Pregnancy Diary: 25 & 26 Weeks Pregnant — Heartbeat, Heatwave & Acid Reflux

Welcome to my 25 and 26 weeks pregnant update – a fortnight that brought some wonderful firsts alongside challenging symptoms.

Updated September 2026 – Two things I remember most clearly about weeks 25 and 26: hearing Leo’s heartbeat for the first time, and spending two days lying directly in front of a fan in the spare room because a heatwave had decided to arrive at the exact moment I was six months pregnant. One was wonderful. The other was not.

Pregnancy Diary: 25 & 26 Weeks Pregnant

Week 25: First Face-to-Face Midwife Appointment
Hearing Baby’s Heartbeat
Surviving a Heatwave Whilst Pregnant
Second Trimester Fatigue
Dealing with Pregnancy Acid Reflux
Week 26: Six Months Milestone
Final Thoughts
Frequently Asked Questions
All my pregnancy diary blog posts:

Pregnant woman at 26 weeks showing baby bump and nursery preparation

Week 25: First Face-to-Face Midwife Appointment

After months of phone consultations due to COVID-19, I finally had my first face-to-face midwife appointment at 25 weeks. It felt strange wearing a mask in the warm weather – I kept needing to lift it for sips of water because I was overheating. Pregnancy and face masks in summer are not a great combination!

It was a student midwife conducting the appointment, supervised by another qualified midwife. They went through my full health history again – similar to the 8-week booking appointment – covering family medical background, medications, and any concerns I had. They explained that at my next appointment (28 weeks), they’d start measuring my bump and doing regular blood tests.

Hearing Baby’s Heartbeat

The highlight of the appointment was hearing the heartbeat for the first time. All my scans up to this point had been silent, so actually hearing that steady rhythm was emotional. I recorded it on my phone so I could share it with my partner, who’d already missed three scans due to COVID visitor restrictions. Being able to bring home that recording meant everything.

Surviving a Heatwave Whilst Pregnant

After the appointment, we got hit by a heatwave. I’ve always run hot, but pregnancy makes your body temperature higher anyway — so 30-degree heat on top of that was pretty brutal.

I spent most of it in the spare room with a fan pointed directly at me and as little clothing on as legally acceptable. What actually helped: cold flannels on my wrists and the back of my neck, cool showers rather than baths (quicker and easier to get in and out of), and drinking an absurd amount of water — I was getting through three to four litres a day without really trying. The clip-on pram fan I mention later in this diary was a total lifesaver too.

If you’re pregnant in hot weather: don’t push yourself to be productive. Your body is already working flat out. The rest is fine to leave.

Second Trimester Fatigue

I’ve been dealing with intense fatigue these past two weeks – the kind where you’re completely zapped of energy no matter how much you rest. Everyone talks about the ‘second trimester energy boost’, but I definitely didn’t get that memo!

One day I couldn’t even stand in the shower, so I had to sit down and have a bath instead. I was sleeping 10-12 hours a night plus naps during the day, but it made no difference. The exhaustion was bone-deep.

Looking back, I think my low iron levels were partly to blame. If you’re experiencing extreme fatigue, it’s worth mentioning it to your midwife – they can check your iron, vitamin D, and thyroid levels to rule out any deficiencies that might be making things worse.

Dealing with Pregnancy Acid Reflux

Acid reflux had already been hanging around, but this fortnight it properly escalated. I woke up one morning with acid genuinely shooting up my throat, coughing, convinced I was about to be sick.

The problem gets worse as the baby grows because they start pushing your stomach upwards, and pregnancy hormones relax the valve between your stomach and oesophagus. It’s not fun.

What helped most: sleeping propped up on extra pillows (lying flat makes it significantly worse), eating smaller amounts more often rather than three full meals, avoiding tomatoes and anything acidic or spicy, and keeping Gaviscon on the bedside table. It doesn’t fix the problem, but it makes the nights manageable.

Week 26: Six Months Milestone

Reaching 26 weeks felt significant – a full six months of carrying this little boy inside me. It’s strange how time both drags and flies during pregnancy. Some days feel endless (especially when you’re uncomfortable), but then you look back and realise how far you’ve come.

At this point, the baby weighs around 2 pounds and is roughly the size of a lettuce. His lungs are developing, he’s starting to open his eyes, and if he were born now, he’d have a fighting chance with specialist neonatal care. Knowing that makes me feel both protective and amazed at what my body is doing.

In other news, our safari-themed nursery is coming along beautifully, and I can’t wait to share it when it’s all finished! We’re just waiting for the curtains and a lampshade to complete the room.

Final Thoughts

Weeks 25 and 26 brought a real mix of wonderful moments (hearing the heartbeat!) and tough physical symptoms (heatwave + acid reflux = misery). But reaching the six-month mark felt like a proper achievement. We’re past the halfway point now, and things are getting very real.

Frequently Asked Questions

When do you first hear baby’s heartbeat at a midwife appointment?
In the UK, you typically hear the heartbeat using a handheld Doppler device at your 25-28 week appointment (sometimes earlier if needed). Before this, you’ll have seen the heartbeat on scan screens at your 12-week and 20-week appointments, but won’t have heard it out loud.

How can I cope with pregnancy during a heatwave?
Stay in the coolest room, use fans, take frequent cool showers, drink 3-4 litres of water daily, wear loose cotton clothing, and avoid going out during the hottest part of the day (11am-3pm). Use cold flannels on pulse points like wrists and neck. Don’t feel guilty about resting – your body needs it.

Is severe acid reflux normal in the second trimester?
Yes, acid reflux often worsens as pregnancy progresses because your growing baby pushes your stomach upwards and pregnancy hormones relax the valve between your stomach and oesophagus. Sleep propped up, eat smaller meals, avoid trigger foods, and ask your midwife about safe antacids like Gaviscon or Rennie.

Why am I so tired in my second trimester?
While many women get an energy boost in the second trimester, others continue experiencing fatigue due to low iron, growing baby demands on your body, poor sleep quality, or other nutrient deficiencies. Speak to your midwife if fatigue is severe – they can run blood tests to check for anaemia or thyroid issues.