26th week of pregnancy

The baby has developed almost all of its sense organs now, and you can easily feel life growing inside you. Here are some of the noticeable changes of week 26.

Development of the baby:

The baby has grown to more than 13.5 inches. The weight is about 2 pounds by 26th week.
The nerves inside the ears are developing, so that the baby can become more responsive to sounds.
Also the brain heightens its activity, the baby can now respond to light as the eyes begin to open.
The baby continues to swallow amniotic fluid that aids in the development of lungs.
If you are going to have a baby boy, his testicles begin to descend into the scrotum.
The baby now has a definite sleep and wake pattern, like a newborn.

Changes in the mother:

The uterus rises to about 2 ½ inches above the belly button by the 26th week.
The mother has gained around 20 pounds by now.
The vaginal discharge may increase in quantity. It is important that the mother stays clean andhygienic.
Occasional headaches and dull backaches become common now. The backaches are a result of the growing uterus that puts pressure on the muscles.
Some women start forgetting things. This effect is temporary and the brain will start working normally after the delivery.
Dry eyes are another common pregnancy symptom. The pregnancy hormones can cause discomfort in the eyes which is temporary. One can use eye drops to ease out the trouble.
One must be careful while moving as during this time as she can easily trip and fall, due to weight gain.

Complications & tips:

At this stage, getting a complete night’s sleep is quite a difficult task for a woman, due to the constipation, swelling and numbness of fingers and feet, not to mention the huge tummy. But it is equally important that she gets sufficient rest. So, it is important that the mother includes light exercise in her schedule, and limits the intake of fluids before going to sleep.

Also, it is important that before the week 28, the woman gets her gestational diabetes test done.

Tips for dad:

It is important that you constantly remind her that she is beautiful so that she does not feel displeased or discouraged about her looks. Also, it is a good time to help your partner in making the birth plan. It would definitely help you at the time of delivery.

Diet:

It is important that the body gets all the macro and micro nutrients in a sufficient quantity. The food must have a variety and be nutritious. Fish are beneficial as they are rich in protein but must be eaten with precautions, because many fish contain high level of mercury that is harmful for the baby.