26 Weeks Pregnant: Baby Development, Symptoms and Tips
Short Answer: At 26 week pregnancy, your baby is about 35 cm from head to heel, roughly the size of a head of lettuce, and weighs around 760 grams. The eyelids are starting to open, the lungs are making more surfactant, the hearing is sharper and your baby kicks, rolls and sleeps in clear cycles. The top of your womb is about 5 to 6 cm above your navel. You may have backache, pelvic or hip pain, sciatica, trouble sleeping, swollen feet and tightenings that come and go. This week, finish your glucose test if you have not had it, ask about a hemoglobin check and the anti-D and whooping cough vaccines, learn how to tell Braxton Hicks from real labour, start a birth plan and book an antenatal class. Call a doctor for heavy bleeding, severe pain, fever, fluid leaking, regular tightenings or a severe headache with blurred vision.
Pregnancy weeks are counted from the first day of your last period, not from conception. Twenty-six weeks pregnant means about twenty-four weeks since conception. You are in your sixth month, with about 14 weeks to go, and the third trimester starts in two weeks. For the week before, read our guide to 25 weeks pregnant, for the next, 27 weeks pregnant, and to follow the whole journey see our pregnancy guidelines week by week.
Week 26 at a glance
| Detail | At 26 weeks |
|---|---|
| Trimester | Second, ending at week 27 |
| Months | About 6 |
| Baby’s length | About 35 cm (14 inches), head to heel |
| Baby’s weight | About 760 grams |
| Heart rate | About 120 to 160 beats per minute |
| Weeks to go | About 14 |
| Size comparison | A head of lettuce |
| Height of womb | About 26 cm from the pubic bone |
Sizes differ a little between guides, because they use averages from different groups of babies. Your own scan results and your doctor’s measurements matter more than a chart.
Your baby at 26 weeks
Growth. Your baby gains weight steadily, and fat is filling out the skin. The body is better proportioned, though the head is still large. Your baby will reach about 1 kg by week 28.
Eyes. The eyelids, which have been fused shut since early pregnancy, begin to open and close around now. The eyes themselves are fully formed. Your baby can sense light through your belly and may turn toward or away from a bright torch. Newborns see only blurry shapes and are most drawn to faces and strong contrasts, so you will not see much sight difference yet. The final eye colour is not set, because the pigment develops after birth.
Lungs. The air sacs are growing, and the cells that make surfactant are working harder. Surfactant is the slippery substance that keeps the air sacs open when your baby takes a first breath. The lungs are not ready to work alone until about 34 to 36 weeks. Your baby keeps practising breathing movements, which you may notice as rhythmic jumps that look like hiccups.
Hearing and the brain. Your baby hears your heartbeat, your voice, your stomach and loud outside sounds, all muffled. The hearing and vision parts of the brain are growing quickly. Your baby may jump at a sudden noise, and may calm down to a familiar voice or song after birth.
Skin and hair. The skin is still thin and wrinkled, with a pink tint from the blood vessels beneath. Vernix protects it, and fine lanugo hair covers the body. Hair on the head is growing. Fingerprints and toe prints are unique to your baby.
Movement and sleep. Kicks, rolls, punches, stretches and hiccups are strong, and you may see your belly move. Sleep cycles are clearer, with periods of deep sleep, dream-like sleep and wakefulness. Many babies are most active in the evening and at night. Do not expect your baby’s schedule to match yours.
Digestion and urine. Your baby swallows fluid, absorbs water and sugars and passes urine, which adds to the amniotic fluid. Meconium, the first stool, builds up in the bowel.
Brain and nerves. The brain surface is forming folds, and connections between nerve cells multiply quickly. Nutrition, sleep and avoiding alcohol and tobacco all support this.
Genitals. In girls, the uterus and ovaries are in place. In boys, the testes are moving down toward the scrotum, and they usually reach it in the next weeks.
