your weight may fluctuate from day to
day due to water retention so try not to weight yourself every day if you can
avoid it, as this could prove discouraging during your pregnancy.
Changes in You
You are probably starting
to experience more discomfort including pressure and back pain as your belly
continues to grow larger. Leg cramps may be common. Be sure to stretch out your
legs as much as possible and eat a nutritious diet to ensure your body is
receiving the nutrients it needs to keep up with your baby's development.
Stretching is particularly important if you plan on doing any type of exercise.
Remember that your added girth and changes in hormones in your body will change
the way your body responds to exercise. You want to take great care to make sure
you do not injure yourself. One way to prevent this is through routine
stretching.
Headaches may start to come on more frequently at this time
in pregnancy as your hormones continue to change as you approach the end of your
second trimester. Usually you can take some Tylenol to help relieve the pain of
headaches you are experiencing. If your headaches are severe or you are
experiencing frequent migraines, talk with your healthcare provider about any
possible treatment options.
Some women might start complaining of pain
or discomfort around their ribs or in their lower abdomen. Your little one is
getting stronger, and her strength combined with the growing size of your uterus
pressing against your organs may cause you to have some discomfort. It isn't
uncommon to feel a sharp or stabbing pain or pressure under your ribs as the
baby moves. It may help to switch positions or lie down when you feel this pain
or discomfort. This might help your little one settle in for a bit or change
positions.
You may start having a slight increase in blood pressure at
this point in pregnancy. Blood pressure is typically lower between weeks 22 and
weeks 24 and then rises slightly at this point in
pregnancy.
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