26th week of pregnancy

In the middle of the 7th month of pregnancy, many expectant mothers suffer from sleep disturbances.
What are the reasons for this and what else has changed for you, you can read here. Additionally, you will learn what preparations you can make this week for the arrival of your baby and what developmental progress the little person in your belly is currently undergoing.

How big is your baby in the 26th week of pregnancy?

Your baby is about the size of a cauliflower this week at 23 centimeters. The crown-to-heel length is approximately 32 centimeters.

26th week of pregnancy: What is changing for you

Your body puts a lot of effort into supporting your baby. You will notice this: due to your child's rapid growth, you may start feeling increasingly exhausted. Additionally, you might experience shortness of breath caused by the growing uterus, which reduces the space for your lungs and other organs. Even though they are being pushed around quite a bit right now, all your organs will return to their usual positions after pregnancy. In the meantime, take it easy and rest whenever you feel like it.

Probably you are also gradually realizing that your sleep quality is decreasing. There are various reasons for this. First of all, your baby is usually most active when you are resting – and you can feel it too. Your voice and some gentle caresses for your belly can help soothe it. Additionally, and back pain are increasingly disturbing your sleep. If you are now mostly lying on your left side, you are doing it intuitively right. Because now, just before the beginning of the last trimester, you should avoid lying on your back as much as possible. In this position, the inferior vena cava, which transports blood to the heart, can be compressed by the increasing pressure so strongly that it negatively affects the oxygen supply to your child and your own circulation. On the left side, however, your organs are not constricted and your blood can circulate freely.

During pregnancy, your immune system is heavily focused on protecting your baby from potential harm. Therefore, you yourself are somewhat more susceptible to colds and similar illnesses than usual. Especially if your pregnancy falls during the cold season, you might find yourself with a runny nose more often. Since many medications, including decongestant nasal sprays, are off-limits during pregnancy, it’s best to consult your doctor in case of a cold to find out which medications you can safely take. Additionally, good old home remedies like tea, inhalation, a warm bath, and – as a prophylactic – regular exercise outdoors can help you.

26th week of pregnancy: Development of your baby

Your baby is now so big that it touches the wall of your uterusIt is increasingly learning to understand the boundaries of its own body and to perceive its movements. It continues to diligently train its sucking reflex by thumb-sucking. However, it can also happen that it reaches for its foot to suck on its toes – no problem for your flexible baby. In the 26th week of pregnancy, the nostrils of your child open, allowing it to practice its breathing function now by inhaling amniotic fluid through the nose. Breathing and sucking reflexes are just two of over 70 reflexes your baby is born with.

Slowly, the eyes of your child are opening, and the nerve network of its ears is almost fully developed. It can therefore perceive its environment increasingly better.

Your midwife or your doctor can now feel the position of your baby from the outside and will keep a close eye on it in the coming weeks. Before birth, your baby should ideally be in a head-down position, with the head facing down in your pelvis. If it remains in breech, breech presentation, or transverse position until just before birth, this may influence the course of labor. However, your baby still has plenty of time to move into the optimal position.

Set up the children's room

If you haven't already done so, it's worth starting to prepare for your new roommate now. :) Hopefully, shopping trips and small DIY tasks won't be too much trouble for you. Setting up the baby’s room or the baby corner, if it won't have its own room, is now a rewarding task that will increase your anticipation for your child. In the first few weeks, your little explorer will admittedly not need much, but once you're in the midst of everyday baby life, you'll be glad you don't have to worry about designing the nursery. After all, there are several aspects of furnishing and safety precautions to consider to make the nursery a safe place where your baby can feel comfortable. Tips on choosing the right room, sensible purchases, and how to avoid potential dangers can be found in the article “ “. Additionally, in the article “ “, you'll find suggestions on how to create your baby's environment as low in pollutants as possible.

This is now important

• During your pregnancy, Braxton Hicks contractions may occur more frequently and regularly. These are not only harmless but also important for preparing your body for labor. If you want to learn more about this
  Want to learn what happens in your body during childbirth, check out the article "<|endoftext|>" The 4 phases of natural childbirth " vorbei. Erfahren Sie mehr über Braxton Hicks und andere Wehen in dem Artikel " Labor pains: How can I tell which contractions? ".

• If you experience back pain , water retention and sciatica pain are always
  causing you trouble, try swimming. Whether you attend a special course or just swim a few laps for yourself: Moving in the cool water trains all muscle groups and is gentle on the joints at the same time. Additionally, you enjoy the feeling of weightlessness in the water, and the weight of your baby bump is taken off you for a while.

• Your body is preparing for breastfeeding, so it may feel like your breasts are more lumpy than usual – this is completely normal. The lumps should feel soft and their position may change. If you're unsure, have your doctor examine you to confirm whether the lumps are indeed pregnancy-related.

With our pregnancy calendar, we want to accompany you through this exciting time and provide you with relevant information, which also in exchange with our
LILLYDOO experts are being developed. However, the advice listed here can never replace personal consultation with your doctor or midwife. For questions and professional support, always contact your healthcare professional.