Chances at birth. A baby born at 26 weeks has a much better chance of surviving than one born a few weeks earlier, especially in a hospital with good newborn intensive care. Many survive, but risks of breathing problems, bleeding in the brain and later developmental difficulties remain. In places where newborn care is limited, the chances are lower. Steroid injections given to the mother before preterm birth help the baby’s lungs. If you have signs of preterm labour, go to a hospital with a newborn unit early.
Your body at 26 weeks
Womb. The top of your womb is about 5 to 6 cm above your navel, and a tape measure from the pubic bone reads about 26 cm. Your doctor may measure this at each visit as a quick check of growth. A difference of up to 2 cm either way is normal. A measurement that is far off, or that stops growing, may lead to a growth scan.
Weight. A person of normal weight usually gains about 0.4 to 0.5 kg a week. By now most people have gained about 7 to 10 kg in total, though it varies. Sudden rapid weight gain, especially with swelling, needs a check for pre-eclampsia.
Blood and heart. Your blood volume has risen by up to 40 percent. You may feel warm, sweat more and have a faster pulse. Blood pressure usually rises slowly toward the third trimester, so every visit includes a blood pressure check.
Skin and hair. A glow is common, but so are acne, dry skin, dark patches on the face (melasma) and a dark line down the belly (linea nigra). Stretch marks can appear on the belly, breasts, hips and thighs. Genetics matters more than any cream. Hair looks thicker, and nails may grow faster or split.
Breasts. They are larger and heavier. A few drops of thick yellow fluid, called colostrum, may leak. A supportive, wire-free cotton bra or a nursing bra helps.
Breathing. The womb presses up on the diaphragm, so you may feel breathless on stairs. Rest and good posture help.
Eyes. Dry eyes and slight blurring are common from hormones. Sudden vision changes, flashing lights or spots need a doctor, because they can be a sign of pre-eclampsia.
Mind. Vivid dreams, forgetfulness and mood swings are common. Many people feel closer to the baby, and also more anxious about the birth and the changes to come.
Common symptoms and what helps
| Symptom | Why it happens | What helps |
|---|---|---|
| Backache | Growing womb, loosening joints, posture | Flat supportive shoes, good posture, side-sleeping with a pillow, gentle stretches |
| Round ligament pain, a sharp pull in the lower belly or groin | Ligaments stretch as the womb grows | Move slowly, rest, warm bath |
| Braxton Hicks tightenings | Practice contractions | Drink water, rest, change position |
| Leg cramps, mostly at night | Circulation and mineral changes | Calf stretches before bed, drink water, ask about calcium |
| Swollen feet and ankles | Fluid retention | Raise your feet, avoid long standing, drink water |
| Heartburn | Relaxed valve at the top of the stomach | Smaller meals, avoid spicy and oily food, stay upright after eating |
| Constipation, piles | Slow gut, iron tablets, pressure | Fibre, water, daily movement, do not strain |
| Dizziness | Blood pressure changes, low blood sugar | Eat regularly, stand up slowly |
| Stuffy nose, nosebleeds | More blood flow to the nose lining | Saline spray, a humidifier, lean forward and pinch the nose for a bleed |
| Bleeding gums | More blood flow to the gums | Soft brush, gentle flossing, dental check |
| Headaches | Hormones, tiredness, dehydration | Rest, fluids, ask your doctor before taking medicine |
| Tingling hands | Fluid squeezing a nerve at the wrist | Shake and raise your hands, wrist splint at night |
| Mild breathlessness | Growing womb, hormones | Rest, good posture |
| Restless legs | Low iron, hormones | Gentle stretches, warm bath, ask about hemoglobin |
| Itchy, stretching belly skin | Skin stretching | Moisturiser, loose cotton clothes |
| Increased vaginal discharge | Hormones | Cotton underwear, no douching |
Do not take any medicine, including painkillers and herbal products, without asking a doctor or pharmacist. Paracetamol at the recommended dose is generally considered safe. Avoid ibuprofen, aspirin and diclofenac unless your doctor prescribes them.
Back, hip and pelvic pain
The hormone relaxin loosens your joints and ligaments to prepare for birth, and the growing womb shifts your centre of gravity forward. Together they cause three common kinds of pain.
