Pregnancy Information Center

Information, Symptoms, Treatments and Resources

Overview

Posts

Articles

User Journals

Your Second Trimester - Week 26

Rating

Week 26

What's Happening to Your Body

By now, you should have gained roughly 16 to 22 pounds.

Take this time to babyproof your home. Cover all electrical outlets, remove choking hazards and install smoke alarms and CO₂ detectors throughout your home. Remember, of course, that safety precautions will never be a substitute for careful parental supervision.

At this point, finding a comfortable position to sleep may be challenging. A full-size body pillow might help you get into a more comfortable position.

As your baby grows in size, you do as well. This leads to back pain, headaches, leg cramps and pressure in your pelvis. Exercise and stretching can help to relieve some of the discomfort.

What's Happening to Your Baby

Your baby is the size of an eggplant. Your baby measures around 14 inches (35.6 cm) long from head to heel. At this point your baby weighs a little less than 2 pounds (907.2 grams).

Your baby’s eyes have completely formed and will open soon. Your baby will begin to blink and be able to distinguish between light and dark from inside your uterus.

Your baby’s oil and sweat glands are also functional. It can still respond to noise and has grown accustomed to the sounds of your heartbeat, digestion, and other bodily functions, as well as your voice. Your baby can even move in rhythm to music.

Your baby will also continue to gain body fat and develop its blood vessels. Its veins are still visible through the skin right now, but the skin is quickly becoming opaque.

You're able to hear your baby’s heartbeat at visits to your doctor, but your partner may even be able to hear the baby’s heartbeat by putting their head on your belly. Don’t worry if you hear a skipped beat. This is called an arrhythmia; it occurs often as the heart is developing.