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| 26 Weeks Pregnant |
In this article
- Pregnancy Week 26: All About You
- Pregnancy Week 26: All About Baby
- How Big Is Baby?
- Most Common Pregnancy Questions
- Multiple Madness
- For Your Partner
- Fun Fact
Pregnancy has a way of amplifying feelings. You may feel exceedingly happy one day; overwhelmingly tired the next. Use pregnancy week 26 to learn how to better manage the highs and lows.
Looking for a fast way to relieve back pain and relax?
Pelvic rocking is a great way to ease back pain, strengthen the pelvis for labor, and reduce stress. To rock your pelvis, stand against the wall with your knees slightly bent and, as you inhale, gently press the small of your back against the wall. Exhale and release. Repeat 10 times.
Pregnancy Week 26: All About You
Managing Stress
You're almost done with your second trimester! You may have noticed swelling in your face, hands, feet, and ankles. This swelling, called edema, happens as your body retains fluid to keep your blood volume high. With more blood flowing, your vessels are forced closer to the skin's surface. Your tender gums may bleed when you brush your teeth. Drink plenty of water and try moderate exercise such as walking to ease swelling and help your circulation. Increased blood flow may also cause swelling inside your nasal passages, leading to congestion.
You're almost done with your second trimester! You may have noticed swelling in your face, hands, feet, and ankles. This swelling, called edema, happens as your body retains fluid to keep your blood volume high. With more blood flowing, your vessels are forced closer to the skin's surface. Your tender gums may bleed when you brush your teeth. Drink plenty of water and try moderate exercise such as walking to ease swelling and help your circulation. Increased blood flow may also cause swelling inside your nasal passages, leading to congestion.
Pampering Yourself
You're past the midway mark and delivery day is around the corner—it's time for some R&R! Giving yourself a break doesn't have to be expensive or time-consuming. By learning how to relax now, you'll be more likely to use those same techniques later when midnight wake-up calls and endless feedings leave you needing a recharge.
You're past the midway mark and delivery day is around the corner—it's time for some R&R! Giving yourself a break doesn't have to be expensive or time-consuming. By learning how to relax now, you'll be more likely to use those same techniques later when midnight wake-up calls and endless feedings leave you needing a recharge.
Massage: Work out your knotted muscles with a massage. If you go to a professional massage therapist, ask first if he or she has experience with pregnant clients. Certain positions and massage techniques can be uncomfortable and potentially harmful to your unborn baby. Pregnancy-trained massage therapists will know just how to make your aching back more comfortable. If you're not up for a full massage, try a manicure or pedicure instead. More convenient and less expensive, manicures and pedicures can help you feel more relaxed. Besides, you probably can't reach your toes to trim and paint them anyway. Don't forget that your partner makes for an excellent massage therapist! Look for local couples' massage classes or ask your pregnancy masseuse if your partner can come along and learn some techniques. Check out books or DVDs from the library to figure out some simple massages you can do in the comfort of your own home.
Babymoons: One hot trend in pregnancy, babymoons. A clever take on honeymoons, babymoons have the same goal—to provide you and your partner some special time together. Many hotels offer babymoon packages with activities and extras with pampering in mind. Some packages include mini-fridges stocked with pickles and ice cream, or a couple's massage with a pregnancy-trained masseuse. You don't need a "babymoon" package to get pampered though. Opt for a fine hotel to get the same service, or create your own babymoon atmosphere at home with your partner. Let your partner treat you to "room service" and have breakfast in bed—maybe even lunch and dinner too!
Prenatal exercise classes: Exercise may not sound like pampering, but choosing the right fitness class can give you a boost. For example, prenatal yoga classes will teach you relaxation techniques you can use during your pregnancy, labor, even after. Plus, you'll be surrounded by other round-tummied classmates who understand what you're going through. Here's a fun pregnancy exercise you may have not considered: bellydancing. That's right, plenty of pregnant women are baring their bellies and learning moves that help them have fun and relax. Ask your healthcare provider about prenatal classes in your area if you haven't found any on your own.