Lower back pain. A dull ache across the lower back, worse after standing or sitting for long periods. Wear flat, supportive shoes, sit with your back supported, lift by bending your knees and sleep on your side with a pillow between your knees. Warm baths, gentle stretches, swimming and a maternity support belt can help.
Pelvic girdle pain. Pain at the front of the pelvis over the pubic bone, or at the back over the sacroiliac joints, often worse when you turn in bed, climb stairs, get in and out of a car, walk or stand on one leg. You may feel a click or grinding. Keep your knees together when you turn in bed or get out of a car, take small steps, avoid standing on one leg, climb stairs one at a time and sleep with a pillow between your knees. A physiotherapist who treats pregnancy pain can teach exercises, and a support belt can help. Tell your doctor if it is severe or limits walking.
Sciatica. A sharp, shooting or burning pain from the buttock down the back of the leg, sometimes with numbness or tingling, caused by pressure on the sciatic nerve. Change position often, avoid standing for long, apply a warm pack to the buttock, try gentle stretching and swimming and sleep on the side that does not hurt with a pillow between your knees. See a doctor if you lose strength in the leg, lose control of your bladder or bowels or have numbness between the legs. These signs need urgent care.
Call your doctor if the back pain is severe, regular and comes in waves like cramps, comes with fever or burning urination or comes with bleeding or a change in discharge. Back pain can be a sign of a kidney infection or preterm labour.
Sleep problems and how to manage them
Many people sleep worse now. The belly makes it hard to get comfortable, you wake to pass urine, your legs cramp, heartburn flares up and the baby moves at night. Worry and vivid dreams add to it.
What helps:
- Sleep on your left or right side, with a pillow between your knees and another under your belly. A long body pillow helps. Doctors advise against sleeping flat on your back from about 20 weeks.
- Keep a regular bedtime and wake time, and make the room dark, quiet and cool. Use a fan and wear loose cotton clothes in hot, humid weather.
- Drink more water earlier in the day, and less in the two hours before bed.
- Stop caffeine by early afternoon.
- Eat a small snack before bed, such as a banana or a glass of milk, but avoid large, spicy or fried meals late in the evening.
- Raise your head and shoulders on pillows if you have heartburn.
- Try a warm bath, gentle stretching or a few minutes of slow breathing before bed.
- Avoid screens for an hour before bed.
- If you cannot sleep, get up, read or sit quietly in dim light, and return to bed when you feel sleepy.
- Take a short nap in the day if you need one, but not too late.
Do not take sleeping tablets or herbal sleep remedies without your doctor’s advice. Tell your doctor if you snore loudly, stop breathing in your sleep or wake with headaches, because sleep apnoea is linked to high blood pressure. Tell your doctor too if you cannot sleep for many nights, feel hopeless or anxious or have thoughts of harming yourself.
Braxton Hicks or real labour
Braxton Hicks tightenings are practice contractions. They are common from the second trimester and become more frequent in the third. It can be hard to tell them from the start of preterm labour, so use this guide, and call when in doubt.
| Braxton Hicks | Real labour | |
|---|---|---|
| Timing | Irregular, with no pattern | Regular, getting closer together |
| Strength | Stay the same or fade | Get stronger over time |
| Duration | 30 to 60 seconds, sometimes up to two minutes | 30 to 70 seconds, getting longer |
| What changes them | Often stop with rest, water or a change of position | Do not stop with rest, water or a change of position |
| Where you feel them | Mostly the front of the belly | Often start in the back and move to the front |
| Other signs | None | Bleeding, fluid leaking, a change in discharge, pelvic pressure |
Before 37 weeks, treat regular tightenings as possible preterm labour. Lie on your left side and drink a glass or two of water. If you still have more than four tightenings in an hour after an hour of rest, or you have bleeding, fluid leaking, a steady low backache or pelvic pressure, go to hospital at once. Call 999 if you need help getting there.
