26 Weeks Pregnant: Symptoms and What to Expect

26 Weeks Pregnant: Symptoms and What to Expect

Your Growing Fetus at 26 Weeks

You’re in the home stretch of the second trimester, two more weeks left. At week 26 your baby is 14 inches. That’s the size of a Tickle Me Elmo.

Here’s what your baby is up to this week

  • Your baby is developing regular sleep and wake patterns. It’s possible that their patterns will be different than yours.
  • Your baby may be sleeping while you’re awake and active while you’re sleeping.
  • The eyes are forming and will be opening soon.
  • You will be able to determine your baby’s final eye color a few months after birth
  • Your little zucchini is beginning to build immunities, thick will help protect them from infections after birth.
Pregnancy Superfood for Week 26

Quinoa: This weeks superfood is fully loaded with vitamins, minerals, and protein. Calcium, Iron, B and E vitamins are all found in Quinoa. The fiber in Quinoa will ease your constipation. It is also great for developing bones and teeth. It improves the quality as well as the quantity of milk for your newborn. Quinoa is super easy to cook and to include into recipes.

Give these Quinoa recipes a try, they’re delicious

 

Quinoa Avocado Spinach Power Salad:

This is a great recipe as it is light but filling and filled with plenty of nutritional value

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup quinoa, dry
  • 2 avocados
  • 3-ounce baby spinach
  • 8-ounce cherry tomatoes
  • 3 green onions
  • 1-2 cloves of garlic
  • 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • ⅛ teaspoons salt

How to Prepare:

  • Cook the quinoa. While the quinoa is cooking chop the spinach and place it in a large bowl.
  • Feel free to throw in more spinach than the recipe calls for.
  • Mince the garlic and throw it into the bowl with spinach.
  • Dice the avocado, slice the onion, and cut the cherry tomatoes in half.
  • Add those ingredients in the bowl as well.
  • Once the quinoa is done cooking add it to the bowl and toss all ingredients.
  • You can add the red wine vinegar into the bowl or you can pour it on top of your salad.

Strawberry Quinoa Breakfast Bars:

These are perfect on the go breakfast bars because they are healthy and easy to make.

Ingredients:

  • 2 bananas
  • 1 cup fresh strawberries, chopped
  • 2 eggs
  • ¼ cup raisins
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 ½ cups rolled oats
  • ¾ cup cooked quinoa

How to Prepare:

  • Begin by preheating the oven to 350.
  • While the oven is preheating line an 8X8 baking pan with parchment paper.
  • Crack the eggs and place them in a bowl with the vanilla extract. Mash the bananas and add them into the bowl.
  • Mix the ingredients together.
  • Add the oats, raisins, and quinoa into the bowl and mix again.
  • Stir in the strawberries.
  • Pour the mixture into the baking dish and bake in the oven for twenty to twenty-five minutes.
  • You will know the bars are done when they are firm to the touch.
  • Allow the bars to cool, cut into squares, and enjoy!
Top Tip for Week Twenty Six

Start developing your birth plan. This will give your doctors an idea of how you would like things to go the day of. You should list things like who is the primary support person, who do you want in the room, what kind of pain relief would you like, and what kind of newborn procedures would you like. Keep it short, use bullet points, and remember you may not be able to control everything when the day comes.

Inspirational Message of the Week from Already Moms

“When you’re pregnant, you can think of nothing but having your own body to yourself again, yet after having given birth you realize that the biggest part of you is now somehow external, subject to all sorts of dangers and disappearance, so you spend the rest of your life trying to figure out how to keep it close enough for comfort. That’s the strange thing about being a mother: until you have a baby, you don’t even realize how much you were missing one.” – Jodi Picoult

Big Efforts from your Co-Creator

This week your lady is developing her birth plan. Now is the time for you to speak up if you have certain roles you want to play on the day of. Let her know if you want to cut the umbilical cord or announce the sex.

This Art of Allowing

If you’re the type of girl that follows a strict schedule and creates detailed itineraries for every vacation you take, we need you to loosen up a little bit when creating your birthing plan.

Keep in mind that when the day arrives that plan could be thrown out the window if a problem arises. Be comfortable with knowing that.

You and your baby are your doctor’s top priority. They will do whatever it takes to make sure you both are okay. Also, allow your partner to make suggestions for the birth plan.

Pregnancy Symptoms of Week Twenty Six

Here are some of the symptoms you may experience on the second to last week of the second trimester.

