Help your growing baby develop in the twenty-sixth week of your pregnancy

Your ittle one can open his or her eyes and learns how to blinki. Help his or her visual development by continuing to eat food rich in DHA.

What’s happening in Week 26 of my pregnancy?

Your growing baby can now open his or her beautiful eyes and blink, and his retina continues to develop. Your growing baby may now even be able to react to light outside the womb! Also, tiny air sacs known as alveoli are developing in your growing baby’s lungs, which will help your little one to take his or her first full breath.

Meanwhile, your developing baby’s brain growth has enabled him or her to recognize outside stimuli, such as the sound of your voice.

The spine is getting stronger and more supple in order to support developing baby’s growing body. Your not-so-little one is reaching two pounds (0.91kg) and measures about 9.25 inches in length (about 23 centimeters)ii.

Despite this weight gain, he or she is still quite slender, but will soon start depositing a layer of fat under the skin.

What can you expect in Week 26 of pregnancy?

Your nails may seem to be growing faster, or softer and more brittle — common and temporary changes during pregnancy. Remedy this by moisturizing your hands and the skin around the nails often. Try doing this at night before you sleep.

Your developing baby is rapidly growing in size and you may notice increased movements as he or she is sensitive to external stimuli like light and sound.iii

What can I do to support my pregnancy in week 26?

Continue to include foods rich in DHA in your diet to support your growing baby’s brain and visual development.

Moms-to-be, if you are experiencing leg cramps, try engaging in some simple stretching routines before bedtime, which should help minimize these painful cramps. Also, take food rich in nutrients such as Magnesium and Calcium which may provide relief in case of leg cramps in pregnancyiv. Dairy products such as milk are rich source of these nutrients.

Remember to include communicating with your growing baby in your daily routines through touch and communication even though he or she is still in your womb (Remember you’re your growing baby now recognizes sounds!). This stimulates your little one’s emotional development alongside brain growth, and also helps you and your growing baby bond after delivery.

 

Your growing baby’s development in week 27


 

 

 
Rujukan:
 
i    You and your baby at 25-28 weeks pregnancy - Pregnancy and baby guide. (2017, February 28). Retrieved Aprl 10,
ii   Curtis, G. B., & Schuler, J. (2016). Preparing for Pregnancy. In Your Pregnancy Week by Week (8th ed.). Philadelphia,
     PA: Da Capo Press.
iii  Webster, I. (2015). Healthy Pregnancy from A to Z: An Expectant Parent's Guide to Wellness. Inspiring, p.80.
iv  World Health Organization, WHO recommendations on antenatal care for a positive pregnancy vexperience. Geneva:
     WHO Press. 2016.