Cutting back on your schedule: One of the best ways to pamper yourself is to trim your schedule. Prioritize so you can get done the things you need to (don't add anything extra!). Enlist friends and family to help you accomplish what you'd like to finish—but that you don't have the energy for. Accept invitations for older children to play at friends' homes so you can get some rest. You should take breaks as often as possible so you feel energized and recharged.
Pregnancy Week 26: All About Baby
During your 26th week of pregnancy, your baby-to-be opens her eyes for the first time. She'll open and shut her eyes as she gets used to her new ability. Your little one is still on the small side. Her body may look fully formed on the outside, but inside there's fine-tuning taking place, including her lungs and her brain. Your unborn baby still has some growing to do!
How Big Is Baby?
This week your baby's weight hovers around 1.5 pounds and her length reaches about 14 inches (crown to heel).
Most Common Pregnancy Questions
I have a trip coming up for work. Is it OK for me to fly? When should I not fly?
Travel in the first trimester can be uncomfortable for some women due to morning sickness. The second trimester and early in the third trimester seem to be the safest and most comfortable time for women to travel. But make sure you check with your airline for any restrictions they may have. Most often, you'll find that airlines restrict travel for women past 36 weeks. If you have experienced pre-term labor symptoms, bleeding, or other pregnancy complications, it is probably best to hold off on air travel until after your baby is safely delivered.
One concern many women have is the safety of passing through airport screening machines. Rest assured, according to ACOG (The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists), passing through airport screening machines poses no threat to you or your baby.
Before going on a trip, check in with your doctor or midwife and share your travel plans. If your healthcare provider gives you the green light to travel, it is a good idea to have a copy of your medical records and the name of a doctor in the area you will be visiting. You might want to ask if there are medications for travel-related nausea that are safe to take during pregnancy, such as vitamin B6 (100 mg tablet), Emetrol (if you're not diabetic), or Emetrex.
Traveling by plane brings up so many questions for women who are pregnant. Here are a few important things to keep in mind:
Travel in the first trimester can be uncomfortable for some women due to morning sickness. The second trimester and early in the third trimester seem to be the safest and most comfortable time for women to travel. But make sure you check with your airline for any restrictions they may have. Most often, you'll find that airlines restrict travel for women past 36 weeks. If you have experienced pre-term labor symptoms, bleeding, or other pregnancy complications, it is probably best to hold off on air travel until after your baby is safely delivered.
One concern many women have is the safety of passing through airport screening machines. Rest assured, according to ACOG (The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists), passing through airport screening machines poses no threat to you or your baby.
Before going on a trip, check in with your doctor or midwife and share your travel plans. If your healthcare provider gives you the green light to travel, it is a good idea to have a copy of your medical records and the name of a doctor in the area you will be visiting. You might want to ask if there are medications for travel-related nausea that are safe to take during pregnancy, such as vitamin B6 (100 mg tablet), Emetrol (if you're not diabetic), or Emetrex.
Traveling by plane brings up so many questions for women who are pregnant. Here are a few important things to keep in mind:
- Stay well hydrated by drinking lots of water
- Wear loose comfortable clothing
- Bring snacks such as crackers or granola bars for a quick energy boost or to quell nausea
- Walk around the plane for prevent stiffness and promote good circulation.(if there is turbulence, go back to your seat and ask for assistance if you need it—your balance can sometimes be a bit unstable depending on your size and week of pregnancy)
- Ask for an aisle seat to make it easy to get to the bathroom and for walking
- Wear your seatbelt while seated to prevent injury related to turbulence
- If you don't feel well or are having contractions, alert the flight attendant immediately. They are trained to assist you.
Multiple Madness
Managing Increasing Stress Levels
At about this point, many expectant couples of twins begin worrying:
At about this point, many expectant couples of twins begin worrying:
The nursery's not ready. What if I get put on bed rest? What if the babies come early? When will the babies come?
