Week 26 at a glance
Baby’s getting bigger and the second trimester is nearly done, but how can you expect to feel at 26 weeks pregnant?
So, you’re 26 weeks pregnant, and inside your bump your baby is opening their eyes to take their first look at their (currently) rather small world.
Isn’t it amazing, mama, to think about the moment your eyes will meet theirs?
Still, there are just a few more months of pregnancy left to go until that special encounter.
Let’s find out what’s in store this week!
In this article: 📝
- Week 26 at a glance
- Baby development at 26 weeks
- Pregnancy symptoms at 26 weeks
- Pregnancy tips at 26 weeks
Baby development at 26 weeks
At 26 weeks, baby’s major organs are in place, and their lungs are continuing to grow and get stronger.
Excitingly, their eyes will be opening for the first time around about now, and they will start learning to blink (and they’ll be growing beautiful eyelashes to bat at you!).
At this point, your baby’s eyes will probably be a pale bluish color, but you won’t know their final color until sometime after birth.
Since their eyes are starting to open, they may be sensitive to light ‒ not that they can see all that much in their cozy home right now ‒ but if you hold a light to your stomach, you may get a nudge or a kick from babe.
It’s also well worth playing music for baby or chatting to them at this point ‒ they can hear sounds and respond to them.
Your little one is also growing teeny-tiny fingernails, which could be quite sharp by the time they’re born (ouch!).
Although a 26-week fetus has a way to go before they’re fully developed, their organs are mature enough that if they’re born prematurely their survival chances are very good (around 89%).
But they will need a little extra help to breathe at first, until their lungs are ready to go it alone.
Can my baby feel my touch at 26 weeks?
Yes, baby can feel your touch at 26 weeks.
In fact, you can test this by rubbing your bump and seeing if baby reacts.
But accidental bumps to your stomach aren’t likely to cause baby any harm at 26 weeks ‒ they’re very well protected by amniotic fluid.
If you do have a bad hit to your bump, however, it’s worth counting kicks and checking with your doctor, just to be on the safe side.
How many kicks should I feel at 26 weeks?
There’s no definite number here, but by 26 weeks, you’ll likely be used to the kicks, nudges, and shifts of baby moving about.
You’ll probably notice baby’s waking patterns, when they’re awake and when they’re asleep ‒ they kick much less when they’re asleep.
Very generally speaking, you can expect about 10 kicks or movements in each 2-hour period.
How big is your baby at 26 weeks pregnant?
Right now, your baby is about 14 inches long (35.5 cm) from head to heel and weighs about 1.5 to 2 lbs (680 to 907 grams).
That’s about the length of a piece of cucumber and the weight of a large zucchini.
Most (but not all!) moms-to-be have a visible bump at around 26 weeks, and your fundal height could be around 10 inches (26 cm) long.
What position is your baby in at 26 weeks?
You’ll be feeling a lot of fetal movement at 26 weeks.
As we saw in week 25, this is a very active time for your little one, and they’ll be getting up to all kinds of tricks – playing with their toes, sucking their thumb, and even punching you with those tiny fists!
That means they won’t be keeping to one position the whole time.
However, soon your growing baby won’t have so much room to roam, and they’ll be more likely to stay in the same position.
Ideally, they’ll choose to be head down with their back towards your belly (called the occiput-anterior position, if you want to get technical), which is best for a vaginal birth.
But if they’re lying horizontally (transverse), that’s not unheard of, so if baby’s stretching and taking up space, that’s totally normal for a 26 weeks pregnant baby position, too.
Pregnancy symptoms at 26 weeks
Your expanding 26 weeks pregnant belly is probably starting to impact your life more and more.
If you’re feeling a little clumsy and lacking coordination, that could be because your bump is affecting your sense of balance.
You might start to see stretch marks on your belly (possibly breasts, hips, and thighs, too) and experience some “growing pains” as your uterus gets bigger.
If your bump is on the bigger side, it’s worth looking into a pregnancy support belt (we like this one by Lola&Lykke) to take the weight off a bit ‒ they can do wonders for your pregnancy back pain.
Other 26 weeks pregnant symptoms include:
- Leg cramps
- Feeling hot
- Tiredness and trouble sleeping
- Headaches
- Swollen hands or feet (mention this to your healthcare provider – it’s probably due to water retention, but it could be a sign of a dangerous condition called preeclampsia, so best to get it checked out)
- Outie belly button (don’t worry, this should go back to normal a few months after the birth)
Can I lay on my back at 26 weeks pregnant?
It’s not recommended, no ‒ from about 20 weeks into your pregnancy, it’s advised to sleep on your side (whichever side is most comfortable, but left can potentially help with blood flow to your kidneys, heart, and uterus and release pressure on the liver).
But if you do sleep on your back at 26 weeks, don’t despair ‒ chances are, you may feel nauseated if you keep this position for long, so you may move soon enough anyway.
The risk to baby of sleeping on your back while pregnant is considered higher from 28 weeks onwards.
How many months is 26 weeks pregnant?
At 26 weeks, you’re in the sixth month of your pregnancy – 6 months, 2 weeks, to be exact.
With 14 weeks to go till your due date, you’re still in the second trimester, but by the end of week 27, you’ll be heading into the third trimester and your final stretch of pregnancy.
So just under 3 months left to go!
Pregnancy tips at 26 weeks
What might you consider organizing during week 26 of your pregnancy?
Here are a few ideas:
- Ask your doctor about getting a Tdap vaccination in the next few weeks
- Start your baby registry
- Begin decorating the nursery
- Make arrangements for maternity leave
- Visit a baby care or birth class
- Some mamas-to-be also like to go on a trip or babymoon at this point in their pregnancy, while travel is still (relatively!) comfortable. Where will yours take you?
What should I avoid at 26 weeks pregnant?
You’re probably used to living without the things you’re meant to avoid by this point in your pregnancy, but here’s a quick recap:
- Raw or high-mercury fish
- Raw or processed meat
- Meats that are high in vitamin A (heart and liver, for example)
- Raw eggs
- Unpasteurized milk and cheese
- Caffeine (no more than 2 cups of coffee per day)
- Alcohol
- Hot tubs and saunas
- Changing kitty litter
- Smoking
So there you have it ‒ all you need to know about week 26 of your pregnancy!
Counting down the days till baby’s in your arms, mama!
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