26 Weeks Pregnant

Baby’s Development

You are now at week 26 and what a week it is! If your baby decides to grace you with a very early delivery, it is estimated that your baby has a 80% survival rate if born at week 26.
Your baby opens it’s eyes for the very first time in week 26! Although there is not much to see in your uterus, if you put a flashlight on your stomach, you may find your baby responds to the light.
Someone is listening! Your baby’s brain is now also developing at an amazing rate. Your baby can now hear you and others around you! You may find now that baby responds to the voices or sounds around you.
Take a deep breath! Your baby is now breathing in small amounts of amniotic fluid. This helps prepare them to take their first breath of air on their birth day.

What’s Happening For You

• And for you? Well this is the time where your belly button may become an ‘outie’. This is because your uterus is now sitting at approximately 6 cm above your belly button. That same organ that once provided you with the nutrition you needed for your development (your placenta that was once attached to your belly button) is the very organ that is now feeding your bubba, so don’t be afraid of the ‘outie’ belly button. It is a beautiful reminder of the circle of life. Your belly button will most likely return to it’s rightful place a few months after birth.
• You are likely to have put on a healthy 7 – 10kg at this stage. If you have found you have put on more weight, it may be worth getting a quick once over by your health professional to ensure everything is on track.

Things To Consider

• If you haven’t already, start looking into birthing classes. This is the time that you want to be booked into birthing classes to ensure you learn all there is to know about your birth. The more educated you are on all things birth, the calmer, easier and quicker your birth will be.

Read more about what to expect next week.