Week 26
Your baby is the size of a lettuce head
What's happening this week
Your baby is about 14 inches from head to toe and weighs nearly 2 pounds — roughly the weight of a butternut squash. This week brings a milestone that's invisible but critical: your baby's lungs are now producing surfactant.
Surfactant is a substance that coats the inside of the air sacs (alveoli) in the lungs. It prevents them from collapsing and sticking together when your baby exhales. Without sufficient surfactant, a newborn's lungs can't function properly — it's one of the main reasons premature babies often need respiratory support. Your baby's lungs are still far from ready for independent breathing, but the production of surfactant is a critical step in that direction.
Your baby is now producing melanin — the pigment that gives skin and eyes their color. Eye color is being determined, though it may continue to change for months after birth (many babies are born with blue or gray eyes that darken later). Eyebrows and eyelashes are fully formed, giving your baby's face its most expressive features yet.
The brain continues its rapid development. The brain's cortex — the outer layer responsible for thinking, memory, and consciousness — is developing its characteristic folds. The complexity of brain activity is increasing week by week.
Your baby is developing more regular sleep-wake patterns, and you may notice predictable periods of activity and rest. Many parents find their baby is most active in the evening or when they lie down — a preview of the sleep schedule negotiations to come.
This week marks the end of the second trimester by some medical definitions (ACOG defines it as ending at 27 weeks and 6 days). Either way, you're approaching the home stretch.
Your body this week
Your belly is growing steadily, and you're likely gaining about a pound per week at this point. The top of your uterus is now well above your belly button, and you may feel like your internal organs are running out of room — because they are. Your stomach, lungs, and bladder are all being compressed as your uterus expands.
Shortness of breath may become more noticeable, especially during physical activity or when climbing stairs. Your expanding uterus is pushing your diaphragm upward, leaving less room for your lungs to fully expand. This is normal and not harmful to you or your baby — your body is compensating by breathing more efficiently. If shortness of breath is severe or sudden, contact your provider.
Swelling in the feet, ankles, and hands is increasingly common. This edema is caused by your body retaining extra fluid and the growing uterus putting pressure on veins that return blood from your lower body. Elevating your feet, drinking plenty of water (counterintuitively, dehydration makes swelling worse), and avoiding standing for long periods can help. Sudden or severe swelling, especially in the face, warrants a call to your provider as it can be a sign of preeclampsia.
If you haven't had your glucose screening test yet, it should happen this week or next. This routine test screens for gestational diabetes and is typically done between weeks 24-28.
Prenatal visits may shift from monthly to every two weeks starting around now — a sign that the third trimester is approaching and your provider wants to monitor you and your baby more closely.
For dads
The third trimester is just around the corner, and with it comes a shift in energy and urgency. Your partner may start feeling more physically uncomfortable — shortness of breath, swelling, back pain, difficulty sleeping. The golden trimester is winding down. This is a good time to get ahead on nursery setup, car seat installation, and hospital bag preparation while your partner still has the energy and mobility to participate in decisions. If you haven't installed the car seat yet, start researching now. Car seats have specific installation requirements, and many fire departments and hospitals offer free inspection services to make sure it's installed correctly. Getting this done early removes one more thing from the pre-birth checklist.
Childbirth education classes should be happening soon if they haven't already started. If you've been putting this off, sign up now — most classes run during weeks 27-34, and the information is genuinely valuable. You'll learn about the stages of labor, pain management options (from breathing techniques to epidurals), what to expect in the delivery room, and basic newborn care. Going in informed helps you support your partner effectively during labor and reduces the 'deer in headlights' feeling that many first-time dads describe. Your partner needs you calm and prepared, not panicking.
Common concerns
Is it normal to feel short of breath at 26 weeks?+
Yes — increasing shortness of breath is a normal part of mid-to-late pregnancy. Your growing uterus pushes your diaphragm upward, reducing the space your lungs have to expand. Your body compensates by increasing respiratory rate and efficiency. Shortness of breath during routine activities like climbing stairs is common and expected. However, seek immediate medical attention if breathlessness is sudden, severe, accompanied by chest pain, or if you feel like you can't get enough air even at rest.
What happens if I fail the glucose screening?+
If your one-hour glucose screening result is elevated, it doesn't mean you have gestational diabetes — it means you need further testing. Your provider will schedule a three-hour glucose tolerance test, which involves fasting overnight, drinking a glucose solution, and having your blood drawn at one, two, and three hours. If the three-hour test confirms gestational diabetes, your provider will create a management plan that typically includes dietary changes, blood sugar monitoring, and sometimes medication. Gestational diabetes is common and very manageable.
Should I be worried about preterm labor at 26 weeks?+
Being aware of the signs of preterm labor is important, but experiencing it at 26 weeks is relatively uncommon. Signs to watch for include regular contractions (more than 4-6 per hour), a change in vaginal discharge, pelvic pressure, low backache that doesn't resolve, or fluid leaking from the vagina. If you experience any of these, contact your provider immediately. If your baby were born at 26 weeks, survival rates with NICU care are high (around 80-90%), but the goal is always to keep your baby growing as long as safely possible.
When should prenatal visits become more frequent?+
Most providers transition from monthly visits to every-two-week visits around weeks 28-32, and then to weekly visits from week 36 until delivery. This increased frequency allows your provider to monitor your blood pressure, baby's growth and position, and watch for any late-pregnancy complications. If you have risk factors like gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, or a history of preterm birth, your provider may increase visit frequency earlier.
Product picks for week 26
We may earn a small commission if you purchase through links on this page — at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
Compression stockings for pregnancy
Swelling and varicose veins are common now — graduated compression stockings support circulation and reduce ankle swelling.
Baby car seat
Start researching and purchasing now — you can't leave the hospital without one, and installation takes practice.
Glucose test prep comfort kit
A small kit with a comforting snack for after the glucose test, a water bottle, and something to read during the wait.
A quick note: This content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always talk to your healthcare provider about any questions or concerns. Learn how we create our content.
Content based on guidance from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), Mayo Clinic, and peer-reviewed medical literature. Learn more about how we create our content.