When to call a doctor
| Usually normal | Call a doctor soon |
|---|---|
| Short, sharp pulls in the lower belly | Severe or constant abdominal pain |
| Mild, irregular tightenings that stop with rest | Regular tightenings that come more often and do not stop |
| Milky white discharge | Watery fluid leaking, or foul, itchy or coloured discharge |
| Occasional headache | Severe headache with blurred vision, flashing lights or upper belly pain |
| Itchy stretching belly skin | Intense itching of palms and soles, or yellow skin |
| Tiredness, mood swings | Fainting, chest pain or sudden breathlessness |
| Mild swelling of feet late in the day | Sudden swelling of the face and hands, or one swollen, painful calf |
| Light spotting after sex | Bleeding that soaks a pad in an hour, or with clots |
| Aching lower back that eases with rest | Severe, regular back pain, or back pain with fever or burning urination |
Pre-eclampsia. A serious blood pressure condition that can develop after 20 weeks. Signs include a severe headache that will not go away, blurred vision or flashing lights, sudden swelling of the face and hands, pain under the ribs on the right side, vomiting and rapid weight gain. It needs urgent care.
Baby’s movement. You do not need to count kicks yet, but start to notice your baby’s pattern. If you notice a clear drop in movement at any time, call your doctor the same day, and do not wait until the next day or rely on a home Doppler.
Fever. In Bangladesh a fever can also mean dengue, so do not treat it at home. See a doctor straight away.
If you feel sad, anxious or hopeless for more than two weeks, tell your doctor. If you ever have thoughts of harming yourself, seek help right away.
Tests, results and vaccines
| Test or step | When | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Glucose test | 24 to 28 weeks, or earlier if you have risk factors | Screens for gestational diabetes |
| Hemoglobin check | Second and third trimesters, or as advised | Looks for anaemia |
| Blood pressure and urine check | Every visit | Screens for pre-eclampsia and infection |
| Anti-D injection | About 28 weeks, if you are Rh negative | Protects future pregnancies |
| Whooping cough vaccine | About 27 to 36 weeks | Protects your newborn |
| Tetanus-diphtheria vaccine | During pregnancy, as your doctor advises | Protects you and your baby |
| Flu vaccine | Any trimester, in flu season | Protects you |
| Growth scan or repeat placenta scan | If advised, often about 32 weeks | Checks your baby’s size, fluid and placenta position |
Make sure you have had: the glucose test, a hemoglobin check this trimester and a clear plan for anti-D if you are Rh negative. If you have not, book them this week, because slots fill up.
Keep your records. Carry your prenatal card and test results to every visit and to the hospital. If you have a complication, a written record helps any doctor who has not met you.
If your glucose test is high
A high result does not mean you did something wrong. Gestational diabetes is common, particularly in South Asian women, and hormones from the placenta make your body less sensitive to insulin. It is manageable.
What usually happens:
- You are asked to check your blood sugar at home with a finger-prick meter, usually fasting in the morning and one or two hours after meals
- You see a dietitian or doctor for a meal plan
- You walk for about 10 to 15 minutes after meals, which lowers blood sugar
- If sugar stays high, you may need tablets or insulin
- You have extra growth scans, and a plan for the timing of birth
- After the birth, your sugar usually returns to normal, and you have a blood test six to twelve weeks later and then every year, because your risk of type 2 diabetes is higher
Food tips:
- Eat three small meals and two or three snacks, at regular times
- Choose whole grains, such as brown rice and whole wheat roti, in smaller portions, and pair carbohydrates with protein and vegetables
- Skip or limit sweets, sugary drinks, juice, white bread and large portions of white rice
- Choose whole fruit in small portions, not juice, and avoid very ripe, sweet fruit in large amounts
- Eat protein with each meal, such as eggs, fish, chicken, lentils or yogurt
- Do not skip meals or go on a very strict diet, which can raise ketones and harm your baby
- Drink plenty of water
Good control lowers the risk of a very large baby, birth injuries, a low blood sugar in the newborn and high blood pressure. Keep your appointments, and ask questions.
