You are 26 Weeks and 6 Days 92 days to go…
The thought of being off work in the last months of pregnancy is tempting, but it will give you less time off with your baby.
Your baby today
At this stage, thumb sucking is becoming much more coordinated
as the sensitive lips and fingers meet. On scans most babies look as if
they enjoy it, and there’s no doubt that it provides important sensory
feedback and perhaps reassurance to your developing baby.
As long as you’re feeling in good health,
try to work into the last month of your pregnancy. It can be
particularly frustrating if you finish two months before, only to find
that your baby is born later than expected. Working as late as possible
may also allow you to spend some time with your replacement. If you’re
finding work tiring, try to adapt your working day and avoid traveling
during rush hour, if possible. Whenever you start your leave, colleagues
may hold a party and want to buy gifts for your newborn. If you’re
asked what you want, suggest gift certificates since these will allow
you to purchase some of the more expensive baby equipment, and prevent
duplication of gifts. Many stores also offer baby registries, which are a
good way to choose the items you want.
Back pain in the third trimester
One of the most common pregnancy complaints,
back pain is generally a reaction to your increased weight and the
laxity of the joints that are an integral part of pregnancy. There are
some ways to alleviate this, and anecdotal evidence suggests that women
who exercise are far less likely to suffer from extreme back pain than
those who don’t.
It is best to try to
avoid back pain by exercising your abdominal muscles which will give
your back support, and keep your legs and arms strong too.
Carrying does not end
when you have had your baby. You will have a car seat, baby bag, and
perhaps groceries to carry, as well as your newborn. So it’s best to
keep your muscles strong throughout your pregnancy to prepare for this.
Here are five top tips to avoid back pain in the third trimester:
Stay strong: strength training for all parts of your body will help you deal with the increased weight you gain during pregnancy.
Support:
invest in a support belt that will give your back a break from bearing
the load of your belly. It will also support your sagging stomach and
may relieve discomfort in your legs. This can be particularly useful if
you’re carrying twins or more.
Sleep:
while sleeping, place a pillow between your legs to ease the stress on
your back. Buy or borrow a shaped pillow that gives your belly and back
support at the same time.
Stretch: flexibility will help your back to relax and prevent your muscles from getting too tense.
Sit: keep your back supported by the back of a chair .
Use a pillow to increase the support in your lower back, if necessary.
If you work at a desk, make sure your chair adequately supports your
back.
Stretching helps prevent your muscles from tightening,
so you feel less tense and more relaxed. Put on some comfortable
clothes and stretch as often as you can, and always stretch before and
after exercise.
You are 27 Weeks Exactly 91 days to go…
As you soak in a relaxing bath, it’s an amazing sight to look at your baby moving and stretching your belly.
Your baby today
This baby looks quite upset. Your baby often makes strange and
funny faces in the uterus. It’s as if he is practicing every type of
facial expression in preparation for after the birth when these will be
one of the tools he uses to communicate his needs and emotions.
Your belly is a marvelous thing. It’s already changed so much over the last 27 weeks and will continue to grow until you give birth.
Inside that belly
your growing baby is moving around. When your baby is kicking and
turning around, take the time to look down, and you may be able to see
him move or even see the imprint of a foot as it kicks you.
While you’re taking a
bath is a good time to watch your belly—you may find that your baby is
more active around this time because you’re relaxed—and you can take the
time to observe his movements. Keep your partner involved when your
baby is active by encouraging him to touch your belly.
Watching your baby move is wonderful. You may even miss your ever-expanding and active belly once you’re no longer pregnant.
… Doctor
| Q: |
My belly measurement has been the same for three weeks. Why isn’t my baby growing?
|
| A: |
In pregnancy your abdomen is measured to establish the height
of the top of the uterus, which indicates how the baby is growing. It is
important to know whether the same person is measuring you since there
is an element of subjectivity depending on the technique the doctor
uses. In early pregnancy, it is not necessary to measure you because
this doesn’t give an indication of fetal growth, but after 26 weeks,
growth can be assessed this way However, even with your own growth chart
and with the same person measuring you, the estimation of your baby’s
growth may still not be 100 percent accurate. If there are any concerns,
your doctor may order an ultrasound to figure out why your measurement,
called your fundal height, hasn’t changed.
|
… Dads
Are you tired too?
Being pregnant is more tiring than most women anticipate.
In the third trimester, your partner’s bladder is under pressure and
this can cause her to wake during the night to use the bathroom. The
size of the belly starts to become uncomfortable, and it can be
difficult for her to find a relaxing sleeping position. The other
changes she’s going through, from shifting internal organs through to
altered hormone levels, can contribute to her restlessness. And if she’s
having trouble sleeping, you are likely to be disturbed too. The end
result is that both of you feel constantly tired.
Unfortunately there
is no answer. Going to bed earlier can help, but having some time to
relax together before bed is just as important. The bottom line is that
disrupted sleeping patterns will now become part of the norm for both of
you. There is no quick fix to this problem, but it may help to cut back
on your social life in the evenings.
