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You’re 26 weeks pregnant, and baby’s eyes and lungs are developing! Here’s what else is going on this week with your baby and your body.
How Big is Baby?
That sweet little babe just keeps growing, measuring about 14 inches long this week.
What’s New with Baby?
At 26 weeks, baby’s eyes are fully developed, including their little eyelashes. And this week, their eyes, which have been fused shut for months, are beginning to open. Baby’s lungs are also beginning to produce a substance that allows them to inflate and keeps them from collapsing when they deflate.
What’s New with Mom?
Feeling heartburn? Experiencing weight gain and slight swelling? These are totally normal, Mom. At 26 weeks pregnant, you may also deal with rib pain and see stretch marks form. The rib pain is due to your baby growing and taking up more space. You’ll get some relief when baby drops, but in the meantime try shifting your position, gently pressing on your abdomen to get baby to move, doing yoga or stretching, or using extra pillows when you sit or lie down to get more comfortable. When it comes to stretch marks, you can minimize them by gaining pregnancy weight slowly and steadily and keeping your skin hydrated and moisturized.
Fun Fact
At 26 weeks pregnant, you may develop an outie belly button! Not all pregnant women will develop one, but it’s 100% normal and shouldn’t be painful (if it is, though, make sure to speak with your provider).
All About Braxton Hicks Contractions
Sure, you’ve probably already heard about Braxton Hicks contractions, but let’s dive a little deeper into what they are, what causes them and what you should do if you experience them.
If this is your first pregnancy, you may feel like you’re going into early labor, but don’t worry, Mom—this usually isn’t the case. These contractions are thought of as the uterus practicing for labor. In fact, most pregnant women will feel Braxton Hicks contractions. These contractions typically start in the third trimester, but you may begin to feel them now, says Dr. Joanna Forbes, an Ob/Gyn at UT Southwestern Medical Center. Experiencing Braxton Hicks doesn’t mean you’ll have a preterm delivery.
Joanna Forbes, M.D., is an assistant professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at UT Southwestern Medical Center. She specializes in all aspects of general Ob/Gyn, including well-woman exams and minimally invasive Ob/Gyn surgery.
Dehydration is a common trigger for Braxton Hicks. You’re busy at this time of your pregnancy, likely still working, preparing for baby’s arrival, caring for older children if you have them. It’s easy to forget to drink enough water. But it’s important to ensure you’re drinking enough fluids—especially in the Texas heat. “You may also be short on electrolytes,” Forbes says. “So in one of your glasses of water, you may need to add electrolytes like Liquid I.V. or Nuun tablets. You can also try something like Gatorade Zero, but be mindful of regular Gatorade which has a lot of sugar.”
So, how can you tell the difference between Braxton Hicks and labor contractions? Braxton Hicks:
• Feel like a tightening of the abdomen and are focused in one area
• Are uncomfortable, but not painful
• Happen at irregular intervals, which don’t become shorter
• Don’t get stronger over time
• Taper off and disappear
Whereas labor contractions are painful, have intervals that become shorter between each one, become stronger and last longer over time and don’t stop. UT Southwestern providers recommend pregnant moms go to the hospital to be evaluated for labor when contractions occur every 5 minutes, each lasts at least 1 minute, and they have been going on for an hour.
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This blog is provided for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute the provision of medical advice or professional services. This blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
The above article was written by DFWChild contributor Katelin Walling with information provided by UT Southwestern Medical Center as part of their sponsored content.
