26 Weeks

(Click to enlarge) (Above photos courtesy of http://www.babycenter.com/)

Baby:

- He now weighs about a pound and two-thirds and measures 14 inches (an English hothouse cucumber) from head to heel.
- And he's continuing to put on baby fat.
- The network of nerves in his ears is better developed and more sensitive than before. He may now be able to hear voices as you chat with people.
- He's inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid, which is essential for the development of his lungs. These so-called breathing movements are also good practice for when he's born and takes that first gulp of air.

Mom:

- 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.)
- Having some back pain these days, usually after standing or walking for a while. Apparently I can thank can thank both my growing uterus — which shifts my center of gravity, stretches out and weakens the abdominal muscles, and may be pressing on a nerve — as well as hormonal changes that loosen joints and ligaments. Plus, the extra weight I’m carrying means more work for my muscles and increased stress on joints, which is why I probably feel worse at the end of the day.
- The swelling hasn’t been as bad as it was a few weeks ago, it’s still noticeable though.
- My weight: 144 lbs according to the wii.