Food and supplements
Iron. Keep taking iron-folic acid tablets as prescribed. Take iron away from tea, coffee and milk, and with something sour such as lemon. Dark stools are normal on iron. Ask for a hemoglobin test this trimester.
Calcium. Calcium supplements are advised where diets are low in calcium. They help your baby’s bones and teeth and lower the risk of high blood pressure in pregnancy. Take calcium at a different time from iron.
Iodine. Use iodised salt in your cooking. Iodine supports your baby’s brain development.
Eat more of:
- Protein: eggs, well-cooked fish, chicken, lentils (dal), beans and milk
- Iron-rich foods: leafy greens (shak), lean meat and lentils, with lemon or guava for vitamin C
- Calcium-rich foods: milk, yogurt, and small fish such as mola eaten with the bones
- Fruit and vegetables: a variety of colours every day
- Whole grains and fibre: brown rice, whole wheat roti and oats
- Healthy fats: well-cooked oily fish, nuts and seeds
- Water: about 8 to 10 glasses across the day, more in hot weather
Limit: caffeine to about 200 mg a day, which is one or two cups of tea or a single small coffee. Limit sweets, sugary drinks, juice and fried snacks. Large portions of white rice and bread push blood sugar up, so pair carbohydrates with protein and vegetables.
Avoid: alcohol, all tobacco (including zarda and jorda), raw or undercooked meat, fish and eggs, unpasteurized milk and cheese, unwashed produce, large predatory fish such as shark and swordfish, high-dose vitamin A supplements, unripe papaya and herbal tonics your doctor has not approved.
Weight gain. Total gain over the whole pregnancy depends on your weight before pregnancy, and Asian-specific BMI ranges may apply, so ask your doctor.
| Weight before pregnancy | Recommended total gain |
|---|---|
| Underweight | 12.5 to 18 kg |
| Normal weight | 11.5 to 16 kg |
| Overweight | 7 to 11.5 kg |
| Obese | 5 to 9 kg |
Exercise and posture
The standard advice for healthy pregnancies is about 150 minutes of moderate activity a week, such as 30 minutes of brisk walking on most days. Walking after meals helps blood sugar. Swimming, prenatal yoga, stationary cycling and pelvic floor exercises are good choices. You should be able to talk while you exercise. Avoid hot yoga, lying flat on your back during exercise, contact sports, heavy lifting and anything with a risk of falls. Stop and call your doctor if you have pain, bleeding, dizziness or trouble breathing.
Pelvic floor. Squeeze and lift the muscles you use to stop urine flow, hold for a few seconds and release. Do a few sets a day. Strong pelvic floor muscles help with bladder control during and after pregnancy.
Posture. As your belly grows, your centre of gravity shifts forward. Stand tall, keep your shoulders back, avoid high heels and use a chair that supports your lower back. Lift by bending your knees. A support belt can ease back pain, so ask your doctor.
Your birth plan and hospital bag
You do not need a long, rigid birth plan. A short list of your wishes and questions helps you and your doctor talk, and it should stay flexible, because labour does not always go as expected.
Things to ask and decide:
- Who will be with you in labour, and who will look after children or the home
- Whether you want a vaginal birth, and when your doctor would recommend a C-section
- Which pain relief options are available at your hospital
- Whether the hospital supports skin-to-skin contact straight after birth and breastfeeding within the first hour
- Whether your baby will stay with you in the room
- Who cuts the cord, and whether delayed cord clamping is offered
- What happens if your baby needs special care
- What the package costs, and what is not included
Hospital bag. Start a list now, and pack by about 36 weeks.
| For you | For your baby | Papers and extras |
|---|---|---|
| Loose cotton clothes and a nightgown | Several soft cotton baby clothes and caps | Prenatal card, test results and ultrasound reports |
| Underwear and sanitary pads for after birth | Soft cotton wraps or blankets | National ID, and your partner’s ID |
| A supportive nursing bra and breast pads | Nappies and wipes | Mobile phone and charger |
| Toiletries, slippers and a towel | Going-home outfit | Cash, and a note of emergency numbers |
| Snacks and a water bottle | A baby car seat if you will travel by car | A note of your blood group |
Planning ahead
- Maternity leave. Under Bangladesh’s labour law, working mothers in the private sector are entitled to 16 weeks of paid maternity leave, eight before and eight after the birth. Government employees receive six months. Check your own contract and plan when to tell your employer.
