26 Weeks Pregnant - What's Going On? Development And Movement Of The Fetus

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-07 17:49

26 weeks pregnant

The 26th week of pregnancy is included in the seventh obstetric month and is the second week of the third trimester. Thus, a woman is getting closer and closer to the upcoming grand event - the birth of a baby. The unborn child at this time continues to actively develop, gain weight and prepare for an independent life outside the mother's belly.

Content:

• Fetal development at 26 weeks gestation
• Feeling at 26 weeks pregnant
• Do I need to undergo an ultrasound at week 26?
• Tests to be taken at 26 weeks
• What happens to the stomach?
• What happens to the uterus?
• Discharge at 26 weeks of gestation
• Causes of pain
• The principles of good nutrition
• Intimate life
• Weight at 26 weeks

Fetal development at 26 weeks gestation

At 26 weeks of development, the fetus becomes more and more like a baby:

• His facial features take on individuality.
• The auricles are fully formed and even slightly extend from the skull.
• The child has already grown eyelashes and eyebrows.
• Little by little, the eyes begin to open.
• The color of the skin gradually changes, and it itself is smoothed, but not completely - wrinkles are still preserved.
• The arms and legs become plump, folds appear in the elbow area.

Of course, these are far from all the changes that occur with the baby by the 26th week of its development. Now he weighs about 750 g, and his height is 35.5 cm. In the future, the baby will begin to quickly gain body weight due to the accumulation of subcutaneous fat.

As for the sensations of the fetus itself, it already has excellent hearing. The baby clearly distinguishes all the sounds that the mother's body makes (he hears her belly rumbling, her heart beating), and also reacts to loud sounds from the outside. The child hears the spoken language of the parents and can isolate their voices from the general mass of sounds. Therefore, doctors give all pregnant women who are at the 26th week, good advice - to turn on classical music more often, read fairy tales aloud, talk to the baby and sing songs to him.

Bone tissue continues to thicken, the rudiments of milk and molars are already fully formed, and the rudiments of permanent teeth begin to ossify.

The lungs have taken their final shape and are in the chest. The surfactant in them has just begun to accumulate, it is still not enough for the baby to breathe on its own.

An important relationship has been established between the brain and the adrenal cortex. Thanks to this, the pituitary gland now produces growth hormone.

The endocrine glands and fetal receptors are already fully formed. Therefore, at the 26th week of its development, the baby is already able to fully feel the taste of food.

Fetal arrhythmia at 26 weeks gestation

Approximately after the 26th week of pregnancy or during it, the baby may have arrhythmia, that is, disruptions in the frequency, rhythm and regularity of heart contractions. Having heard this phrase from a doctor, you do not need to panic, since arrhythmia is most often justified by the natural processes of fetal development.

This condition is caused by a sharp increase in the baby's weight and growth spurt, which provokes additional stress on the heart. As a rule, fetal arrhythmia is a temporary phenomenon that is reversible.

Feeling at 26 weeks pregnant

Naturally, all the basic sensations of a woman will be associated with the baby in her womb. Now it is simply impossible not to notice such a neighborhood, because the baby is actively moving in the mother's stomach. If you put your ear on, you can even hear the heart of a child beating.

The baby has already established the "daily routine" of his intrauterine life. During sleep, he is calm, and in moments of wakefulness he makes himself felt by active pushes and kicks. All children already inside their mother's belly show their temperament: some babies are calmer, others, on the contrary, are more active. As a rule, after the birth of a crumb, this fact is confirmed.

Many pregnant women note that they have repeatedly caught themselves thinking about the absence of the baby's movements for a long period of time. In fact, he was moving, but Mom, in the hustle and bustle of everyday affairs, might simply not feel it. To make sure that everything is in order with the baby, you need to lie down to rest, turning on your side. The kid will definitely start to be active. If there is still no movement, then it is better to consult a doctor for advice.

The video tells how your baby's hearing develops, how he reacts to your voice and the noises that surround him. Your baby is very active, more and more often you feel his movements and shocks. But now the future dad can also feel it, putting his hand to his stomach. Now the baby pays attention to the movements of his mother's body, to her heart rate, but above all to her voice:

Do I need to undergo an ultrasound at week 26?

As a rule, an ultrasound scan at 26 weeks of pregnancy is not planned, it is performed earlier - at 20-24 weeks. However, if for some reason this could not be done, the doctor will write out a referral for ultrasound diagnostics at 26 weeks of gestation.

During the study, the doctor will assess the condition of the unborn child, determine the gender. Another goal of ultrasound is to exclude fetal malformations (heart, genitourinary and nervous system). In addition, the doctor determines the degree of maturity of the placenta, the volume of amniotic fluid, the place of attachment of the placenta. Therefore, the planned second ultrasound should not be abandoned, even if it is performed a little later - at 26 weeks of gestation.

Tests to be taken at 26 weeks

Every four weeks, a woman should have routine urine and blood tests. Therefore, it is likely that the diagnosis will be scheduled for 26 weeks of pregnancy. In addition to a general analysis, it will be necessary to determine the level of sugar in the blood, which is necessary to prevent the development of diabetes mellitus in pregnant women. Although, according to statistics, it is diagnosed only in 2-3% of women who are expecting a child. However, even such risks should be minimized.

An equally significant indicator of blood is the level of hemoglobin in it, because against the background of a lack of iron in the body, anemia very often develops. It is passed on from the mother to the child. Therefore, it is so important to compensate for iron deficiency, if it is observed.

The level of leukocytes and erythrocytes is important in terms of detecting inflammatory processes. Urine analysis allows you to track the state of the urinary system, which is now working under increased stress.

What happens to the stomach?

