Overview of Week 26 of pregnancy
During week 26 of pregnancy:
- Your baby is 14 inches long
- You are in trimester two
- 14 more weeks to go
- Baby’s eyes are open
Right around this time, your doctor will have you do a screening for gestational diabetes. This test is usually done between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy. Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that occurs during pregnancy when your body is not able to produce enough insulin to keep your blood sugar levels at the proper levels.
In order to test for gestational diabetes, you will have to consume a glucose drink and then wait one hour. After the hour is up, your blood will be drawn and glucose levels will be measured. If your blood sugar levels are too high, you will be sent to have another test that will test your levels while fasting and again after 1 hour, 2 hours, and 3 hours after consuming the glucose drink.
How many months pregnant is 26 weeks?
During the 26th week, you will officially become 6 months pregnant and will start to enter the seventh month of pregnancy. You are still in trimester two, but only for a couple more weeks. Only 3 more months of pregnancy left to go.
How big is baby at 26 weeks pregnant?
Your baby is now around 14 inches long, from head to toe. Curled up in your uterus, they are roughly the size of an acorn squash. As for weight, your little one weighs about 1.68 pounds during week 26 of pregnancy.
Baby development during week 26 of pregnancy
Eyes
By 26 weeks pregnant, your little one’s eyes are opening up. They are able to look around your uterus and perceive light. They also have little eyebrows and eyelashes. As for the color of those eyes, there is currently little pigmentation. The eye color is still being established, and may even continue to change after birth.
Fingers
Your baby now has little fingernails on each finger. They have finished developing and will continue to grow. You may even need to trim those little nails shortly after birth.
Pregnancy Week 26 Symptoms
Braxton-Hicks
Braxton-Hick contractions are false labor pains caused by the contraction of the uterus. They are not contractions that indicate that labor is coming; instead, they prepare your body for labor. Unlike labor contractions, these contractions come irregularly and do not increase in length or strength. They can feel uncomfortable and like mild menstrual cramps. You may start to feel Braxton-Hicks at any time in your pregnancy from now on.
Stretch marks
You may have started to notice stretch marks forming on your belly and breasts. These indented, purple, red, or blue lines occur when skin is stretched quickly. It is difficult to avoid stretch marks during pregnancy and they are usually permanent scars. You may not be able to avoid them completely, but you can start to use lotions and oils on your belly and breasts to help reduce the severity of the marks.
Swelling
Swelling in pregnancy is a normal symptom that usually starts in the second trimester and may worsen towards the end of pregnancy. Excess fluids in the body and pressure from your growing uterus can cause water retention in the feet, ankles, and hands. If you notice your fingers starting to swell, you should remove any rings until the swelling goes down. Let your doctor or midwife know if the swelling worsens or if there is a large amount in your face or around your eyes.
Pregnancy brain
You may notice that you seem to forget more things nowadays. You may not remember specific details, dates, or things on your to-do list. Perhaps you may not be able to focus on tasks and your mind seems to wonder. This is a common occurrence in pregnancy. In order to combat this, writing yourself notes and leaving them around your home might be a beneficial idea.
Hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids are swollen veins in your rectum and around your anus. During pregnancy, increased blood flow to the pelvic area, as well as increased pressure from the uterus, causes veins around your rectum to swell. Hemorrhoids can be uncomfortable and if you get them, it is best to avoid sitting for too long at a time, as sitting can cause extra pressure on the veins.
Pregnancy week 26 tips
Take pictures
Have you taken your weekly baby bump photo yet? These pictures will be a good memory to look back on and it is a fun way to show your belly growing throughout your pregnancy. In fact, if you have been taking pictures since the beginning of your pregnancy, you will probably already see some transformation.
Lotion your tummy
Your belly is growing at a quick pace and you are probably starting to see stretch marks forming. You may also start to feel itchy on your belly. Creams, lotions, and oils can help to reduce any irritation you may be feeling, as well as reduce the visibility of stretch marks. There are plenty of over-the-counter creams and lotions specifically for stretch marks during pregnancy. Oils like coconut oil and argan oil will also help.
Think about your birth plan
This is a good time to start thinking about your birth plan and deciding on how you want your labor and delivery experience to go. A birth plan is a written plan about what your ideal delivery experience will be like. It includes things like if you want any pain medication, who you would like to be in the delivery room with you, and your wishes for possible induction. Other things you may want to consider are how you plan to feed your baby and if you would like music, candles, or anything else in the birthing room.
Do your kegals
If you haven’t already, it is recommended that you start doing kegal exercises every day. These exercises are beneficial in strengthening your pelvic floor muscles and will aid in labor. In order to perform kegals, you must locate your correct muscles, which are the same ones that stop the flow of urine. Once you have located these muscles, squeeze them (as if you were stopping your pee) for a count of 5-6 seconds, then slowly release for another count of 5-6 seconds. Do this repetition around 10 times and repeat 2-3 times per day.
