Second trimester · Pregnancy week by week
Week 26 of pregnancy
Baby is the size of a head of lettuce. About 14.00 inches, 760g.
Week 26 is the cutoff for many GDM screenings. Black women diagnosed with GDM have higher long-term type 2 diabetes risk per the Hedderson 2012 paper — managing GDM well now reduces lifetime risk. Source
What's happening with the baby
The fetus has open eyelids by now. Brain wave activity is detectable. The fetus responds to sounds. Lungs continue maturing.
What's happening for you
Many women feel the bump getting heavy. Stretch marks may appear or worsen. Increased fluid retention. Some experience round-ligament pain when getting up from sitting.
Common (normal) symptoms this week
Bigger bump, lower back pain, mild edema, more frequent Braxton Hicks, increased reflux/heartburn, fetal kicks more pronounced.
Call your OB or 911 if
- Severe headache not relieved by acetaminophen.
- Vision changes — blurred vision, light flashes, floating spots.
- Severe right-upper-quadrant or upper-abdominal pain.
- Sudden swelling of face, hands, or feet.
- Vaginal bleeding or fluid leakage.
- Decreased fetal movement after 20 weeks.
- Persistent contractions before 37 weeks.
Why this week matters for Black families
Late in the second trimester is when preeclampsia becomes diagnosable (after 20 weeks). Black women have a 60% higher rate of preeclampsia and a 3x higher rate of preeclampsia-related death. The diagnosis combines new-onset blood pressure ≥140/90 with signs of organ stress. Track your own blood pressure between visits if you can — many Black-led OB practices recommend a home cuff at this stage. If your readings trend up, call your OB before the next appointment, not at it.
What to do this week
Glucose tolerance follow-up if needed. Begin discussing third-trimester monitoring frequency with OB. Schedule childbirth class. Discuss postpartum support — Medicaid extension to 12 months postpartum is now active in many states (check /medicaid/[your-state]/postpartum-extension/).
Pregnancy / baby
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References
- Hedderson 2012 GDM disparities.
- ACOG Practice Bulletin 190.
Last medically reviewed: .
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