27 Weeks Pregnant
27 Weeks Pregnant
Next week marks the end of the “honeymoon phase”, or second trimester, of the pregnancy. Which means that you will soon start to feel some heavier symptoms of pregnancy and your body will change rapidly from week to week.
So, it is a good idea to relax as much as possible over the next few weeks, and mentally prepare yourself for the journey ahead.
At 27 weeks pregnant, your baby has developed remarkable since when it was a tiny little 2-weeks old embryo inside your womb. Now, your baby has most of its features – its limbs and muscles are developing, its facial features have begun to form, and its eyes are slowly opening as it prepares to see the outside world for the first time. This article will answer any questions that you may have about week 27 of the pregnancy and will hopefully leave you prepared for the rest of the journey.
27 Weeks Pregnancy Symptoms
The most common symptoms of pregnancy at week 27 are:
- Insomnia
A combination of different pregnancy symptoms can lead to a severe lack of sleep during pregnancy. Restless leg syndrome, baby movements, digestive problems, tingling hands, and a whole host of other complaints can mean that you are not able to sleep sufficiently throughout the night. If you are experiencing this, try to take advantage of any free moments throughout the day that allow you get some extra sleep and, if problems persist, consult a medical professional for advice.
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Tingling Hands
The tingling sensation in your hands may be a result of the extra blood volume placing pressure on the median nerve – which is a long nerve that runs through the whole of the arm and is the only nerve that passes through the carpal tunnel. This can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome, which causes pain and discomfort for many pregnant women and is extremely common throughout the second half of the pregnancy cycle.
- Pregnancy Brain
If you’re struggling to remember where you put the car keys or forgot to turn up to a meeting at work, you may be experiencing “pregnancy brain”. The wild and inconsistent state of your hormones contributes to this, and it is a very normal side-effect and sign of pregnancy at 27 weeks. It might be a good idea to invest in a planner to better organise and remember any events that you have throughout the day.
- Digestive Problems
One of the most prevalent signs of pregnancy is digestive complaints. This can range from constipation and gassiness, to heartburn or indigestion. When a woman is pregnant, the corpus luteum and the placenta produce the pregnancy hormone progesterone, which slows down the digestive tract and can, consequently, cause some discomfort.
- Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS)
Restless leg syndrome during pregnancy is often caused by a lack of iron or folic acid in the blood stream. It is a common sign of pregnancy at week 27 and affects over 30 per cent of women at some stage of the gestation period. It can cause a great deal of discomfort and lack of sleep throughout the night but, fortunately, it is not a cause of great concern, and the symptoms won’t persist after you have given birth.
Your Body at Week 27
At 27 weeks pregnant, you may not be happy with the weight that you have gained as a result of the pregnancy. Yet, this weight gain is vital for your baby’s development. As long as you are maintaining a balanced diet, and only indulging healthy cravings, your weight gain should be regarded as a positive.
Now that you are about to enter the third trimester, it is important to get sufficient rest. It is easy to become over exhausted when you are 27 weeks pregnant, due to the mental and physical toll on your body, so finding extra time to take it easy is essential.
Another bodily change that you may notice in week 27 is pain in your pelvic region. Symphysis pubic dysfunction is a common complaint in the second half of pregnancy and can cause sever discomfort for many women. If your circumstances allow, you should practice some Kegel and pelvic floor exercise to strengthen and stabilise the muscles in the area.
Baby Size at Week 27
Last week, your baby was the same size as a beetroot. Now, your baby is the same size as a cabbage. It has grown a lot in the last few weeks and now weighs close to 1 kg – quite incredible if you consider that it was half this weight only a month ago. It is also 38 centimetres in length, from its crown to the bottom of its feet.
With only 13 weeks left to go, your 27 weeks old fetus can now recognise more voices as its auditory development progresses. He or she can also taste certain things now, and its possible that they will hiccup if you eat enough spicy food to alter the taste of the amniotic fluid. All the movements that you may have felt in the past few weeks are toning your baby’s muscles, and they are becoming increasingly proportioned with each passing day.
Photo by Clint McKoy on Unsplash
Week 27 Pregnant Ultrasound
Although it’s not common to have an ultrasound at 27 weeks pregnant, remarkable progress would be shown if you had one. At this stage, you will be able to see the baby inhaling and exhaling, and you’ll be able to hear and see the baby’s heartbeat.
FAQs
Your baby is likely developing if they are consistently gaining weight and have a healthy appetite. There may be cause for concern, though, if your child isn’t responding to sound, appears disinterested in playing, and doesn’t track moving objects with their eyes.
Playing with a variety of toys and introducing them to different styles of music can be beneficial to your child. Be sure to stimulate their senses in new and imaginative ways so that they have the opportunity to process new sensory information.
By the age of 14 to 15 months, most babies are walking independently. From 18 months onwards, your baby may start to say their first few words. This may seem like a distant possibility but, in the grand scheme of things, it’s just around the corner!
Tips for Week 27 of Pregnancy
- Get Plenty of Rest
The third trimester starts next week, and you’ll need to get a sufficient amount of rest to build up your strength in preparation. This may be the last week that you are able to sleep completely comfortably until after the pregnancy, so take advantage of it.
- Eat Wisely
To counter any feelings of bloating that you may be experiencing, try and eat foods which don’t cause flatulence, such as carrots or potatoes. Eat smaller quantities at more frequent intervals and avoid having too much asparagus and beans.