The belly is now quite noticeable, it protrudes even from under loose clothing. 26 weeks pregnant - it's time to start actively caring for the skin of the abdomen and breasts to prevent stretch marks. If you do not do this now, then getting rid of stretch marks in the future will be very problematic. To prevent stretch marks, you can use moisturizers and gels, or olive oil. It is necessary to rub the chosen remedy not only into the skin of the abdomen, but also into the skin of the chest and thighs.

An enlarged belly can cause a woman's lack of sleep, as it becomes increasingly difficult for her to find the optimal position for a night's rest. Doctors agree that the most physiological sleeping position now is the position of the body on the side with the legs bent at the knees. To reduce stress on the back and spine, you can put pillows.

What happens to the uterus?

The uterus is 24 cm high and 16 cm wide. It is 6 cm above the navel and 26 cm above the pubis. It should be understood that these numbers will continue to grow. On average, the uterus rises 1 cm above the navel every week.

The cervix gradually fills with mucus, which has a thick and viscous consistency. This is the so-called mucous plug, which will go away a few weeks before childbirth or just before it starts.

At 26 weeks gestation, the uterus may begin to contract slightly and almost painlessly. In this way, she prepares for the upcoming birth. These contractions are called Braxton-Higgs contractions or training contractions.

If suddenly a woman begins to experience abdominal pain, which is constantly increasing, and is also accompanied by the appearance of discharge (abundant or smearing, with and without blood impurities), then it is necessary to urgently call an ambulance team. Perhaps this is premature birth.

Discharge at 26 weeks of gestation

The discharge may now be a little more than it was before, which is associated with the formation of a mucous plug. In general, the nature of the discharge should not change - they still remain transparent or with a slight milky tinge, a uniform consistency and free of impurities.

If the discharge changes its color, becomes yellowish, green or brown, then it is necessary to consult a doctor. Such discharge indicates the addition of an infection that needs to be treated.

Sometimes a woman has white curdled clots in her discharge, and her genitals become swollen and itchy. These signs most often indicate the development of candidiasis. The infection poses a danger to the fetus, since during the passage of the child through the birth canal, he can be infected with thrush.

Discharge with blood impurities, accompanied by pain in the abdomen, requires a call to the doctor, as it may indicate placental abruption.

Abundant watery discharge, leaving in small portions, is characteristic of the leakage of amniotic fluid. This situation cannot be ignored, since it poses a threat to the life and health of the child. Therefore, if a leakage of amniotic fluid is detected, it is necessary to urgently go to the hospital.

Causes of pain

Pain, in the direct sense of the word, should not bother a woman at 26 weeks of gestation. However, in connection with her condition, she may experience some discomfort.

Painful sensations can be caused by the following reasons:

• Abdominal pain can be associated with active movements of the child. Firstly, less and less space remains in the uterus. Secondly, the muscle strength of the fetus continues to increase.
• Pain in the lower abdomen, in the region of the sacrum and pubis is associated with the fact that the enlarged uterus presses on the internal organs. In addition, against the background of the preparatory process for the upcoming birth, softening of the joints and ligaments occurs.
• Pain in the legs and lower back occurs due to an increase in the load on them. To relieve discomfort, you need to rest more, taking the right posture. It is also worth refusing to wear high-heeled shoes. When resting, a small roller or pillow should be placed under your feet.
• Headaches can be eliminated with a short nap in a cool and well-ventilated room.

General tips to help a woman minimize discomfort: more movement, but without heavy physical exertion, adequate rest, fresh air and proper nutrition.

The principles of good nutrition

The main goal that must be achieved through food intake is to provide the fetus with all vitamins and trace elements.

A pregnant woman should adhere to the following recommendations:

• Refusal from harmful products. These include all fried, fatty, spicy, pickled and smoked dishes.
• Limiting the consumption of foods that can provoke allergies. These include eggs, nuts, berries, honey, orange and red fruits, chocolate, cocoa. Of course, you need to include them in the menu, but you should not be zealous.
• Limiting salt intake. Salt retains fluid in the body, so if you have a tendency to edema, it should be used for cooking in small quantities.
• Preference should be given to cooking methods such as boiling, baking, stewing and steaming.
• Don't get too carried away with pastries and pastries. These foods can promote weight gain and increase blood sugar levels. As a result, you can gain extra pounds, and in addition to this, you can acquire such a diagnosis as "diabetes mellitus".

As for the liquid, it must be ingested regularly. Preference should be given to clean water without gas. From time to time you can pamper yourself with fruit drinks, compotes and juices, but it is best to refuse herbal teas.

Intimate life

If there are no contraindications, then sex at 26 weeks of pregnancy can only be beneficial. Firstly, a woman will experience unprecedented pleasure from him, since her genitals are intensively supplied with blood. Secondly, the transferred orgasm has a positive effect on the functioning of the placenta, which will allow the baby to deliver more nutrients. Thirdly, after making love in a woman's body, endorphin is produced at an increased rate - the hormone of happiness, which raises the mood.

However, partners need to be careful during intimacy. You should give up uncomfortable postures, pressure on the abdomen, sharp and rough movements. Otherwise, there are no restrictions.

Weight at 26 weeks

As for the woman's body weight, the increase at 26 weeks of gestation is about 7-10 to her original weight. You need to control the set of kilograms weekly. It is good if a woman records her indicators from the very beginning of pregnancy. The average gain per week should be 0.3-0.5 kg. When the values on the scales are much higher, you need to think about your menu. It may need to be adjusted to focus on foods that are low in calories but high in nutritional value.

The author of the article: Lapikova Valentina Vladimirovna | Gynecologist, reproductologist

Education: Diploma in Obstetrics and Gynecology received at the Russian State Medical University of the Federal Agency for Healthcare and Social Development (2010). In 2013 completed postgraduate studies at N. N. N. I. Pirogova.