26 week of pregnancy: what is happening, fetal development, weight norm

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

On the way to the 26th week of pregnancy, and there, before the birth of the child is within easy reach. The whole process of bearing is a real test of the strength of the body for any woman. During this period, there is a particularly difficult time, but then the pain, unpleasant and negative moments recede, yielding to new sensations and premonitions.

It is unlikely that the expectant mother will not want to know what is happening in her body during this period of pregnancy. What will she feel, how the fetus develops and a number of other issues. We will analyze these and some other related points in the framework of this article.

Obstetrical period

Some women may have difficulty timing their pregnancy. This is especially true for those expectant mothers who have this for the first time. Often, in this case, women may have the following question: 26 weeks of pregnancy - how many months is it? What is typical - usually in all medical maternity institutions, the term of bearing a childIt is counted in weeks, while mothers themselves prefer to count by months.

To understand this, it is necessary to reveal the concept of obstetric term. This is the period of pregnancy, when the countdown starts from the day when the last menstruation was. Moreover, each month is 4 weeks and this facilitates the calculation procedure. Thus, the entire cycle of bearing a child takes 40 full weeks.

In other words, to determine the period in months, for convenience or for other reasons, the number of weeks must be divided by 4. That is, the 26th week is the 6th month of pregnancy.

It should also be noted that all nine months are still divided into trimesters. Each of them for three months. That is, the 26th week can also be called the 6th month or the end of the second trimester.

Changes in a woman's body

The uterus continues to grow, steadily increasing in size. Directly, the stomach itself at the 26th week of pregnancy is now a bit like a watermelon in its dimensions. Because of this, the rest of the internal organs experience a certain pressure. All this can cause some discomfort. In particular, shortness of breath cannot be avoided, as the uterus also compresses the lungs. This manifests itself in the form of a constant feeling of tightness in the chest.

Of course, the increase in the genital organ is due to the development of the fetus. However, as the abdomen grows, other changes are observed. The center of gravity shifts, and as a result, the gait of the expectant mother changes. Some women begin to experience complexes about this. Here you should come to terms, because the phenomenonThis is temporary and after the birth of the child everything will return to normal. In addition, for the sake of a dear little man, you can endure.

Women should not be afraid of weight gain at 26 weeks pregnant. As a rule, it is from 7 to 9 kg, and is considered the norm. And in case of waiting for twins, 8-11 kg are already added. An increase in “excess” weight leads to heaviness in the legs, but in addition, a pregnant woman may experience pain in the lumbar region. You should try to rest most of the time, avoid long walks and long lines.

Sometimes a woman may experience so-called practice contractions. This manifests itself in the form of tension and relaxation of the lower abdominal muscles. You should not worry about this, because in this way the body prepares for the upcoming birth of a child.

Also they are also called false contractions. However, if at a period of 26 weeks of pregnancy, when they appear, a woman experiences sharp and severe pain, this is a serious reason for immediately contacting a specialist. In particular, this must be done with abundant secretion of mucus. Complete disregard for the discovered situation threatens with premature birth. In the normal course of pregnancy, the discharge is moderate in amount, and also has no smell or color.

Child progress

Any loving mother will always be interested in the question, how is her baby doing? By 26 weeks, her baby is already becoming human and has personality traits:

• Iris formedeye.
• Eyebrows are clearly visible.
• Starting eyelash development.
• Molar and milk teeth are being laid.

The baby's weight is already 750-800 grams, which is the norm of weight at the 26th week of pregnancy, and its length does not exceed 350 mm. We can say that this period is the time when the baby, while still in the womb, learns to cognize the world around him, and the senses help him in this. The middle ear has also developed, and therefore the child is able to pick up some sounds well. In addition, occasionally he can open his eyes. But too bright light will scare him, so the expectant mother should take this into account, being careful.

For the woman herself, this is also a favorable period when she can talk with her baby. You can be absolutely sure that the child will hear everything, and the voice of his own mother will be especially pleasant to him.

At 26 weeks of pregnancy, the development of the fetus will also be favorably affected by the soothing sounds of nature and the calm and melodic musical rhythm. While sharp and loud sounds or pops can scare the baby quite a lot.

Children's body develops rapidly: internal organs and vital systems are actively formed, including the respiratory system. In his lungs, a substance called surfactant is synthesized, which is necessary for the maturation of the alveoli. It is due to it that the development of atelectasis is prevented. The respiratory system will not be fully formed until 36 weeks.

