Welcome to Week 26—the final week of your second trimester! 🎉 Your baby is now about the size of a white cabbage, measuring around 14 inches long and weighing about 2 pounds. You’re officially two-thirds of the way there!
What’s Happening in Your Body?
This week, baby’s eyes are opening for the first time! They can blink, respond to light, and even detect movement. Their brain is developing rapidly, with more defined sleep-wake cycles—and yes, you might notice baby is most active when you’re trying to sleep.
Baby’s hearing is sharper too—they can recognize your voice and may even respond to familiar sounds like music or your partner’s voice.
For you, your uterus is now about 2 inches above your belly button, and your bump is definitely in full view.
Common Symptoms This Week
More frequent kicks, rolls, and hiccups—you’re feeling baby all the time now
Braxton Hicks contractions—mild, irregular tightening (totally normal)
Backaches and hip pain from your growing belly
Swelling in feet and hands
Leg cramps, especially at night
Shortness of breath as baby pushes against your diaphragm
Trouble sleeping—getting comfy is harder, and you might be waking up more often
You might also notice more vivid dreams—thanks to hormones and lighter sleep cycles.
What You Can Do This Week
Prepare for your glucose screening test (usually done between 24–28 weeks to check for gestational diabetes)
Practice good posture and do light stretches to ease back pain
Stay hydrated—it helps with swelling, cramps, and Braxton Hicks
Use pillows for support at night—behind your back, between your knees, under your belly
Play music, sing, or talk to baby—they can hear and may even react!
And if you want to capture these final second-trimester moments, now’s a great time to take bump photos and note baby’s active times in an app like Cubtale.
Real Talk
Week 26 is a milestone in itself—baby is looking and acting more like a newborn every day, and you’re almost in the home stretch.
But it can also feel heavy—physically and emotionally. You might be excited for the third trimester but also anxious about labor, delivery, and the life changes ahead.
It’s okay to feel all of that. You’re growing a whole human—it’s exhausting and amazing all at once.
Take a deep breath. You’re doing it.
We’re not doctors—we’re just parents who’ve been through the late-night Google searches, the “is this normal?” moments, and the waiting game. Everything we share here comes from our own experiences and research, but it’s not medical advice.
If you ever have questions or concerns about your pregnancy, always check with your healthcare provider. And if you notice anything we missed or got wrong, we’d love to hear from you—drop us a message anytime.