26 Weeks Pregnant: Week-by-Week Guide
IN THIS ARTICLE – At this stage of your journey, new developments are beginning to unfold. Check out this week-by-week guide to find out what’s in store for your baby and your body in week 26 of pregnancy.
Your baby at 26 weeks pregnant | Week 26 pregnancy symptoms | 3 expert tips for a healthy and safe pregnancy | Week 26 checklist: How to plan your pregnancy | Join Enfamil Family Beginnings
- What trimester is 26 weeks? Second trimester
- How many weeks of pregnancy are left? 14 weeks
- How many months is 26 weeks pregnant? You're in your sixth month.
With week 25 of your pregnancy complete, you’re on week 26. Enjoy it, as week 27 is on the horizon!
One of the most exciting things about pregnancy is how many changes you’ll experience with your little one over the span of just 7 days! Here’s some tips and tricks to keep on top of all that’s happening.
Your Baby at 26 Weeks Pregnant
What's Happening in There
- Your baby is the size of a scallion.
- You’re nearing the end of the second trimester.
- The countdown continues: you’ve got 14 weeks to go!
What Happens During the 26th Week of Pregnancy?
- In the blink of an eye: Up until now, your baby’s eyes have been sealed shut as the retina develops. But at week 26, they open and blink.
- Time to bat their eyes:Along with the blinking, baby’s eyelashes and hair continue to grow, as do their recently developed fingernails.
- Windows to the soul:While baby's eyes are now open, there’s very little color in their irises. The final eye color can change even after birth and over the first year.
- Inhaling the good: Your baby is taking breaths—not of air, but of amniotic fluid.
- Mixing things up: The baby’s position at 26 weeks varies—there’s still wiggle room in the womb for them to move around freely.
26 Weeks Pregnant Baby Movement
At 26 weeks pregnant, fetal movement is going strong. Your little one is getting active in there: They’re pedaling, kicking, and stretching. It can hurt at times or just feel plain weird.
Your baby is also able (and likely) to respond to outside stimuli (such as sound or light near your belly) with excited movements or an increase in pulse rate.
26 Weeks Pregnant Baby Weight
Your baby is now between 1.8 – 2 pounds, about the weight of a pineapple or a quart of milk.
How Big Is Your Baby at 26 Weeks Pregnant?
| 26 Weeks Pregnant |
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Baby Weight 1.8-2 pounds |
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Baby Length 9 inches from crown to rump |
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Baby Size Comparable to a scallion |
Week 26 Pregnancy Symptoms
During week 26 of pregnancy, your body is changing quickly. As your baby grows, you will too, and there are certain pregnancy symptoms you may experience at this time.
6 Common Week 26 Pregnancy Symptoms
- You can get clumsy, which in addition to pregnancy brain vagueness, can make you feel like you’re losing your faculties. Thankfully, it’s only a short-term symptom.
- Along with the clumsiness and lapses in memory, you may also experience blurred vision. Doctor-approved eye drops may provide some relief.
- You’re possibly getting swollen, bloated, and gassy, with the extra pressure on your intestines not helping the situation. You may also feel constipated, but fear not! There are several constipation home remedies.
- Be aware of higher blood pressure at this stage of the pregnancy. Speak to your doctor to check that it’s in the healthy range, as hypertension can cause complications. Regular exercise may prevent hypertension, which affects 6-8% of pregnant women in the United States.
- You may experience contractions called Braxton Hicks at 26 weeks. Also called false labor, these mild contractions are when the muscles of the uterus tighten. They may feel uncomfortable like menstrual cramps and last for approximately 30 to 60 seconds or up to two minutes.
- Cramping in the calf and foot is common, frequently striking at night.
3 Expert Tips for a Healthy and Safe Pregnancy
Being 26 weeks pregnant is an important time for you and your baby. Here’s some more expert-recommended advice on how to adjust to this new stage and keep you and your baby safe.
- Prevent those cramps: Experts aren’t 100% sure why the second and third trimesters are often accompanied by painful spasms in the calf muscles, feet, or both. You can try to prevent cramps by staying hydrated, being active, and wearing comfortable shoes with good support.
- Magnesium to the rescue: With that in mind, magnesium may help with cramps. Magnesium deficiency is linked to cramping and muscle twitches. It’s also been linked to poor mood or anxiety, sleeping issues, fatigue, high blood pressure—all things that happen to be pregnancy symptoms. Check with your doctor to see if you’re getting enough; the recommended amount is 350 mg/day while pregnant. Natural sources are greens, beans, nuts, seeds, whole grains, wheat germ, and oat bran. Try avocado black bean salad and tortellini broccoli dish recipes that are full of magnesium and more. If you’re taking magnesium as a supplement and it makes you feel drowsy, take it at night.
- Treat muscle cramps: When you cramp, try flexing and pointing the foot. Gently massaging the calf may also loosen the muscle. If the leg pain does not resolve quickly, or if you have swelling, warmth, or redness, call your doctor right away.
Week 26 Checklist: How To Plan Your Pregnancy
Knowing what to do week-by-week can help you feel prepared and alleviate stress. Add these new items to your to-do list this week. You’ve got this, mama!
| To-Do Checklist |
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 Take a maternity ward or hospital tour with questions in hand. |
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Start your baby registry. |
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Remember to relax—take a yoga or mindfulness class. If you haven’t taken a babymoon yet, try to squeeze one in if possible. |
Learn more about your pregnancy, including pregnancy planning and pregnancy nutrition to feel prepared to continue this magical adventure. You’re armed with the facts, what to do, and now you can take time to connect with the little one growing inside you.
With week 25 in the rearview mirror and week 26 going strong, look to the future and what's coming up in week 27!
Join Enfamil Family Beginnings
At 26 weeks pregnant, you’re more than halfway there. Start preparing for your new arrival with Enfamil Family Beginnings. It’s the perfect resource for new and expecting moms. Save on Enfamil products, track your bump and baby’s growth, and get helpful articles each week relevant to your journey. Join now for up to $400 in free gifts.