Hemorrhoids: As your blood vessels begin to swell many women experience hemorrhoids on their butt. They can be uncomfortable or extremely painful. Eating a high fiber diet and staying hydrated will reduce your risk of developing hemorrhoids.

Sleepless Nights: This is probably no surprise to you at this point. The closer you get to your delivery date the harder it may be to get a good night’s rest. A body pillow and a few light exercises before bed may help you doze off easier.

Headaches: Caused by raging hormones and stress, you may be experiencing pretty intense headaches. Be sure to stay hydrated and don’t skip meals.

Pregnancy brain: As your hormones increase, it may be hard for you to remember things. Don’t stress if you’re forgetting small things like the grocery list.

Braxton Hicks Contractions: Your muscles are beginning to flex. They are practicing for labor and may cause your stomach to feel tight. If the contractions are painful and don’t stop you should consult your doctor.

High Blood Pressure: At week 26 it is normal to have a slight boost in blood pressure. If you experience a high boost in blood pressure you will need to be monitored closely by doctors.

Your Body will Change and It’s Necessary

Your uterus is now more than two inches above your belly button. Don’t stress out about the extra weight. At least two pounds of that extra weight is your baby. You may notice your thighs getting a little thicker as well. They help carry the weight of your baby and your growing uterus. Don’t forget to stretch them to avoid cramps.

Our Recommended Remedy for Week Twenty Six

As you’re nearing the end of your second trimester, don’t forget to take some time to yourself this week. How does a relaxing bubble bath sound? Great, Right! We thought so too. Here are some recipes for bath bombs you can make at home and add to your bubble bath.

Milk and Honey Bath Melts:

This bath bomb is great for dry and itchy skin. The milk will soften, tone, and exfoliate your skin. The honey will

Ingredients:

  • Mango Butter 1/3 cup
  • Almond Oil, sweet ⅓ cup
  • Organic powdered milk ½ cup
  • Honey ¼ cup

How to Prepare:

  • Begin by melting the mango butter, honey, and almond oil in a glass bowl together.
  • Place the bowl in a saucepan. Pour water into the saucepan, not the mix, and allow it to come to a boil.
  • Stir in the powdered mix so that the mixture will become slightly crumbly.
  • Measure the mixture into 2 tablespoons and roll into balls.
  • Place the balls onto wax paper and allow them to cool.

Headache Bath Bombs:

These next bath bombs are great for when you want to relax and eliminate a headache.

Ingredients:

  • peppermint oil
  • lavender oil
  • 1 teaspoon green mica powder
  • 1 cup baking soda
  • 3 teaspoons witch hazel
  • ½ cup citric acid
  • 2 tablespoons almond oil
  • ½ cup Epsom salt
  • ¾ cup cornstarch

How to Prepare:

  • Combine all the dry ingredients in a large bowl and mix them together well.
  • There should be no clumps.
  • In a smaller bowl combine the oils and witch hazel and whisk them together.
  • Pour the small bowl mixture into the larger bowl and watch it fizz.
  • Combine everything together with a fork.
  • You can either roll the mixture into balls or pour them into molds.
  • Allow the mixture to sit for twenty-four hours.
Our Best Advice to Soothe The Uncomfortable

Braxton Hicks contractions can be extremely painful. However, there are a few things you can do to alleviate the pain. Being immersed in water will ease cramping and muscle spasms.

 

A warm bath for 30 minutes or less may reduce your pain. Throw in one of those bath bombs we just taught you how to make and you have a relaxing night ahead. Contractions can be triggered by dehydration so be sure to stay hydrated. When sitting or standing, be sure to keep good posture.

If you’re able to lay down when you begin to feel the Braxton Hicks contractions, lay on your left side. Laying on your left side will keep your veins, the ones that return blood to your heart from your body, from being compressed.

Don’t hold your pee. When your bladder is overfull it could trigger Braxton Hicks. Yoga will allow you to lightly stretch your body and ease your cramps. Walking for 10 to 15 minutes is a light exercise that will get your blood circulating and may prevent contractions from occurring. Always remember to not overexert yourself.

Preparation for Motherhood
  • Time to do a little spring cleaning! Get rid of some junk and make room for your baby
  • If you have a fur baby, begin to develop a plan to care for them post delivery. For
  • Instance, if you have a dog it might be a good idea to hire a dog walker for a couple of weeks after you deliver.
  • Write that birth plan, we’ve talked so much about.

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