Do You Know These Hidden Secrets to Twenty-Six weeks pregnant?
Changes in the Mother’s Body
When you are 26 weeks pregnant the uterus lies two and a half inches above the navel. This week of pregnancy brings in a lot of changes. Knowing what to expect in this stage will keep you better prepared to face the changes. The discomfort you experience increases as the pressure exerted increases. Back pain also increases. At this stage you will tend to put on a little weight. Leg cramps may also occur and the best way to deal with them is stretching as much as possible. Ensure that you continue eating nutritious food. Frequent headaches occur due to the fluctuating hormones. Best way to handle them is to lie down and relax. Closing of drapes also helps in some cases. However if you experience migraines when you get headaches it is best to consult your doctor. You may also experience discomfort in the ribs or in the lower abdomen. To relieve yourself of this pain it is best to shift positions or lie down. This is also the right time to join antenatal classes.
Something to be happy about is the lustrous growth of your hair due to increased production of estrogen and progesterone. For some women however the hair remains flat (exceptional cases).
The growing baby now requires a lot of iron. Make sure that you intake of food rich in iron is adequate in this stage. Green leafy vegetables are the best sources of iron. If your doctor has also give you iron and vitamin pills please do not forget to have them. At this stage your muscle tone also matters which will determine the popping up of your belly.
It is your thighs that help carry the weight of the uterus. Exercises to relax your thigh muscles will be of great help.
Changes in the Baby
When you are 26 weeks pregnant the baby is 14 inches long, weighs 1.7 pounds and starts adding fat in it’s bones. The baby is a little lean now but becomes chubby as the days progress. The heart beat has a steady pace now which can be heard through your doctor’s stethoscope. The nerve paths in the baby’s ears continue to develop and the other organ systems progressively mature. The baby responds to sound more consistently and thus is the best time to listen to relaxing music or reading out from a book. The baby is also swallowing but will not pass stool. The baby’s eyes begin to open by now and it also starts taking small breaths. Amazingly, the eyes are still blue, the final colour occurs only a few months after birth. The brain development is intense now and so you need to make sure you have a well balanced diet with lot of grains, vegetables and fibre.
Why don’t you go in more detail and find out more about 26 weeks pregnant by going to the useful site of Arielson Suttle on 26 weeks pregnant pictures and 26 weeks pregnant.