Your baby at 26 weeks
The eyelids begin opening. The baby continues practising small breathing movements with fluid in the lungs.
The lungs are still developing. These practice movements do not mean the baby is breathing air.
TRIMESTER 2 · WEEK 26
26 weeks pregnant
Eyes beginning to open.
What to expect at 26 weeks pregnant: your baby, your symptoms and this week’s reminders.
Symptoms at 26 weeks pregnant
- Movements may feel stronger.
- Backache or heartburn may continue.
- You may notice leg cramps.
None of these symptoms is required. Symptoms alone cannot diagnose pregnancy or establish your baby’s wellbeing.
Seek assessment for symptoms that are severe, sudden or different from your usual experience.
Source for this week: NHS — Week 26
Measurement note: early lengths are head-to-bottom; from week 20 they are head-to-heel. The numbers across that change should not be compared as if the measurement method were the same.
YOUR WEEK, YOUR JOURNEY
Explore another pregnancy week
Choose a week to explore your baby’s development and changes you may notice.
01 · FIRST TRIMESTERSmall beginnings
02 · SECOND TRIMESTERA growing connection
03 · THIRD TRIMESTERGetting closer to meeting
Sources and content note
This is source-based general information, not a substitute for a clinical assessment or individual care plan. The presence, absence or change of symptoms alone cannot establish pregnancy wellbeing. This content is not a personalised care plan reviewed by a healthcare professional.
This guide groups weeks 1–13 in the first trimester, 14–27 in the second, and 28 onwards in the third. Weeks refer to gestational age dated from the last menstrual period; clinical dating may differ.
- NHS — Pregnancy week by week
- ACOG — Fetal development and gestational age
- NHS — Your baby’s movements
- NHS — Pregnancy symptoms
Sources checked: 31 October 2026 · Illustrations are AI-generated conceptual drawings, not ultrasound or diagnostic images.