26 Weeks Pregnant — Baby Is the Size of a Head of lettuce
At 26 weeks you are 182 days into the 40-week count, with 98 days to go and 65% of the pregnancy behind you. Baby is about the size of a head of lettuce and weighs about 17.1 g. This page fixes week 26 in place: what is developing, which appointments are still ahead, and how the week maps onto months.
65% of 280 days. The due date itself is a midpoint, not a deadline: full-term births spread across roughly weeks 37 to 42.
This week
Eyes open for the first time. Baby responds to light and sound, and hiccups are a normal everyday thing.
Measured in months, week 26 sits in month 6: Month six is the viability threshold, when a baby born early has a real chance with intensive care.
Appointments still ahead
| Window | Appointment | What it checks |
|---|---|---|
| 28–34 wks | Routine growth checks | Regular midwife visits, bump measurements and blood pressure. |
| 34–36 wks | Group B strep swab | A simple swab that protects the baby during delivery. |
| 37–40 wks | Weekly checkups | Position checks, growth checks and the birth plan in earnest. |
Around week 26
| Week | Size | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 25 | a rutabaga | about 15.7 g |
| 26 | a head of lettuce | about 17.1 g |
| 27 | a cauliflower | about 18.5 g |
Frequently asked
What does 26 weeks pregnant mean in days and months?
26 weeks is 182 days since the first day of your last period, which is about 6 months pregnant on the four-week-per-month convention. 98 days remain in the 40-week count from here — that is 65% of the way through.
How big is a baby at 26 weeks?
Around the size of a head of lettuce, at about 17.1 g. These are population averages: a scan measurement that differs by a few days is normal and does not by itself mean anything is wrong.
Which trimester is week 26?
The 2nd trimester. The split used here is the same one the calculator applies: the first trimester covers days 1–90, the second 91–195, and the third from day 196 onward. Other sources draw the boundary a week either side, which is why week 13 and week 14 can both be described as "end of the first trimester".
What appointments happen after week 26?
Next up: Routine growth checks at 28–34 weeks, Group B strep swab at 34–36 weeks, Weekly checkups at 37–40 weeks. The full schedule is in the table above; exact timing varies by country and by your care team.