26 Weeks pregnant

Whilst some babies are born bottom or feet first (known as the breech position), most will have moved into the head down position as the time approaches for you to give birth³. At 26 weeks pregnant however, your baby still has plenty of room to move around, and there’s no need to worry if they’re not yet in the correct position for labour.

You might start to notice that you’re now feeling your baby kick in different positions, with some babies being more active during the night.

You’ll likely notice your baby’s movements more at 26 weeks pregnant as they become bigger and more active. There’s no set amount of movement that you’ll fee or how often you’ll feel it. Every baby is different, and it’s important to be familiar with your baby’s individual patterns. That way, you’ll be able to recognise when and if you need to seek medical advice.

Your baby’s movements won’t slow down at 26 weeks pregnant, and you should continue to feel your baby kick right up until you go into labour. If you notice that your baby isn’t moving as often as they usually do, this could be a sign that they’re unwell and require medical attention. You should always seek medical advice straight away if⁴:

• There’s a change to your baby’s usual pattern of movement
• You notice that your baby is moving less than usual
• You can’t feel your baby moving 

At 26 weeks pregnant, you won’t be offered a routine scan, and you’ll have already been for your anomaly scan at 20 weeks. However, some women choose to pay to have a 3D or 4D scan, during which you’ll be able to see your baby in much closer detail.

As you approach your final trimester, you may notice that your body is going through a lot of changes and that you’re experiencing a variety of symptoms. For example, you may be feeling more tired, and some women report a sense of ‘baby brain’ whereby they start to become more forgetful. However, there’s no evidence to suggest that this is a medical condition and may well be down to being tired and having a lot to think about in the run up to the birth of your baby¹.

You might also notice more ankle swelling and headaches. Whilst both are normal symptoms of pregnancy, they can also be a sign of preeclampsia, a condition that requires medical treatment. You should always seek medical advice if you notice⁵:

• Swelling in your face, hands or feet
• Any problems with your vision
• Severe headaches and vomiting

From tiredness, constipation, leg cramps and heartburn, to backache and hot flushes, let’s take a look at some of the other symptoms you might become familiar with at 26 weeks pregnant.

Braxton Hicks, also known as ‘practice’ contractions, are something that many women experience in later pregnancy. Some women describe them as a kind of ‘tightening’ across the abdomen, and in the main, they don’t last long, are irregular and are not painful¹⁰. Always seek medical advice if you start to experience pain and/or bleeding or if the contractions start to become more regular.

There’s no way to know how much weight you’ll gain during your pregnancy, as every woman, and every pregnancy, is different. As a general guide, most women gain anywhere between 10kg and 12.5kg (22–28lb) during their pregnancy. Most of this weight gain happens after week 20, and most of it is because of your growing baby¹¹.

It’s important to eat a healthy and balanced diet during your pregnancy, as gaining too much weight can increase your blood pressure and lead to other complications such as gestational diabetes¹¹. Gestational diabetes is more common in the later stages of your pregnancy and occurs when your body can’t produce the amount of insulin you need¹². If you’re at risk of gestational diabetes, you’ll be offered a screening test at around 26 weeks pregnant and be monitored closely during the rest of your pregnancy¹².

Every pregnancy and every pregnant tummy are different. Your age, previous pregnancies and births, height, build and fitness - these are all things that can affect the way your pregnant tummy looks and feels.

At 26 weeks pregnant, you may notice that you’ve developed stretch marks. Stretch marks are a very common pregnancy symptom, affecting around 8 of 10 women¹³. They happen because of your skin stretching as your baby grows and your uterus expands.

Stretch marks can be brown, pink or red in colour, but over time they tend to fade and become paler¹³. Stretch marks can feel itchy but rest assured that they’re not harmful to either you or your baby.

When your bump ‘drops’, this means that it may look lower as your baby’s head moves down into your pelvis and is said to be ‘engaged’ ready for birth¹⁴. It’s unusual for your this to happen at 26 weeks pregnant and is more common as you come towards the end of your pregnancy.

If you notice that your bump does look and feel lower, it may be that your baby has just found a comfortable position to be in. However, seeking medical advice from your doctor or midwife will help to put your mind at rest. You should also seek medical advice if your bump has dropped and you’re experiencing abdominal cramps, bleeding or unusual vaginal discharge.