PREGNANCY WEEK 26 ~ HEALTH and FITNESS

26 WEEKS PREGNANT

You haven’t met baby yet, but he or she’s taking over your life! Interfering with your sleep. Messing with your memory. And even giving you a stress headache or two at 26 weeks pregnant. Um, he or she will do all those things after birth too! When they say we have nine months to get ready for baby, they don’t just mean growing the baby and buying a car seat and bouncer. We need to mentally prepare for a newborn to become the center of our attention. And already, at week 26 of pregnancy, baby’s giving you some practice in that department.

How Big Is Baby at 26 Weeks Pregnant?

At 26 weeks pregnant, baby is as big as a head of kale. Your 26-week fetus measures about 14 inches and weighs about 1.7 pounds. He or she is developing senses, features, and even talents! Wow!

26 Weeks Pregnant Is How Many Months?

26 weeks pregnant is five months and about three weeks pregnant. You’re making your way through the sixth month of pregnancy.

26 WEEKS PREGNANT SYMPTOMS

Your 26 weeks pregnant symptoms are mostly discomforts—and are steadily getting more uncomfortable as baby grows and your body begins to make changes to get ready for childbirth.

Trouble sleeping. Yawn! The closer you get to your due date, the tougher it might be to get some rest! Watch your caffeine intake, stay hydrated, and get a little exercise (take walks!) to help your body settle down at night.
Swelling. You might not like the puffiness, but it’s normal to have some mild swelling around week 26 of pregnancy. But it’s important to watch out for swelling that’s severe or sudden, which could be a sign of a dangerous condition called preeclampsia. Call your doctor if your swelling seems worrisome.
Headaches. These are often due to hormone fluctuations or stress. But you can get also get headaches if you’re hungry or dehydrated, so continue taking care of yourself and baby by eating at least every few hours and keeping a glass of water by your side for frequent sipping.
Pregnancy brain. Is it getting tricky to remember stuff? That may be a physiological symptom of hormone fluctuations, but it also might be because, well, you’ve got quite a bit on your mind.
Braxton Hicks contractions. Notice your belly occasionally feeling really tight? That’s a contraction. Yep, already. (Braxton Hicks might be more noticeable for women who are 26 weeks pregnant with twins.) Don’t freak out though—your muscles are flexing to practice for labor. As long as the contractions aren’t steady or severe, they’re run-of-the-mill. Tell your doctor if the contractions are painful or don’t stop; those are signs of preterm labor.
Higher blood pressure. A slight boost in blood pressure is normal at 26 weeks pregnant. If your doctor sees too high of a boost though, she might have you monitored more closely. That’s because hypertension—a systolic reading of more than 140 mm Hg or diastolic reading more than 90 mm Hg—could be a sign of preeclampsia or HELLP syndrome. These potentially dangerous pregnancy complications would need to be treated right away.

26 WEEKS PREGNANT BELLY

By 26 weeks pregnant, you’ve probably gained about 16 to 22 pounds—or about 27 to 42 pounds if you’re 26 weeks pregnant with twins. When you touch your 26 weeks pregnant belly, you’ll notice the top of your uterus is about 2.5 inches above your belly button. Your belly will keep growing about a half inch each week for the rest of your pregnancy.

26 WEEKS PREGNANT ULTRASOUND

You’ve probably got a couple weeks until your next prenatal appointment and typically there is no 26 weeks pregnant ultrasound, so you’re probably itching to find out what’s going on inside your 26 weeks pregnant belly. Here’s a look: Baby's taking breaths—of amniotic fluid, not air. It’s good practice for those first moments after birth!

Baby's getting his or her immune system ready for life on the outside by soaking up your antibodies. And baby's eyes are forming, and his or her eyes will soon start to open. Can you believe your 26-week fetus has already grown eyelashes? Soon, he or she will start batting them. (Aw!)