26 Weeks Pregnant With Twins: Baby Development, Symptoms & Care

26 weeks pregnant with twins is a stage when your babies are growing quickly, moving more often, and developing important skills for life outside the womb. You may also notice bigger changes in your own body, from a growing belly and increased fatigue to back pain, heartburn, swelling, or shortness of breath.

As you get closer to the third trimester, knowing what is normal can make this stage feel less overwhelming. This article explains your twins’ development at 26 weeks, common symptoms, essential care tips, nutrition needs, and signs that should prompt you to contact your healthcare provider.

How Are Twins Developing at 26 Weeks of Pregnancy?

In the 26th week, the babies will continue coming to terms with different physical realities of their own body. Most babies begin to take the initiative of opening their eyes around this time, though they can’t make any sense of where they are or what they are seeing. Throughout the journey up until now, the eyelids have been fused together to keep the eyes from developing without any hindrances. Once the retina is created correctly, the eyes can now sense the presence or absence of light and begin to look around without any problems (1).

A lot of complex changes are also taking place in the babies. These changes play a crucial part in turning your little ones into unique individuals of their own volition. While the brain development begins pretty early in the pregnancy cycle, their further development is still in its progress, and it also kicks into high gear around this week. The folds or wrinkles that we instantly identify a brain with, begin to appear in your babies’ brains, bringing them another step closer to being a fully functional human being. The skin development takes its time, and it may not have the thickness that should work as of yet. The fat deposits continue to take place at a rapid pace and, even though the lining over their bodies might not be thick, it isn’t as transparent as it used to be earlier.

The eyebrows and the hairline could start being visible by now. While most babies tend to shed their hair, which becomes a part of the vernix covering the babies, some babies might do it at this stage while a few others might continue to have it even after birth. Rest assured, that isn’t a problem to be worried about since babies can even shed their hair after they are outside the womb.

How Big Are Twins at 26 Weeks Pregnant?

The weight of your little ones continues to increase at a surprising pace. When looking at women who are pregnant with a single child, the baby in the womb is nearly as heavy as 750 grams, with a length that might be approximately 36 centimetres or so (2). Using this as a benchmark, you can look at your triplets or twins to be a notch lower than these values. However, their size would now roughly be as large as spring onion and, pretty soon, they all would be jostling for space inside your womb.

What Body Changes Are Common at 26 Weeks Pregnant With Twins?

At 26 weeks pregnant with twins, your growing uterus and the rapid growth of your babies can make physical changes more noticeable. Common changes include (2):

• Growing belly and pressure: Your uterus is expanding quickly, which can cause pelvic pressure, abdominal heaviness, and changes in posture and balance.
• Back and joint discomfort: Pregnancy hormones can loosen your joints, while the extra weight of a twin pregnancy may contribute to lower back or pelvic pain.
• Shortness of breath: As the uterus grows, it can put pressure on the diaphragm, making you feel breathless, especially after physical activity.
• Leg cramps and swelling: Increased pressure on blood vessels can contribute to swollen feet or ankles and occasional leg cramps.
• More frequent urination: The growing uterus can put additional pressure on your bladder, making you need to urinate more often.

What Are the Symptoms at 26 Weeks Pregnant With Twins?

Remember most of the troublesome symptoms that you had in the previous weeks of the second trimester? Well, they will make a return this time around yet again, in varying intensities. Here are some 26 weeks pregnant with twins symptoms for you:

• Don’t let the sudden pains and contractions fool you into believing that you have a premature delivery. Usually, the ones that occur lightly and fade away when you move around are the Braxton Hicks contractions, as a result of your body’s pregnancy drill (3). Unless they continue for more than a minute and repeat frequently, you’re all good.
• Fluid retention and boosted blood circulation will rarely leave you with any part of the body that isn’t swollen beyond its usual size. Fingers, hands, feet, legs, breasts, and even your face might seem larger than usual, which can get a tad annoying over the week. Accept it as a reality and move on, unless the swelling starts hurting you tremendously (4).
• With a body that is metamorphosing every second and a bladder that fails to live up to its part, your insomnia might return as a result of it. Many women have trouble sleeping on the side or suffer from the effects of hormones keeping them awake at night (5).
• The 26th week is also a time when you would step outside your house to get something and lose track of what you wanted to get. These tiny forgetful incidents will make a comeback as your body is busy figuring out the rest of the changes taking place within it.

