The development of the fetus week 26

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor II Tran Thi Mai Huong - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology - Vinmec Hai Phong International General Hospital.
When the fetus is 26 weeks old, the mother is about to enter the third trimester - the last quarter of pregnancy, you will feel the difference happening day by day, week by week. There isn't any standard framework for whether you feel relaxed and energized, or if you always wake up feeling exhausted. The only thing you can do to make yourself better is to stay in tune with the changes in your body and try to get enough rest.

1. The development of the fetus week 26

At 26 weeks of pregnancy, your baby's eyes are still tightly closed, but at some point, those eyes will open for the first time. While your baby can't see anything in your womb yet, he will blink and close his eyes as he goes to sleep and wakes up. Your baby will still look very thin, but she will accumulate fat and gain weight gradually over the remaining weeks of pregnancy.
Imagine your baby is about the size of a beet, with a length of about 35.1 cm and a weight of about 900 grams. Your uterus is getting cramped for your baby, and you'll feel more and more uncomfortable as your baby kicks and stretches.
Due to growth, your baby is starting to run out of space for somersaults like before, however, there is still enough room for your baby to practice in advance for the day of birth. At the twenty-sixth week, the baby usually chooses the birth position, usually the head down, sometimes some babies at this stage are lying on the mother's belly, called the transverse pregnancy.
Your baby's blood vessels and circulatory system are fully functional. The baby's heart is pumping blood, the blood vessels are already developed and performing their roles. Your baby's lungs are also developing blood vessels at this stage. Because the lungs are still not fully developed, babies born prematurely at this week often have breathing problems, but in theory, babies can still survive, meaning if unfortunately the mother is born premature, the baby will still have a chance to live. However, we must avoid this situation as much as possible, so that the baby has more time to develop lungs and brain in the womb.
The umbilical cord is now stronger and thicker, providing the baby with all the nutrition he needs. The closer you get to the birth, the more you feel the urge to eat because of this, however, you should keep a healthy diet, avoid sweets and snacks.
Always remember that the mother's eating choices also affect the condition of the blood vessels that feed the baby, which are not as elastic as the mother's blood vessels. For a healthy placenta and umbilical cord, eat lots of green vegetables like spinach, broccoli and cucumbers, as well as plenty of lean meat that is a good source of iron!

2. Mother's body at twenty-six weeks

At this stage, the mother gains about 9 - 10.5 kg. The extra weight can be uncomfortable for you, and the changes in your body are so big that you don't feel happy with how you look right now. Most mothers will gain about 9-13.6 kg during pregnancy.
The average mother needs 2000 to 2,500 kcal per day during pregnancy. Energy needs increase by about 500 kcal a day while breastfeeding, so there is no need for meaningless weight gain. After giving birth, the mother will gradually lose excess weight because the baby has been born and the mother will expend a lot of energy while breastfeeding.
Usually during this stage the mother's navel has been pushed out, and the skin feels tight and itchy. Pay attention to moisturizing and providing enough water to increase the elasticity of your skin!

3. Symptoms in the twenty-sixth week of pregnancy

By week twenty-six, Braxton Hicks contractions are more frequent and stronger than in previous weeks. And since your baby is putting more pressure on your bladder, you'll have to go to the bathroom more often. You will also feel pain under your ribs and lower back as your baby is growing rapidly and stretches more to be more comfortable in the womb. To relieve pain, you can change positions and put pillows under your back to feel more comfortable. You may experience difficulty sleeping during pregnancy due to back pain and uncomfortable sensations in your body.

4. What you should do in the twenty-sixth week of pregnancy

Usually, when having an ultrasound at this week of pregnancy, the mother will see that the baby covers his face with his hands, sometimes he sticks his tongue out. The baby's movement and coordination is also better. The baby's gender is also easier to determine with greater accuracy.
Go to the doctor right away if you feel the pain is worse than usual, some normal pain such as lower back pain, flank pain, leg and knee pain due to weight gain. But if you feel these pains are not normal, call your doctor right away. You should also tell your doctor if your ankle or knee starts to swell, especially if the swelling is sudden and you've never had it before. At this stage, you also often have headaches or migraines, but you should see a doctor if headaches increase in intensity and frequency.
Drinking enough water is the most important thing when you enter the third trimester of pregnancy, drinking enough water will ensure that your baby has a full source of amniotic fluid, and you will not be tired or constipated. You don't have to force yourself to drink as much water as possible, but drink water as soon as you feel thirsty!
Screen for gestational diabetes if the mother has not been tested in the previous weeks of pregnancy. Schedule regular meals with healthy foods to avoid snacking on sweets and unhealthy foods. Monitor fetal movements and kicks

5. Abnormal signs need to consult a doctor

It is essential that you communicate with your doctor regularly throughout your pregnancy to answer your questions and give you peace of mind. Issues like fetal movements, baby's rate of progress and frequency of kicks are also a concern for new moms and dads. Ask a specialist how to track your baby's movements and kicks, and when to check if you find your baby is too active or too quiet.
Swelling is a common symptom during pregnancy, but consult a professional in case of swelling of the ankles and joints. There's no one-size-fits-all standard in this regard, so your doctor will guide you through the signs of dangerous edema. Your doctor will also provide you with information about TORCH Syndrome (a broad group of conditions that can cause infectious processes during pregnancy or birth) and the dangers of fetal infection.
If you're dealing with anxiety and confusion throughout your pregnancy, consult a professional about ways to manage stress to keep your mind at ease.
To help mothers take care of the health of mother and fetus during pregnancy, Vinmec International General Hospital applies all-inclusive maternity health care packages with outstanding quality. Pregnant women are accompanied by experienced obstetricians and gynecologists at Vinmec throughout the process during pregnancy - labor - postpartum. Maternity packages at Vinmec International General Hospital include:
Maternity package 12 weeks Maternity package 27 weeks Maternity package 36 weeks Maternity package pregnancy - labor Doctor Tran Thi Mai Huong has 25 years of experience in examination and treatment in the field of Obstetrics and Gynecology, lower tract surgery, laparoscopic surgery. Has held the position of deputy head of the School of Obstetrics and Gynecology, deputy head of the delivery department - Hai Phong Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital. Has high expertise and strengths in the following areas:
Lower tract surgery Laparoscopic surgery Difficult obstetric surgeries.

Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.

Articles refer to sources: Mayoclinic.org, Webmd.com, Babycenter.com, Whattoexpect.com