In the middle of the 7th month of pregnancy, many expectant mothers experience sleep disturbances.
You can read here about the reasons for this and what else is changing for you. You’ll also learn what preparations you can make this week for your baby’s arrival and what developmental progress the little one in your belly is currently making.

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

This week, your baby is about the size of a cauliflower and measures around 23 centimeters. The crown-to-heel length is approximately 32 centimeters.

26th week of pregnancy: What is changing for you

Your body is working hard to support your baby—and you’ll notice it. Because your child is growing so quickly, you may start to feel increasingly exhausted. You might also experience shortness of breath as your growing uterus reduces the space available for your lungs and other organs. Even though everything is being pushed around quite a bit right now, your organs will return to their usual positions after pregnancy. In the meantime, take it easy and rest whenever you feel like it.

You may also be noticing that your sleep quality is gradually declining. There are several reasons for this. For one, your baby is often most active when you’re resting—and you can feel it. Your voice and gentle strokes on your belly can help soothe your little one. In addition, back pain is increasingly likely to disturb your sleep. If you’re mostly lying on your left side now, you’re intuitively doing the right thing. Because just before the start of the last trimester, you should avoid lying on your back as much as possible. In this position, the inferior vena cava, which carries blood to the heart, can be compressed by increasing pressure so strongly that it may negatively affect your baby’s oxygen supply and your own circulation. On your left side, however, your organs aren’t constricted, and your blood can circulate freely.

During pregnancy, your immune system is strongly focused on protecting your baby from potential harm. As a result, you may be a bit more susceptible to colds and similar illnesses than usual. Especially if your pregnancy falls during the cold season, you might find yourself dealing 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 if you catch a cold to find out which medications you can safely take. In addition, tried-and-true home remedies like tea, inhalation, a warm bath, and—as a preventive measure—regular outdoor exercise can help.

26th week of pregnancy: Development of your baby

Your baby is now so big that it touches the wall of your uterus. It’s increasingly learning to understand the boundaries of its own body and to perceive its movements. It continues to diligently practice its sucking reflex by sucking its thumb. It may also reach for its foot to suck on its toes—no problem for your flexible baby. In the 26th week of pregnancy, your child’s nostrils open, allowing it to practice breathing by inhaling amniotic fluid through the nose. Breathing and sucking reflexes are just two of more than 70 reflexes your baby is born with.

Slowly, your baby’s eyes are opening, and the nerve network in its ears is almost fully developed. This means it can perceive its environment more and more clearly.

Your midwife or doctor can now feel your baby’s position 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 into your pelvis. If it remains in breech, breech presentation, or transverse position until shortly 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, it’s worth starting to prepare for your new roommate now. :) Hopefully, shopping trips and small DIY tasks won’t feel too strenuous. Setting up the baby’s room—or a baby corner, if your little one won’t have a room of their own—is a rewarding task that can boost your anticipation. In the first few weeks, your little explorer won’t need much, but once you’re in the middle of everyday baby life, you’ll be glad you don’t also 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 “ “. In addition, the article “ “ offers suggestions on how to create your baby’s environment with as few 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
  and what happens in your body during childbirth, check out the article "<|endoftext|>" The 4 phases of natural childbirth ". Learn more about Braxton Hicks and other contractions in the article " 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 simply swim a few laps on your own, moving in cool water trains all muscle groups and is gentle on the joints at the same time. In addition, you’ll enjoy the feeling of weightlessness in the water, and the weight of your baby bump will be taken off you for a while.

• Your body is preparing for breastfeeding, so your breasts may feel lumpier 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 pregnancy-related.

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