Week 26 is tiring in a plain, physical way. Leg cramps at night and a general clumsiness are the two things most women name. Forgetfulness gets talked about too, and it is worth being precise about what that is and is not.
Your body this week
Carrying extra weight with a changed centre of gravity affects balance and coordination. Allowing more time for ordinary things — the walk to the bus, the stairs — is a sensible adjustment rather than giving in.
Leg cramps often get worse at night. The NHS suggests foot and ankle exercises, pulling the toes upwards, and rubbing the muscle where it hurts.
Forgetfulness is widely reported and often called baby brain. The NHS is careful about it: it is not a medical condition and is not scientifically established, and tiredness plus having a great deal on your mind explains most of it. That is not dismissive — it is the difference between a real experience and a diagnosis, and only one of those is being claimed.
What you may notice
Tiredness and sleep problems, stretch marks, sore gums, round ligament pains, piles, headaches, backache, nosebleeds, indigestion and heartburn, bloating and constipation, leg cramps, feeling hot, dizziness, swollen hands and feet, urine infections, vaginal infections, and skin and hair changes.
There is a lot of movement now. The NHS instruction for this week is unambiguous: if movements slow down or stop, contact your midwife or maternity unit straight away.
Your baby this week
Around week 26, the figure given is about 35.6cm from head to heel, which the NHS compares to a cucumber. Averages describe a population and not an individual pregnancy.
Eyes open around now for the first time, with blinking to follow. Eye colour at birth depends on genetics rather than any rule about babies being born with blue eyes, and it often continues to change through the first years.
What care usually happens around now
Nothing is routinely scheduled in the UK this week for most women. The next appointment for most is at 28 weeks, which is a larger one.
If the whooping cough vaccination has not happened, the window runs to week 32 in the UK. Antenatal patterns differ between countries and between first and later pregnancies.
This week's tip
Do ankle circles and toe pulls before you get into bed. Ten of each, both feet. It is the one thing that reduces night cramps for many women, it costs a minute, and unlike most cramp advice it can be done at the point where it matters rather than in the middle of the night on one leg.
When to see a doctor
Contact your maternity service straight away if movements slow or stop. Report bleeding, severe pain, a fever, or a headache with vision changes. Pregnancy warning signs has the list.
Seek care now: Contact your local emergency services or go to your nearest emergency department if you have heavy bleeding, severe or one-sided tummy pain, a severe headache with vision changes, sudden swelling of the face or hands, a fever, fluid leaking from the vagina, chest pain, trouble breathing, fainting, or a seizure. Contact your maternity service the same day for any reduction in your baby's usual pattern of movement. Femio cannot assess a pregnancy.
Frequently asked questions
Is baby brain real?
Forgetfulness in pregnancy is very commonly reported, and it is not an established medical condition. Tiredness and mental load account for a great deal of it.
What actually helps leg cramps?
Pulling the toes up towards the ankle during a cramp, rubbing the muscle, and regular foot exercises. Week 27 closes the trimester, and week 25 covers swelling.