What Does a Twin Pregnancy Belly Look Like at 26 Weeks?

Say hello to your lovely tummy that is getting more and more close to the typical pregnant one you’ve always wanted. Well, it does come with free backache so you can’t complain about it.

One of the key aspects that can help you get through this is having strong abdominal muscles that can hold your belly in place. The abs are pretty much separated in two portions, which don’t allow them to support your core as much as they could earlier. With a core strength that is at a pretty good level, your backache can take a break.

What Happens During a 26-Week Twin Pregnancy Ultrasound?

Again, your doctor won’t ask you to have an ultrasound scan at this stage, since one would be needed when the third trimester begins. The scans will be more frequent after that.

Anyway, at 26 week twin ultrasound you will see your babies are usually doing around this time is swallowing the amniotic fluid, peeing it back out, and taking it back in. As disgusting as that might sound, it is the very thing that prepares their body to function correctly.

What Should You Eat at 26 Weeks Pregnant With Twins?

A fully balanced diet should be the only thing on your mind at this moment. Keep away any food item that might trigger an allergy. Drinking fluids and maintaining good water content in your body can keep other issues at bay, too.

How Should You Care for Yourself at This Stage?

Keep a bunch of simple tips in mind to take care of yourself effectively.

Dos

• Indulge in long conversations with your babies regularly.
• Have a discussion with your doctor regarding the delivery.
• When getting up, take your time and rise gradually, allowing your body to adapt before starting to walk.
• Sleep with multiple pillows.

Don’ts

• Gorging on fried foods and confectionaries should be strictly avoided.
• Avoid standing for long hours as it can make the swelling in your legs worsen.

What Should You Buy at 26 Weeks Pregnant With Twins?

Here are some things you should shop for with twins at 26 weeks in the womb:

• Baby monitors or a foetal doppler
• Mattress for the baby’s cradle
• Calm music records
• Belly cream
• Elastic pants waist extenders
• Bra extenders
• Flipflops
• Belly belt
• Pregnancy pajamas
• Pain heat wrap
• Muscle pain soothing balm
• Car seat support
• Pregnancy novelty t-shirts

FAQs

1. How often should twins move at 26 weeks?

At 26 weeks, you may feel your twins moving several times throughout the day, including kicks, rolls, stretches, or flutters. There is no specific number of movements you should expect because every pregnancy is different, and each baby may have a different pattern.

2. Can twins survive if they are born at 26 weeks?

Babies born at 26 weeks are extremely premature and usually require specialised neonatal care. Survival is possible, but outcomes vary depending on factors such as birth weight, overall health, and the level of neonatal care available (6).

3. How much weight should I gain by 26 weeks with twins?

Weight-gain recommendations during a twin pregnancy depend on your pre-pregnancy BMI and individual health. Rather than following a single target, discuss your weight gain with your doctor, who can assess whether your progress is appropriate.

Being pregnant with twins at 26 weeks can catch mothers off-guard with the rapid increase in weight and the changes they put her through. Don’t be afraid of having honest conversations with your partner regarding things that can make your journey more comfortable for you.

Previous Week: Twin Pregnancy Week 25

Next Week: Twin Pregnancy Week 27

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Sources References

1. UC Berkeley – Babies in the womb may see more than we thought

2. NHS – Week 26

3. Cleveland Clinic – Braxton Hicks Contractions

4. NHS – Swollen ankles, feet and fingers in pregnancy

5. Cleveland Clinic – Pregnancy Insomnia

6. University of Iowa Health Care – Twins survive and thrive after premature birth