As a rule, by the 26th week the fetus is head down, but in some cases it is still in the position - legs down. However, there is no cause for concern if the development of the fetus at the 26th week of pregnancy proceeds normally. In addition, another trimester is expected, during which the child will be able to change his position several more times.

Unforgettable experience

For the woman herself, the end of the second trimester is still the time when she feels her baby well. Mothers are always aware of what the child is doing: whether he is sleeping or actively awake. During the normal course of pregnancy, the baby spends most of the time in a dream, and this is from 18 to 20 hours. The rest of the time, he can spend time as he likes - pushing, kicking or doing any other actions. However, if a woman notices that the baby's activity is very high and the baby sleeps very little, it is necessary to notify the gynecologist about this at the next scheduled examination.

Especially pleasant sounds are the beating of the mother's heart and the movement of blood through the vascular system. In this connection, those children who begin to act up during the first months of their lives are recommended to be pressed to the chest and vilified in this position for some time. The baby recognizes familiar sounds that he heard in the womb.

What else happens at 26 weeks pregnant? The child continues to grow actively and now it is no longer some kind of crumb - his tremors are not only well felt by the mother, but also noticeable to others. According to what intrauterine lifestyle the baby leads,doctors and women themselves can judge his well-being.

Pregnancy symptoms

In the last trimester, a pregnant woman may experience some unpleasant symptoms. For example, among the frequent complaints one can note:

• Increased uterine tone.
• Preeclampsia.
• Anemia.
• Pyelonephritis.

The false contractions mentioned above are associated with an increased tone of the uterus and happen almost every day. Their duration is no more than a few seconds and does not cause serious discomfort. However, the appearance of sharp and severe pain in the lower abdomen at 26 weeks of gestation indicates uterine hypertonicity, which may eventually result in premature birth.

Signs of preeclampsia are high blood pressure, headaches, swelling, nausea, there is protein in the urine. Preeclampsia must be promptly identified and treated. This complication during pregnancy poses a serious threat to the he alth of the mother and her child. In this regard, doctors constantly monitor the entire process.

Every second expectant mother is familiar with anemia syndrome. Her body spends a lot of hemoglobin and red blood cells, which are necessary for the full development of the child. Symptoms of this complication are: weakness, dizziness, pale skin tone, low blood pressure. These symptoms are especially pronounced at the 26th week of pregnancy with twins.

Pyelonephritis can be caused by microorganisms, due to which an inflammatory process begins to develop in the kidneys. The reasons are different, among which: hypothermia, there are deposits or stones in the kidneys, tonsillitis. Even caries can provoke inflammation.

Side effects

Despite the fact that pregnancy in general for women is a long-awaited and joyful event, it has natural "side effects". It will not be possible to completely avoid them, and the appearance is due for the most part to the growth of the uterus. At the end of the second trimester, the following phenomena can be observed:

• Shortness of breath mentioned above. But in addition to the effect of the uterus on the lungs and diaphragm, it can also be caused by a large amount of progesterone. Such sensations at the 26th week of pregnancy are caused by an enlarging uterus, which leads to a change in the position of the diaphragm. In turn, because of this, the volume of the lungs slightly decreases. After the birth of a child or on the eve of childbirth, you can take a deep breath, but for now it is advisable to wear loose clothes.
• Varicosis. For the most part, its causes are the pressure drop of the leg muscles (especially the calf muscles), swelling of the veins and capillaries. With varicose veins, heaviness in the legs necessarily occurs. To prevent this disease, it is necessary to avoid long sitting in one place, at the same time, it is highly recommended not to walk or stand for a long time. Also, in a sitting position, you can not cross your legs.
• Heartburn. As a rule, it is caused by the ingestion of stomach acid into the esophagus. At the 26th week of pregnancy, due to exposure to progesterone, the upper gastric sphincter is weakened, as a result of which the esophagus does not completely close. For this reason, duringsleep, when turning from side to side, as well as when tilting the body forward, acid from the stomach gets there. Therefore, pregnant women are advised to exclude sour, spicy foods from the diet, and not to eat heavy foods. In addition, it is advisable to sleep on a higher pillow.
• Puffiness. It usually happens due to fluid retention in the body, however, with a long stay in a standing position, swelling of the legs cannot be avoided. To avoid this phenomenon, it is recommended to take foot baths with magnesium sulfate s alts. It will also be useful from time to time to lie down with your legs up. Watermelons and cucumbers help well against swelling of the hands. These products simulate the removal of fluid from the body. And it is better to take off your wedding ring and other similar jewelry during pregnancy.