Now's a good time to practice deep breathing!
"These concerns are all normal. It's perfectly natural to want to be prepared for that special moment when you walk through your front door with your beautiful babes. Few moms want to walk in the door and quietly sing, "Welcome home babies!" only to turn to her husband and yell, "Now go get a crib and some diapers!"
There is a difference, however, between being anxious about the larger details and being excessively fixated on them—as well as the more minute details—from morning until night. A wedding-planning illustration comes to mind: when you get to the point where you're stressing over whether to have cubed or granulated sugar on the tables, you've crossed into the "manic" category!
It's important to identify those tasks that you find important to complete before the babies are born (such as having diapers and bottles on hand, a crib assembled or at least selected, and some baby clothing in the closet) versus those that are nice-to-haves—but not mandatory (say, having the six-to-12 month clothing laundered and re-hung or new knobs put on the armoire.
Make a list of and prioritize the must-haves. Complete one before you move on to the next (if you're working on one and then get nervous and jump to another, you're constantly working but not checking anything off the list!). Solicit assistance from your spouse, a parent, or a friend. Additionally, break each large to-do into smaller ones. It's easier to check off "hang up clothes" or "arrange diapers" than "organize entire closet." Continue to use this approach going forward. Life will continue to throw tasks at you that you feel you must complete before midnight. You'll think, "As soon as I finish this, I'll feel good," but then something else will pop up. Don't allow yourself to succumb to alll of the to-dos that cross your mind each day.
A great tool when you're feeling overwhelmed with to-dos is meditation. While your first instinct when faced with questions or needing help preparing for your twins may be to jump online or run for the bookstore, beware of reading too much. Take bits and pieces of what you learn and create your own unique approach based on what works for you and your family. No expert's advice will work for you all of the time.
You've entered a realm where stress and worry can be the norm—that's part of carrying more than one baby at a time. But remember that you don't have to carry stress if you don't want to. Promise yourself that you'll find the silver lining in every moment possible and ask yourself in your most harried situations, "Is this a true emergency?" You may surprise yourself by how often you respond, "No!"
For Your Partner
Learning to De-Stress
Will you be able to afford another little person in your life? Do you need to make changes to your home in preparation for Baby's arrival? Will you need to move? The more your partner shows, the more stressed you may feel. Why? Money is a significant stressor for many men. As fathers-to-be, we are programmed to believe we should be the financial providers for our families.
Will you be able to afford another little person in your life? Do you need to make changes to your home in preparation for Baby's arrival? Will you need to move? The more your partner shows, the more stressed you may feel. Why? Money is a significant stressor for many men. As fathers-to-be, we are programmed to believe we should be the financial providers for our families.
But stress doesn't end with the checkbook. You may also be concerned about your partner's health (as well as that of your baby). If you're about to become a dad for the first time, that is no doubt a source of anxiety as well. We hate to tell you, but when your little one comes into the world, you'll no doubt add her to your list of worries, too.
Now is the perfect time to start thinking about (and implementing) ways to reduce stress and refuel your tank so you've got the energy needed to face what lies ahead. Maybe it means taking more of your lunch hour to relax, read, or listen to music—something solely for yourself. Maybe it means finding podcasts, satellite radio, or music to listen to while working out, commuting, or working. Look for things that stimulate you and make you feel better. Don't forget exercise as a great stress reducer, too.
When your baby arrives, your life will become more chaotic and challenging. Learning coping strategies and figuring out ways to de-stress your life now will help you prepare for your new role. Leaning how to manage stress will also give you the tools necessary to interact more effectively with your spouse and your child.
Fun Fact
While your baby-to-be's eyes are undergoing some changes, so are yours. Throughout your body you're retaining fluid—even in your corneas, the outer parts of the eyes. The Mayo Clinic reports that your corneas may be up to three percent thicker, but the fluid within your eyes decreases around 10 percent. With so many differences within your eyes it's not surprising you may experience blurred vision.
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