26 Weeks Pregnant? Here’s What No One Tells You (But You Need to Know!)

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EP 97:

This week on the podcast, we're diving into everything you really need to know about being 26 weeks pregnant. Spoiler alert: your baby is blinking, your milk-making hormones are secretly turning on, and your body is training for labor — even if it doesn’t feel like it yet.

Stephanie (your doula, lactation consultant, and birth prep bestie) breaks it all down in a fun, relatable way that leaves you feeling way more confident about what’s happening and what to do next.

In This Episode You’ll Learn:

• The surprising things your baby is doing right now (yes, blinking!)
• Why 26 weeks is the perfect time to prep for breastfeeding
• 3 things you can start doing today to support your body + birth
• Real-talk symptoms (back pain, rib aches, leaky boobs, oh my!)
• The 26-week “Thrive Checklist” to prep for labor + postpartum

Links & Resources:
🎓 Grab the Bump to Bundle Blueprint Course
👶 Join me on YouTube
📩 Grab your FREE Hospital Bag Checklist here

Let’s Connect!
If this episode made you feel more prepared or just a little more normal, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your pregnant bestie!

Episode Transcript

(00:05):
Hi, I'm Stephanie Poole, founderand CEO of Birth Prep Academy.
I'm on a mission to helppregnant moms prepare for their
first hospital birth.
I'm sharing revealingconversations about what it
really takes to successfullytransition into motherhood.
So join me.
Here to discover things likewhat to expect in childbirth,

(00:27):
how to prepare for your birth.
We'll also talk aboutbreastfeeding and so much more.
I'm so grateful to share it allwith you right here on Oh Baby,
the podcast created for pregnantmoms preparing for their first
hospital birth.
Let's get started.
All right, mama.

(00:47):
You're 26 weeks pregnant, and ifit feels like you just blinked
and suddenly your belly poppedoutta nowhere, you are not
alone.
But here's the thing.
This week isn't just anotherweek.
It's a turning point.
Your baby's doing some wildstuff in there like blinking.

(01:08):
We're gonna get into it, so justhold tight.
Your body is officially in thethird trimester training mode.
Ooh.
And if you are planning tobreastfeed later, now is gonna
be the perfect time to startprepping your body.
And your brain.
In this episode, I'm sharingsome surprising facts about your

(01:30):
baby's development, some realdeal symptoms to watch for.
Plus, three things that you canstart doing right now that'll
set you up for a smoother birthand a better breastfeeding
journey.
So grab your lemon water orwhatever it is that keeps you
nice and hydrated.

(01:51):
Get cozy.
And let's talk all things 26weeks.
Okay.
Quick baby update At 26 weeks,your little one is about the
size of a head of a kale.
And if you're like me and you'rekind of visual with it, just
picture this.
A long zucchini doingsomersaults in a water balloon.

(02:15):
'cause that's pretty much what'sgoing on inside your body right
now.
But here's the cool thing.
Your baby's lungs are actuallydeveloping branches and
surfactant.
That's the stuff that helps thembreathe after birth.
They can also inhale and exhaleamniotic fluid now, because
they're practicing for theirfirst big cry.

(02:38):
Oh, and they're blinking.
You know I mentioned that in theintro.
well, their eyelashes are in,and they're even starting to
react to light and sound.
So if you shine a flashlight onyour belly, you might actually
get a little kick back,literally.
While your baby's prepping tobreathe air, your body's doing
something you probably weren'twarned about.

(03:00):
Let's talk about the lessglamorous stuff, your symptoms,
because around 26 weeks, thingscan start feeling well, just
different.
So first up, symptom number onethat we're gonna talk about is
back pain and rib aches.
Your uterus is growing up, notjust out.

(03:21):
So that means that your ribs,your lungs, and spine are
getting nudged and it is notcute.
Try a warm, compress, or switchto a pregnancy support pillow
when you're sleeping.
That should help.
All right, symptom number two,leaky boobs.
yep.
Some mamas notice colostrumleaking vis early, which is

(03:43):
totally normal.
It doesn't mean that you'reready or not ready, it's just
your body rehearsing.
All right.
Symptom number three, heartburn.
Your baby's getting bigger andyour digestive system is like,
hold up, wait a minute, wait,wait, wait.
It's getting stuffy in here.
So you may wanna try smallermeals and skip the spicy stuff

(04:06):
at dinner.
Now let's talk about how somemoms feel dizzy or out of
breath.
Just walking to the fridge.
That's because your blood volumehas increased by 40 to 50%.
And your heart, well, it'sworking overtime, so take it
slow, drink up, and never beafraid to rest.

(04:29):
Okay, but here's where it getsjuicy, because if you are
planning to breastfeed, thismight just blow your mind.
I know your baby isn't even hereyet, and I'm over here talking
about breastfeeding.
But here's the deal.
Your milk factory is alreadyunder construction.
Did you know that your milkmaking hormones are already

(04:51):
active by 26 weeks?
That's prolactin, oxytocin andmore.
They're all doing work behindthe scenes, but just like labor,
how you prepare actuallymatters.
Here's how to give yourself ahead start.
First up, I want you to learnhow your baby actually latches,

(05:13):
and here's a hint, it is notnipple to mouth.
All right.
Number two, I want you tounderstand between colostrum,
transitional milk and maturemilk, let me say that again.
Understand the differencebetween colostrum, transitional
milk, and mature milk.

(05:33):
And lastly, I want you to knowthe signs of a deep latch versus
a shallow one before you're upin pain at 2:00 AM Now, in case
you're wondering, I teach all ofthis inside of Bump Tob bundle
blueprint.
It's my full pregnancy topostpartum prep course, and it's
basically like having a doula,lactation consultant and your

(05:56):
bestie in your pocket.
All right.
Here's your 26 weeks andthriving checklist.
Number one, practice daily bellybreathing.
This helps with core strengthand stress.
Just five minutes can helpoxygenate your body and prep
your pelvic floor for labor.

(06:16):
Also, I want you to startwatching breastfeeding videos,
not just birthing ones.
See your brain learns throughrepetition.
So seeing real babies latch nowreally helps you decode what to
do later.
All right.
The last thing I want you to doto thrive this week is to talk

(06:37):
to your partner or supportperson about your postpartum
needs.
It's never too early to say, Ineed help with food, or I need
to really take some time torest, and someone to protect my
naps, really.
And yes, that's your permissionto delegate like a queen.

(06:58):
All right.
26 weeks is no joke, but you, myfriend, are doing an incredible
job.
If today's episode made you feelmore confident, more prepared,
or at least a little bit morenormal, then go ahead and hit
that like button so that YouTubeknows to show this video to

(07:18):
other expecting moms.
Two.
And don't forget, if you'reready to prep for birth,
postpartum, and breastfeedingwithout piecing together 200
random YouTube videos, then comeon in my friend, check out Bump
to bundle blueprint.
It's everything you need in oneplace from contractions to
colostrum, and I'll be rightthere with you every step of the

(07:41):
way.
Hit that link below and I'll seeyou in the next video.
You got this mama.