Wow! Can you believe baby has eyelashes at 26 weeks? And she’s amping up to start batting them soon. At this point, it probably feels like this baby (who you haven’t even met yet) has taken over your life. She’s interfering with your sleep. She’s messing with your brain. (Forget much?) She might even be giving you a stress headache or two. It’s normal to be experiencing some mild swelling, but around week 26, it’s important to watch out for swelling severe or sudden — it could be the sign of a dangerous condition called preeclampsia. Notice your belly occasionally feeling really tight? That’s a contraction. Yup, already. Don’t freak out though — your body is just practicing some tightening in preparation for labor. As long as the contractions aren’t steady or severe, you’re not in labor.
Your baby’s the size of a head of lettuce!
She’s still growing in the 13.6- to 14.8-inch and 1.5- to 2.5-pound range, and developing her senses, features and talents!
Your baby at 26 weeks
- Her eyes are forming, and his eyes will soon start to open.
- And her eyelashes are now grown, too.
- She’s getting her immune system ready for life on the outside by soaking up your antibodies.
- She’s taking breaths, too. They’re of amniotic fluid, not air, but it’s still good practice.
Pregnancy symptoms at 26 weeks
- Trouble sleeping. The closer you get to your due date, the tougher it might be to get some rest!
- Swelling. This also might not let up for a while.
- Headaches, due to hormone fluctuations or stress.
- Pregnancy brain — is it getting tricky to remember stuff?
- Braxton Hicks contractions. These are different from labor contractions because they’re irregular and milder.
- Slightly higher blood pressure. That’s normal at this phase of pregnancy.
Your must-do’s
- Schedule a maternity ward tour
Your nice-to-do’s
- Take a babymoon, if you haven’t already!