- Place of birth. Choose a hospital or clinic with a qualified doctor or midwife, a way to handle emergencies, a blood supply and a newborn care unit. Ask what the delivery package covers and what an emergency would cost.
- Transport. Plan how you would reach the hospital at any hour, and keep emergency numbers in your phone. The national emergency number is 999.
- Money. Start a simple budget for delivery and baby costs.
- Classes. Join an antenatal class that covers labour, breathing, newborn care and breastfeeding. Ask your doctor or the hospital.
- Breastfeeding. The World Health Organization recommends starting within the first hour and breastfeeding exclusively for the first six months. Colostrum, the thick yellow first milk, is all your baby needs in the first days.
- Birth registration. Register your baby’s birth with the local authority after the birth. In Bangladesh it is free within 45 days.
- Dental care. Dental treatment is safe in pregnancy, and gum disease is linked to early birth.
- Partners. Come to appointments if you can, join classes, share chores and listen. Talk about names, birth plans and parenting.
- Dengue and heat. Remove standing water around your home, use a mosquito net and drink plenty of water.
If you feel unsafe at home, tell your doctor or a trusted person. In Bangladesh you can call the national helpline 109 for support with violence against women and children. It is free.
Checklist for this week
- Book or collect the results of your glucose test
- Ask for a hemoglobin and blood pressure check
- Take iron-folic acid and calcium as prescribed, at different times, and use iodised salt
- Check your blood group, and ask about anti-D if you are Rh negative
- Ask about the tetanus-diphtheria, flu and whooping cough vaccines
- Learn how to tell Braxton Hicks from real labour, and the signs of preterm labour and pre-eclampsia
- Choose the hospital you would go to in an emergency, and plan transport
- Join an antenatal and breastfeeding class
- Start a birth plan and a hospital bag list
- Sleep on your side with pillows, and keep up daily walks and pelvic floor exercises
- Save your doctor’s number and the nearest hospital’s emergency number
FAQ
How big is the baby at 26 weeks?
About 35 cm from head to heel and 760 grams, roughly the size of a head of lettuce. Sizes vary a little between guides and between babies.
Can the baby open their eyes at 26 weeks?
The eyelids begin to open and close around now. Your baby can sense light through your belly, but sees only blurry shapes after birth.
Can I feel the baby move at 26 weeks?
Yes. Movements are strong and regular. If you notice a clear drop in movement, call your doctor the same day.
What is the difference between Braxton Hicks and real labour?
Braxton Hicks are irregular and stop with rest, water or a change of position. Real labour contractions are regular, get stronger and closer together and do not stop. Before 37 weeks, treat regular tightenings as possible preterm labour and go to hospital.
Why is my back and pelvis hurting?
Relaxin loosens your joints and the growing womb shifts your posture. Flat shoes, good posture, side-sleeping with a pillow, warm baths and a support belt help. See a doctor for severe pain, pain with fever or burning urination or pain with bleeding.
What if I cannot sleep?
Try a regular bedtime, a cool dark room, side-sleeping with pillows, less fluid before bed and no caffeine in the afternoon. Tell your doctor if you snore loudly, stop breathing in your sleep or feel hopeless.
Should I be worried if my glucose test is high?
No. Gestational diabetes is common and manageable with food choices, walking and checking your sugar. Some people need tablets or insulin. Keep your appointments.
When should I pack my hospital bag?
Start a list now and pack by about 36 weeks, or earlier if you have a higher-risk pregnancy.
Note: This article gives general information and does not replace advice from your doctor or midwife. Every pregnancy is different. Call your doctor or go to a hospital if you have bleeding, severe pain, fever, fainting or any symptom that worries you.
