Around week 26 your baby opens their eyes for the first time.
Your baby this week
- Eyes open
- The eyelids, closed since early pregnancy, start to open.
- Lungs
- The lungs are growing branches and tiny air sacs.
- Startle
- Your baby may react to loud sounds with a jump you can feel.
What you might notice
- Back pain as your bump grows and your posture changes.
- Forgetfulness, often called baby brain. Lists help.
- Headaches for some. A sudden or bad headache is in the list below.
- A bump that's getting in the way of bending and tying shoes.
Call your midwife, doctor or maternity unit today if
- Your face, hands or feet swell suddenly, or you have a bad headache or blurred vision
- You have bleeding, fluid leaking, or regular tightenings or period-like cramps
- Your baby's movements have slowed down or changed
- You have strong itching, especially on your hands and feet
Any time of day or night. You will never be a nuisance for calling.
Coming up
Third trimester. Checkups usually get more frequent.
If your blood group is rhesus negative, an anti-D injection is often offered.
Questions to bring to your next appointment
- Is my blood group rhesus negative, and do I need anti-D?
- How often will I have appointments from now on?
- What should my blood pressure be, and how will we keep an eye on it?
For your partner
Ask about the third trimester appointments and which ones you can make. Getting them in the diary now is easier.
NUGA follows you week by week
Enter your due date once and NUGA knows you're at week 26. The day before each appointment, it gathers what you've noted and the questions to bring.
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This page draws on public guidance from:
General information, not medical advice. Every pregnancy is different, and your midwife or doctor knows yours. Last updated October 2026.