Week 26 Of Your Pregnancy

Welcome to week 26. Your baby’s spine is about the length of your palm, and in-keeping and about as big as a zucchini.

Your baby’s eyes are forming this week and will start to open in the next few weeks. Cute fact: your baby already has eye lashes!

CHANGES TO YOUR BODY:

You’re probably starting to feel a bit more tired again as the baby grows heavier.

You might notice that your doctor has started monitoring your blood pressure. A slight elevation later in pregnancy is normal, but if you notice that your hands and feet swell suddenly, it’s worth getting your doctor to check your blood pressure as there is a risk of pre-eclampsia.

A very small number of pregnant women suffer from a raised blood blood pressure condition called pre-eclampsia. Pre-eclampsia affects up to eight percent of all pregnant women and if left untreated can be dangerous for mother and baby. If you are overweight, carrying multiples, already have high blood pressure or a family history of diabetes you could be at an increased risk of developing pre-eclampsia. Many women with mild cases do fine with bed rest and regular blood pressure monitoring. Those with more severe cases may need to deliver their babies early because pre-eclampsia can restrict blood flow to the foetus. The main symptoms of pre-eclampsia are bad headaches, swelling in hands or face, sudden weight gain, blurry vision, and/or upper abdominal pain. If you experience any of these, speak to your doctor immediately.

These days doctors are always on the look out for signs of it, so it’s quite rare for it to become serious. You can read more about it here.

LIFESTYLE CONSIDERATIONS:

You are probably waking up several times a night and you might find yourself experiencing some bizarre dreams. This is completely normal.

You may notice that the skin on your belly is very tight and taut. To avoid developing stretch marks you can try rubbing cocoa butter cream or bio-oil into your skin every day.

GENERAL ADVICE:

If you have other children, it’s a good idea to prepare them for your new baby’s arrival. Nine months is such a long long time in toddlers life. In fact, it may be almost half their life. Think about how long your pregnancy felt to you, then think about how a toddler interprets time. See how to prepare them here.

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