🤰 Second trimester
26 weeks pregnant
Your baby is about the size of a red cabbage
By Emma Whitfield · Pregnancy & Baby Writer
Your baby at 26 weeks
The baby's eyes begin to open and they can now blink. They respond to sound with a faster heartbeat or movement, and brain activity increases sharply.
Your body at 26 weeks
You're approaching the third trimester. Backache, rib pain and breathlessness can increase as the baby takes up more room. Blood pressure is monitored at appointments.
Common symptoms this week
- Backache and rib ache
- Breathlessness on stairs
- Blood pressure checked more attentively
Symptom lists are typical, never exhaustive — and having none of them is normal too.
Focus this week
A good week to sort maternity pay paperwork — your MATB1 certificate is usually issued from around week 20 and unlocks Statutory Maternity Pay.
Week 26 checklist
- Sort maternity pay paperwork with your employer — MATB1 in, start date agreed
- Plan your maternity leave start date (any time from 11 weeks before the due date)
26 weeks pregnant: common questions
When should I start maternity leave?
You can start any time from 11 weeks before your due date; many people work until 36–38 weeks to bank more paid leave for after the birth, but there's no right answer — commuting, physical work and how you feel all matter. It starts automatically if you're off sick with a pregnancy-related illness in the final 4 weeks.
How big is my baby at 26 weeks pregnant?
At 26 weeks, your baby is approximately the size of a red cabbage, about 35.6cm and around 760g. These are approximate averages — every baby grows at its own pace.
What's happening at 26 weeks pregnant?
The baby's eyes begin to open and they can now blink. They respond to sound with a faster heartbeat or movement, and brain activity increases sharply. For you: you're approaching the third trimester. backache, rib pain and breathlessness can increase as the baby takes up more room. blood pressure is monitored at appointments.
Which trimester is 26 weeks?
26 weeks pregnant is in the second trimester. The first trimester runs to the end of week 12, the second from weeks 13 to 26, and the third from week 27 to birth.
Sources & further reading
This is general information, not medical advice — every pregnancy is different. For anything that worries you, and for all your antenatal care, speak to your midwife or GP. If your baby's movements ever slow down or change, contact your maternity unit immediately, day or night. Reviewed July 2026.