Your Pregnancy at Week 26

Your baby can open their eyes and even blink. They begin to simulate breathing with their lungs. Their nostrils start to open, giving them a chance to use their muscles and lungs to practice breathing.

The belly is getting bigger; you may not even be able to see your knees when you stand up. Make sure you have some comfortable maternity clothes.

As you prepare to enter the final stages of pregnancy, your belly will get bigger, your movements may slow down, and you may even walk a little wobbly, like a cute penguin! It may be difficult to see your knees when you stand up now. Some women are worried that their body shape will become fat and indistinguishable after pregnancy, and feel that they are unattractive. Changes in body shape during pregnancy are a normal physiological phenomenon, but they will usually return to normal after the baby is born. For those who struggle, they can see a women's health physiotherapist or trainer. In severe cases a plastic surgeon ican help.

Your gut may experience greater changes this week due to an enlarged uterus and hormones affecting the digestive system, such as continued constipation problems and more time spent on the toilet. You should drink plenty of water and eat plenty of fibre-rich foods, avoid processed foods, and try to do some simple daily exercise to get your bowels moving.

Orthostatic hypotension is a form of low blood pressure that occurs when standing up after sitting or lying down. Pregnant women are more susceptible to this and may feel dizzy when standing up after sitting or lying down. To avoid this, stand up slowly when transitioning from sitting or lying down. If you still feel dizzy, ask for help from someone nearby. If you are in danger of falling, sit down slowly on the floor until the dizziness passes.

• Contractions that become stronger, more frequent, or last longer
• Persistent pain in the abdomen, back, or pelvis
• Heavy vaginal bleeding
• Baby's fetal movements decreasing or stopping