As always this article is from www.babycenter.com My comments today will be in green. Get it? Cucumber = Green!
Your pregnancy: 26 weeks
How your baby's growing:
The network of nerves in your baby's ears is better developed and more sensitive than before. He may now be able to hear both your voice and your partner's as you chat with each other. Eric talked to the baby last night and we definitely got a response. When we talk the baby moves. When we stop the baby stops. He's inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid, which is essential for the development of his lungs. This must be causing the hiccups, right? I felt more hiccups last night while I was reading. Apparently reading sets the young one in the hiccups because that's what I was doing the first time I felt them. These so-called breathing movements are also good practice for when he's born and takes that first gulp of air. And he's continuing to put on baby fat. OH goodie! I hate being the only fat one in the family! He now weighs about a pound and two-thirds and measures 14 inches (an English hothouse cucumber) from head to heel. If you're having a boy, his testicles are beginning to descend into his scrotum I'm sure daddy is proud — a trip that will take about two to three days So by Mothers Day the kid should have full blown balls? Nice!.
How your life's changing:
How your baby's growing:
The network of nerves in your baby's ears is better developed and more sensitive than before. He may now be able to hear both your voice and your partner's as you chat with each other. Eric talked to the baby last night and we definitely got a response. When we talk the baby moves. When we stop the baby stops. He's inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid, which is essential for the development of his lungs. This must be causing the hiccups, right? I felt more hiccups last night while I was reading. Apparently reading sets the young one in the hiccups because that's what I was doing the first time I felt them. These so-called breathing movements are also good practice for when he's born and takes that first gulp of air. And he's continuing to put on baby fat. OH goodie! I hate being the only fat one in the family! He now weighs about a pound and two-thirds and measures 14 inches (an English hothouse cucumber) from head to heel. If you're having a boy, his testicles are beginning to descend into his scrotum I'm sure daddy is proud — a trip that will take about two to three days So by Mothers Day the kid should have full blown balls? Nice!.
How your life's changing:
Are you rushing around trying to get to childbirth classes No! They're scheduled to start June 1!and prepare your baby's room Eric's been told that the nursery has to be done by June 28th. while still taking care of all your other daily tasks? I really do feel like I have it all under control. I'm a planner so this getting prepared stuff is really no sweat off my back. Now, planning life while taking care of a baby might throw me for a loop! I'm not a miracle worker! Make sure that you also continue to eat well and get plenty of rest. Around this time, your blood pressure may be increasing slightly, although it's probably still lower than it was before you got pregnant. (Typically, blood pressure falls toward the end of the first trimester, and it tends to reach a low at about 22 to 24 weeks.)
Preeclampsia — a serious disorder characterized by high blood pressure and protein in your urine — most often shows up after 37 weeks, but it can happen earlier so it's important to be aware of the warning signs of this condition. Call your caregiver if you have swelling in your face or puffiness around your eyes Just ankles, legs and hands for me!, more than slight swelling of your hands, excessive or sudden swelling of your feet or ankles (My swelling is not sudden. It's always been because I ate something I shouldn't have - Shrimp Bisque yesterday with my Mom), or rapid weight gain (more than 4 pounds in a week It may look like 4 lbs in a week but it's honestly not! 4-6 lbs a month is more like it...). With more severe preeclampsia, you may experience other symptoms. Let your caregiver know immediately if you have a severe or persistent headache, vision changes (including double or blurred vision, seeing spots or flashing lights, sensitivity to light, or temporary loss of vision), intense pain or tenderness in your upper abdomen, or vomiting.
If your lower back seems a little achy lately, you can thank both your growing uterus Hey! Didn't I just complain about this yesterday? — which shifts your center of gravity, stretches out and weakens your abdominal muscles, and may be pressing on a nerve — as well as hormonal changes that loosen your joints and ligaments. Plus, the extra weight you're carrying means more work for your muscles and increased stress on your joints, which is why you may feel worse at the end of the day. Walking, standing, or sitting for long periods, as well as bending and lifting can all put a strain on your back. A warm bath or hot compress might bring relief. (Some women, though, find cool compresses more comforting.) Try to maintain good posture during the day, avoid activities that require bending and twisting at the same time, take frequent breaks when sitting or standing, and sleep on your side with one or both knees bent with a pillow between your legs, using another pillow (or wedge) to support your abdomen.
Soothing sore feet "To help yourself relax, immerse your feet in a basin filled with warm water. Add a few drops of scented oil and enjoy." — Anonymous Maybe I'll do this tonight!
