Second trimester
26 weeks pregnant
The fetus is around the size of a lettuce and opens its eyes this week for the first time since they fused shut early in development.
Size of
scallion bunch
Length
36 cm
Weight
760 g
Your baby at 26 weeks
The eyelids unfuse and the eyes open. Vision is limited, but the fetus can detect light.
Brain wave activity resembling that of a newborn can be detected, including responses to sound.
The lungs continue developing surfactant and the fetus practises breathing movements regularly, drawing amniotic fluid in and out.
How you may be feeling
The uterus is well above the navel and ribs may ache as it presses upward. Shortness of breath is common and is usually just mechanical.
Blood pressure is monitored carefully from now on, because pre-eclampsia typically appears after 20 weeks and more commonly in the third trimester.
Common symptoms around week 26
- Rib discomfort
- Shortness of breath
- Trouble sleeping
- Braxton Hicks
- Swelling in hands and feet
Appointments and tests around now
Blood pressure and urine are checked at every appointment specifically to catch pre-eclampsia early, which is why those routine checks matter more than they appear to.
What is normal, and what varies
Shortness of breath from the uterus pressing on the diaphragm is normal. Sudden breathlessness, chest pain, or breathlessness at rest is a different thing and needs urgent assessment.
Worth doing this week
Learn the pre-eclampsia signs
Severe headache, visual changes, sudden swelling, pain below the ribs, and vomiting. Any of these warrants contacting your provider the same day.
Attend every appointment
The routine blood pressure and urine checks are the main way pre-eclampsia is caught before it becomes dangerous.
Sit upright to breathe easier
Slouching compresses an already crowded chest. Posture helps more than it sounds like it should.
Looking ahead
Next week is the last of the second trimester, and the fetus begins more regular sleep cycles.
Nearby weeks
Not sure which week you are in? The week tracker works it out from the first day of your last period, and the due date calculator gives you an estimated due date.