Pregnancy : 26 Week

Your baby is now 26 weeks old.
Baby's eyes open
Up until about the 26th week, your baby's eyes have been sealed shut. But now they open and blink. At birth, she will be able to see (not very clearly) up to a distance of about 6", or the distance between your breast and your smiling face. She will also be able to distinguish between contrasting colors of light and dark. She can now see, hear, smell, taste and feel. All her senses are intact and will continue to develop after she is born. She is getting to be more filled out, but is still much thinner than she will be when she is born. She weighs less than 2 pounds and will continue to gain weight. Over the next few weeks, her nervous system will under major development. Nerve fibers become encased in a fatty layer called myelin that permits nerve impulses to travel faster. Her brain also continues to grow so quickly that it folds in on itself. These folds are called gyri. Some of the weight you have put on is the extra fluid you need to support and nourish a healthy pregnancy. But your legs may feel tired and achy. Or your hands may tingle and look puffy. Your body is using this extra fluid to maintain the levels of amniotic fluid, make it easier for your kidneys to excrete waste and provide fluid for your baby's body. Some of the extra fluid will be extracted from your intestines (another contributing factor to constipation) and by the end of the third trimester, you will have as much as 40% extra fluid within your tissues.

Swelling is normal when:

• It shifts with gravity. This is called gravitational swelling.
• Your weight gain is normal
• Your blood pressure remains within normal limits
• Your diet is well-balanced and nutritious

You do not excrete protein in the urine You should contact your care provider if:
The swelling becomes excessive, if your upper torso swells (especially in the first or second trimesters) or if you press your finger above your ankles and the indentation doesn't fill in within a 10-30 seconds.

• You suddenly put on a lot of weight
• Your blood pressure spikes
• You develop severe headaches or migraines, especially with vision problems
• Your diet is not well-balanced
• There is protein in your urine
• You feel unwell or your baby is not growing normally.

There are a number of ways to control the normal swelling. Avoid standing or sitting for long periods of time. Move around every 30 minutes or so. Don't cross your legs when sitting. A trained prenatal massage therapist can employ lymphatic drainage massage techniques to your arms and legs to encourage improved lymph absorption. Elevate your legs above the level of your heart, especially at the end of the day, for at least an hour. Avoid eating foods with a lot of salt or sodium and drink at least 6-8 glasses of water daily. Continue exercising as muscular contractions in your legs help to move the excess fluid. Wear comfortable, loose clothing and avoid any tight socks that can inhibit circulation.