# 26 Weeks Pregnant: Baby Size, Symptoms & What to Expect | Clever Mum > 26 weeks pregnant — your baby is the size of a red cabbage. What's developing, what you might feel, and what to focus on this week. * [ Home ](/) * › [ Pregnancy ](/pregnancy/) * › [ Week by week ](/pregnancy/week/) * › Week 26 Second trimester # 26 weeks pregnant Your baby is about the size of a red cabbage [ CP ](/authors/parenting-desk/) By [ Clever Mum Parenting ](/authors/parenting-desk/) · Parenting guides Published 11 July 2026 Quick answer — What happens at 26 weeks pregnant? At 26 weeks pregnant, your baby is about the size of a red cabbage, roughly 35.6cm and around 760g. The baby's eyes begin to open and they can now blink. Who should skip this Skip this page if you need personal medical advice — it is general NHS-aligned information, not a substitute for your midwife. If your baby's movements slow or change, call your maternity unit, not a website. ## How big is the baby at 26 weeks pregnant? At 26 weeks pregnant, your baby is about the size of a red cabbage, roughly 35.6cm and around 760g. 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. These are typical averages — your midwife's measurements are the ones that matter for your pregnancy. ## What might you feel at 26 weeks? Most people at 26 weeks notice some mix of the symptoms below — and plenty notice none of them. 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. None of this is a diagnosis; contact your midwife if something worries you. ### 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. ## What should you do at 26 weeks pregnant? The useful job this week is practical, not medical. A good week to sort maternity pay paperwork — your MATB1 certificate is usually issued from around week 20 and unlocks Statutory Maternity Pay. Pair it with the NHS week-by-week guide if you want a second description of the same stage. ### 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) ## What else is useful at 26 weeks? Use the week page for size and symptoms; use the guides below for the decisions that actually sit in this window — pay, packing, car seats, labour signs. * [Due date calculator](/tools/due-date-calculator/) * [Trimester to-do list](/pregnancy/pregnancy-to-do-list-by-trimester/) * [Maternity leave and pay](/pregnancy/maternity-leave-and-pay-uk/) * [Best infant car seats](/best/best-car-seats-uk/) ## 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 * [ You and your baby at 4 to 40 weeks pregnant ](https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/week-by-week/) — NHS * [ Your baby's movements ](https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/keeping-well/your-babys-movements/) — NHS [← 25 weeks](/pregnancy/week/25/) [All weeks](/pregnancy/week/) [27 weeks →](/pregnancy/week/27/) 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 August 2026. ## Week 26 at a glance Trimester Second trimester Baby size red cabbage Approx length ~35.6cm Approx weight ~760g Weeks to go 14 (to 40) Work out your dates Not sure how many weeks you are? Our [due date calculator](/tools/due-date-calculator/) maps your weeks and trimester dates from your last period.