Pregnancy Week 26: Baby's First Kicks and Third Trimester Prep

Quick answer: At 26 weeks your baby measures about 35.6cm from crown to heel and weighs around 760 grams, with movements growing stronger and more regular. The brain is developing rapidly and the lungs are producing surfactant. You may notice Braxton Hicks tightenings, which are normal, though painful or regular contractions need a call to your midwife. The third trimester begins at week 27.

What parents need to know

You're almost at the end of your second trimester, and week 26 brings some exciting new developments. Your baby is becoming increasingly active, and those kicks and movements are growing stronger and more regular. You may even be able to see your bump moving from the outside now!

How big is your baby at 26 weeks?

Your baby now measures approximately 35.6cm from crown to heel and weighs around 760 grams — roughly the weight of a scone. They're still quite lean but will start gaining weight more rapidly over the coming weeks.

What's happening with your baby?

Your baby's brain is developing rapidly this week, and the number of brain cells is increasing dramatically. The lungs are producing surfactant — a substance that helps the tiny air sacs (alveoli) in the lungs open and stay open after birth. This is critically important for breathing independently. Your baby is inhaling and exhaling amniotic fluid in practise breathing movements. Their eyes, which opened for the first time last week, are now beginning to respond to light. The irises are still developing their final colour, which won't be fully established until a few months after birth.

What's happening in your body?

With just one more week until the third trimester, you may be experiencing Braxton Hicks contractions — irregular, painless tightenings of the uterus that are sometimes called 'practice contractions'. These are perfectly normal and help prepare the uterus for labour. They are usually irregular and short-lived, and do not get progressively stronger or closer together like true labour contractions. If contractions are painful, regular, or accompanied by any discharge or bleeding, contact your midwife.

Your fundal height (the measurement from your pubic bone to the top of your uterus) is now approximately 26cm, which aligns with the general rule that fundal height in centimetres roughly matches the number of weeks of pregnancy at this stage.

Preparing for the third trimester

The third trimester begins at week 27, and this is an excellent time to start preparing for it. Consider booking your hospital or birthing centre tour if you haven't already — most units offer tours that help you feel familiar and confident with your birth environment. If you're planning a home birth, speak to your midwife about what equipment will be provided and what you'll need to prepare.

Start thinking about your birth plan. This is not a rigid set of instructions but rather a way to communicate your preferences to your care team. Consider your preferences around pain relief, environment, who you want present, and what happens immediately after birth (skin-to-skin contact, delayed cord clamping, vitamin K injection for your baby). Your midwife can help you create a birth plan that reflects your wishes while remaining flexible.

The glucose tolerance test

Between weeks 24 and 28, women at higher risk of gestational diabetes are offered a glucose tolerance test (GTT). Risk factors include a BMI above 30, a previous baby weighing over 4.5kg, gestational diabetes in a previous pregnancy, or a first-degree relative with type 2 diabetes. If you haven't been offered a GTT and feel you may be at risk, speak to your midwife.

Your week 26 checklist

This week:

• Note your baby's movements and familiarise yourself with their usual pattern.
• Start thinking about your birth preferences.
• Book a hospital or birth centre tour.
• Ask your midwife about the GTT if you are at risk.
• Enjoy the last few days of your second trimester.