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Second Trimester

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26 Weeks Pregnant

Length of baby: 35.5cm
Weight of baby: 770g (0.77kg)
At week 26, your baby’s eyes are now beginning to open, and the little one’s ears are now developed to an extent that it is now able to hear voices.

26 WEEKS PREGNANT

You’re 26 weeks pregnant! You might by now, be experiencing the phenomenon known as “pregnancy brain”.

Finding yourself forgetting things, searching the very reason you walked into a room, locating your item you had with you just a second ago. Momnesia is something that’s very real but even doctors are clueless as to what causes it. Thankfully Momnesia is not there for the long haul and should go away after pregnancy.

You are also having trouble sleeping and may experience headaches frequently. Do get as much rest as possible, and if you do have trouble sleeping at night, get some exercise in the day.

Little as it is, baby is slowly but surely taking control over your life, becoming the center of attention for all that you do. This will be the case moving forward, especially once the baby is born.

Do keep an eye out on your blood pressure though. You will have your blood pressure checked at every prenatal appointment, and it is normal to have a slightly higher blood pressure than usual.

However if your blood pressure shoots too high, you might develop pregnancy hypertension and could lead to pregnancy complications.

26 weeks pregnant is how many months? 26 weeks pregnant is six months and two weeks pregnant.

 

26 WEEKS BABY SIZE

How big is baby at 26 weeks? Your baby measures about 35.5cm.

The current weight of your baby is about 770grams (0.77kg).

 

26 WEEKS PREGNANT WEIGHT GAIN

This is the weight gain that you must achieve this week.

Underweight(BMI <18.5)  0.44kg to 0.58kg
Normal weight(BMI 18.5 to 24.9)0.39kg to 0.50kg
Overweight(BMI 25 to 29.9) 0.23kg to 0.33kg
Obese(BMI ≥ 30) 0.16kg to 0.25kg

During the second trimester, you will need to eat an extra 340 calories a day.

 

26 WEEKS PREGNANT SYMPTOMS

You are feeling more and more uncomfortable as the days pass due to the constant growth of your pregnant belly.

Being 26 weeks pregnant, here are some signs and symptom that your body might be experiencing:

  • Swelling. It is normal to experience swelling in your ankles and legs, so do lift them up whenever you are resting. Also watch out for severe swelling, as that could be a sign of preeclampsia, which is a dangerous condition that can lead to complications for you and your baby.
  • Backache. With an increase in pregnancy hormones, this leads to your joints and ligaments loosening. This, together with the growing baby, means more work for your back muscles and as such, you may feel muscle strain on your back.
  • Headaches. The change in your hormonal levels coupled with the stress that come with pregnancy  can cause you to develop frequent headaches. This can be exacerbated if you are hungry and dehydrated. Do always keep a healthy snack with you and drink up!
  • Pregnancy brain. Forgetfulness. Where did you put your bag? Why did you walk into the room? You tend to be more forgetful, and it could be due to a combination of a lack of sleep, stress and hormonal fluctuations.   
  • Slightly higher blood pressure. As your blood vessels relax and dilate to cope with the higher amount of blood your body produces, it is normal to have a slightly elevated blood pressure. Do watch out if your blood pressure gets too high, as it could lead to complications for you and your baby.

 

Pregnancy brain – Where did you put your bag? Why did you walk into the room? Now what were you supposed to be doing today? You tend to be more forgetful, and it could be due to your lack of sleep, stress and hormonal fluctuations.   

 

26 WEEKS THE PREGNANT BELLY

You should have gained from about 7.2kg to 10kg in weight, and when you touch your belly, the top of the uterus would be about 6.4cm above your belly button.

Your belly will grow at the rate of about 1.3cm for the remaining of your pregnancy.

 

HOW IS MY BABY 26 WEEKS PREGNANT?

Your baby’s eyes are now beginning to open, after having been closed for the past six and the half months to allow the retina to develop. Shine a torch through your belly and your baby might wiggle in response to the light. On top of that, your baby have now grown eyelashes.

The little one’s ears are now developed insofar, it is now able to hear voices, and can pick up on your chatters. Do make time to talk or even sing to the little one to start creating a bond with your baby.

Your baby is now taking breaths of amniotic fluid, which is important for the development of the lungs. In a way, the little one is practising breathing for when he or she is born and takes that first gulp of air.

The baby’s immune system is absorbing your antibodies and getting ready for life on the outside. If you’re having a boy, the testicles should soon start the descend to the scrotum, which should take about up to three months for that trip down.

 

WHAT TO DO AT 26 WEEKS PREGNANT

Reminders for the week:

  • Sign up for an antenatal class
  • Talk and sing to your baby