Pregnancy Week 26

BABY DEVELOPMENT

Your baby’s head now measures over 7 cm in diameter, the size of a small orange, and she weighs around 900 g. Her body is getting more chubby thanks to fat accumulating gradually under her skin to give her some reserves at birth. Her hair and nails are well on their way and, under her gums, her future ivory baby teeth are covered with enamel. She has a well-developed grasping reflex and can hold the umbilical cord. Sometimes she pulls it cheerfully backward and forwards. Don’t worry, this is perfectly normal and there is no danger at all!

YOUR BODY

Aah, nighttime. You’re finally about to go to sleep.  But not the baby! “Why is no-one moving? Where is that pleasant rocking movement? Well, I will just make my own movement!” your little companion seems to say, starting to make his presence felt – just when you would like to sleep. This is fine for the father, who likes to feel the baby move. But what about you? It is no wonder that you often feel tired and exhausted now! As your bump gets larger and larger, it gets more difficult to find a pleasant position to sleep in. You probably cannot sleep on your front anymore. You should not sleep on your back either, as the uterus can press on the large vein in your back and could obstruct the blood flow. The most convenient position to lie in for the next few weeks will be on your side. Put a cushion between your knees to makes it a bit more comfortable.

NUTRITION

If you suffer from reflux and heartburn at night, try elevating your head a bit by adding a pillow. Try to have your evening meal to be a light one, too. Pay attention to fats, they can slow down digestion and accentuate your digestive problems, which leads to disturbed sleep. If too light of an evening meal gives you night cravings, you could also have a snack an hour before bedtime, whether bread and jam and a serving of dairy or some fruit. Evening snack in bed, anyone? Don’t hesitate to take it to bed on a tray if you are really pooped at night.

TIPS

As much as you notice your baby bump feeling tighter of late, it is also getting a bit tight for your baby inside your belly. Your child’s happy somersaults in a big bath of amniotic fluid will soon be over. So you needn’t worry if your baby is moving a little less than before. If, however, you do not feel any movement from the baby over a longish period of time (about 8 hours), you should see your doctor immediately to make sure everything is okay.