This gives an idea of what happens at 26 weeks pregnant.

However, these symptoms are temporary and, apart from causing some discomfort for the expectant mother, they do not have any negative impact. In addition, by taking preventive measures from time to time, you can minimize discomfort.

What to look out for

Pregnant women need to be attentive to their body throughout the entire period. With the appearance of constant heaviness in the lower abdomen, you should immediately visit a doctor. In most cases, this indicates isthmic-cervical insufficiency, in which the cervix dilates gradually and prematurely.

Incomplete closure of the cervical canal providesthe possibility of unhindered penetration of various kinds of infections. Often this leads to premature birth. What to do at 26 weeks of gestation in this case? Treatment here mainly requires surgical intervention, and the well-being of the outcome depends on the timeliness of seeking medical help.

Signs of infection are purulent, mucous and cheesy discharge. The presence of protein in them requires a good examination of the microflora of the vagina, smears and blood tests. Infection of a child negatively affects its development, up to its stop. In the worst case, a more tragic outcome cannot be avoided - the death of the fetus.

Especial care must be taken when bleeding occurs. This may indicate placenta previa or placental abruption. This poses a serious threat and therefore you need to take a lying position, immediately after calling a doctor.

Examination

With the onset of 26 weeks, the woman will have another scheduled visit to the gynecologist. The doctor will measure blood pressure, fix the level of weight gain, measure the circumference of the abdomen, determine at what height the fundus of the uterus is located, and listen to the fetal heartbeat.

Before visiting a doctor, you should do another urine test, and then, based on the data obtained, perform a blood test for the amount of sugar. In the event that this is the 26th week of pregnancy with twins, then at this time the mother will have to collect and prepare all the necessary documentation in order to apply for maternity leave.

If necessary, a woman may be assigned additional studies. As for ultrasound, at this time it will be required in exceptional cases, which include the difficult course of pregnancy. The examination will show the amount of amniotic fluid, the condition of the placenta, etc.

If the stomach pulls

As it is now clear, a woman cannot avoid some troubles while carrying a child. One of these is the lingering feeling of the lower abdomen. Similar pain sensations at week 26 may be the result of some kind of inflammatory process. In addition, their appearance may be due to problems that the woman had before conception.

But in some cases, the reason why the lower abdomen is pulled at the 26th week of pregnancy is the increased tone of the uterus. And this is already a serious risk, since the pregnancy can be prematurely terminated. However, not all sensations pose a threat; pains of a stabbing and pulling nature will serve as a cause for concern. In addition, the feeling of petrification of the abdomen should also alert, which also indicates an increased tone of the uterus.

As for the discharge, it is necessary to seek medical help when it is not of a characteristic color: brownish, greenish or reminiscent of ichor.

A pulling stomach can also be for a natural reason - muscle strain. The child in the womb grows, which leads to an increase in the uterus, and the muscles that hold it begin to gradually stretch. For this reason, a woman feels pulling pains.lower abdomen at 26 weeks pregnant.

You should be careful about the manifestation of pain, as they are either harmless or pose a serious danger.

Helpful tips

What is the best thing to do for a pregnant woman who is at 26 weeks? The answer is simple - for the most part to engage in prevention. Do not get hung up on real ailments, since all the inconvenience experienced by a woman during the gestation period is temporary and disappears after the birth of a child.

It is worth protecting yourself from heavy loads and stressful situations - they are not at all useful. You need to follow a balanced diet. Eating should be fractional - better in small portions and often. The food on the table should be only homemade. Any mother will be delighted, feeling noticeable movements at the 26th week of pregnancy in her stomach. This indicates the full development of the baby, where proper nutrition is not the last place.

At the same time, you need to significantly limit your s alt intake. It is not recommended to abuse fried or smoked foods, as well as flour products and sweets. The same is true for various seasonings, especially spicy ones. It is worth remembering that a child swallows about 20 ml of amniotic fluid every hour, which are distinguished by the presence of a taste of the food consumed by his mother.

As a conclusion

If a woman closely monitors her he alth and does not ignore the appearance of alarming symptoms, thiswill avoid many serious consequences. In addition, now you no longer have to guess how many months it is at 26 weeks pregnant.

In conclusion, it remains to wish every expectant mother more positive emotions, avoid everything bad and listen to your body. Then the entire period of pregnancy will pass unnoticed and smoothly.