26 Weeks pregnant

Every pregnant tummy is different, even in the same woman in subsequent pregnancies. Your age, previous pregnancies and births, height, build and fitness all affect the way your pregnant tummy looks and feels. As long as all is well, enjoy the unique changes to your body each time you have a baby.

At 26 weeks your baby still has plenty of room to keep changing position – and they do from hour to hour. This means that it is too early to worry about whether the baby’s head is down as your baby is unlikely to stay in any one position for too long at this stage. As the baby moves, you will notice that the site of the kicks changes too. Around about now your baby starts to develop its nervous system more and you might start noticing a circadian rhythm of movements more – so it’s not unusual for the baby to be more active at night.

Measuring your baby from head (crown) to heel, she's about 35.6cm (14in) long², and now weighs as much as a red cabbage, which is about 760g (1.7lb). At this stage, the kicks will be more noticeable and follow more of a pattern. By now your baby can recognize and respond to your voice, and the eyelashes and retina are also developing much more by now. Your baby’s lungs are starting to mature too, although not enough to breathe unaided just yet.

There is no routine ultrasound scan at 26 weeks, but soon you will be able to book a 3D or 4D scan if you want a better idea of how your baby might look when he or she is born!

You’ve probably gained around 7-8 kg by now at 26 weeks. Once you approach the third trimester the placenta is growing as well as your baby – this is when insulin resistance can become apparent, so it’s important to keep an eye on your sugar and carbohydrate intake in the coming weeks. Eating a well-balanced diet provides a vital source of nourishment for your baby, click here to learn more about healthy eating and how to get a well-balanced diet in pregnancy.

You are probably noticing your baby’s movements more by 26 weeks as she or he is getting bigger – and often babies are more active at night form now onwards. Your baby may not have developed an absolutely predictable pattern just yet, but the movements should not be slowing down. If you feel this might be a concern talk to your health care professional. Relax, have something to eat and a cold drink. Then lie down for an hour or so and monitor movements. If you are still concerned, then do go to hospital to get checked.

As your bump is increasing in size, your circulation and metabolism have to adjust to keep up with the changing needs of your baby. This can inevitably lead to tiredness – it’s a good idea to  set aside time every day to rest and put your feet up. Make sure that your diet is rich in iron and other vitamins and minerals. If you usually follow a special diet, such as vegetarian or vegan, you may need to pay extra attention to get the nutrients needed that could potentially be lacking during your pregnancy. Ask your healthcare professional as they will be able to advise you on the specific adjustments you need to make depending on your individual circumstances.

If the tiredness is overwhelming then you need to see your doctor and have a proper assessment and perhaps blood tests.

Constipation is common between 8-12 weeks of pregnancy and then again in the latter stages of pregnancy³; Do make sure that your diet contains a healthy balance of fibre and that you are drinking at least 0.5 to 2l of water a day, more if the outside temperature is hot. If this doesn’t help then speak to your your GP – left untreated constipation can cause troublesome tummy bloating and cramps, and increases your chance of developing haemorrhoids too.

It’s perfectly normal to experience Braxton Hicks contractions at this stage – most women notice them more after 20 weeks.

It’s unusual for your bump to drop this early, especially if you have given birth before. However, each pregnancy is different and sometimes babies find a comfortable position and stay there. If however you feel your bump has dropped at 26 weeks and you have any other symptoms such as abdominal or back pain, vaginal bleeding or discharge please do get checked by your healthcare team.

It’s important to make sure your balanced diet includes good sources of LCPs, particularly DHA, while you’re pregnant and once your baby is born, too.

Experts recommend including an extra daily dose of 100-200mg DHA during pregnancy and lactation⁸. However, food sources of DHA are limited to oily fish, fish oils and offal, some of which are on the list of foods to avoid or limit during pregnancy, particularly liver.

For a healthy intake of LCPs including DHA, aim to eat 1–2 portions of oily fish, such as mackerel, sardines, fresh tuna and salmon, per week. Avoid eating more fish than this due to the levels of pollutants and mercury they may contain.

If you don’t like the idea of eating oily fish be sure to include some other sources of Omega 3 fats in your diet such as nuts, seeds, dark green vegetables, rapeseed oil, wholegrain cereals and soya products.