Day 184 of 280, second trimester
You are 26 weeks and 2 days
As your baby's sight keeps developing, he reaches another milestone: his eyelids open.
96 days until your due date
Your baby's eyelids formed at nine weeks but have stayed fused until now. He isn't in total darkness, because the uterus wall thins as it grows and lets in more light. Now his eyes are developed enough to open.
Even with the lids open, the delicate eyeballs are protected by a fine membrane that disappears completely in the last month of pregnancy.
It's too early for him to respond to light in a fully coordinated way, but he may turn toward very bright light, and if startled by a sudden loud noise, he'll often blink, just as children and adults do.
The retina is starting to be lined with light-sensitive rods and cones. Cones, which provide color vision, develop later than the more numerous rods, which see in black and white and are used for night and peripheral vision. Connections form between the retina and the optic nerve, which carries information to the visual cortex at the back of the brain to be decoded.
Your baby often brings his hands to his face, but his limb movements are now so well coordinated that he won't touch his eyes.
Focus on
Twins: Growth of twins in the last trimester
In these last three months, you're likely to get very big; the more babies, the harder your body works to provide space and ideal growing conditions. You'll probably be advised to gain just under 1 lb (0.5 kg) a week in the first half of pregnancy and slightly more in the second.
From around 28–29 weeks, twins and other multiples grow more slowly than single babies, but they still move and kick as much as they can, cushioned by amniotic fluid, which keeps increasing until 36 weeks.
Ask a Doctor
I have inverted nipples. Will I be able to breastfeed?
Babies breastfeed rather than "nipple feed," so if your baby latches on correctly, inverted nipples shouldn't be a problem. About 10 percent of women have flat or inverted nipples. The best way to find out is simply to try once your baby is born. Various techniques can help; talk to your doctor or a lactation consultant if you have problems, or contact La Leche League.
Appointments and key dates around now
- Whooping cough vaccineUsually around 20 weeks, best before 32 weeks
Read the full 26 weeks pregnant guide
This is general information based on NHS guidance, not medical advice, and every pregnancy is different. Talk to your midwife or GP about anything that worries you. If your baby's movements slow down or change, or you have bleeding, severe pain or leaking fluid, call your maternity unit straight away. In an emergency, call 999.