Three more months to go, and you are almost there, mum-to-be! Are you excited to see your baby's face soon? Here's what you need to learn about their development as you begin the third trimester at 27 weeks pregnant.
27 Weeks Pregnant in Months
27 weeks is how many months?
At 27 weeks pregnant, you're solidly into your third trimester, which spans from weeks 28 to 40. In terms of months, this translates to approximately 6 months and 3 weeks into your pregnancy. Keep in mind that pregnancy months don't precisely align with calendar months, as a full-term pregnancy typically lasts around 9 months or 40 weeks.
Pregnancy Week 27: Baby
This is the time when it gets really exciting because you can feel your baby move around and squirm. Some people say that they can even hear their baby's heartbeat with a stethoscope, but that's only true for about half of pregnant women.
Baby’s Growth
This week your baby is now about the size of a cauliflower, measuring between 36.7 cm - 37.5 cm and weighing 894g.
You may be feeling these changes as your uterus expands to accommodate your growing baby.
Your baby's organs are continuing to develop, with the kidneys taking on their final shape and location. The lungs are still immature at this point and will not begin to mature until later in pregnancy.
Your baby's skeleton can now be seen on an ultrasound scan; however, your doctor may have difficulty detecting it before week 30 (although you should still have a full-term pregnancy).
The skin has become thinner, allowing the blood vessels to be more visible. The baby's bones are hardening and mineralizing, which means its body is now covered in calcium deposits and other minerals.
Fat cells are also starting to form around the heart, liver and kidneys to help cushion them against injury. The liver is beginning to produce bile, which will be stored in the gallbladder until needed.
Baby's Development
In this week-by-week pregnancy guide, you'll learn that:
- Your baby's auditory ability is getting stronger by the day, especially at week 27 of pregnancy.
- Another cool fact about your baby this week - he can already open and close his eyes. In fact, if you try to shine a flashlight on your tummy, you may feel some flutters and wiggles.
- He will start his cycle of hiccups and respond to the food you consume. If you try spicy food, you might feel a belly spasm, but it’s just a hiccup.
- He has also just discovered thumbsucking. It’s not as bad as it sounds because it actually helps strengthen his jaws and cheeks.
Baby’s Hearing
When you first get pregnant, you might be surprised at how hyper-aware you are of sounds around you: the refrigerator humming, the dog barking in the next yard over. But as your body adjusts to carrying a foetus and all its needs, those sounds become background noise—and that's when it starts to get interesting for your baby's developing ears.
We already know that babies start to hear before they're born—in fact, they can hear as early as 16 weeks into pregnancy! But what we don't yet know is exactly how well they can hear at this point in their development.
Researchers claim that while the fetus can't yet distinguish between different types of sounds (like speech versus music), their ears are able to pick up on higher frequencies than ours can once we're out of the womb (which makes sense because our ears are designed for listening). This means that every baby will be born with different abilities when it comes to hearing and recognising specific sounds.
Baby’s Teeth
During the 27th week of pregnancy, your baby's teeth are formed inside their mouth. The teeth will start to break through the gums around age 2, but they're already formed at this point.
Baby’s Movement
The baby has been moving around and kicking for weeks now, but this week you might feel those movements even more often! You may even feel the hiccups. Your baby is getting bigger and stronger, and that means they will be able to move around more easily.
What position is the baby in at 27 weeks?
At 27 weeks of pregnancy, your baby is likely in a head-down position, also known as the cephalic presentation. This position is the most common and favourable for a vaginal birth.
However, it's important to note that some babies may still be in a breech or transverse position at this stage. Your baby's position can change throughout the third trimester, so don't be concerned if they haven't settled into the head-down position just yet.
As you approach your due date, your healthcare provider will monitor your baby's position and discuss options if necessary.
27 Weeks Pregnant: Your Body
What are the signs of a healthy pregnancy at 27 weeks?
Congrats! If you've made it this far, you've already survived the hardest part—and now you can take a deep breath and relax a little.
At 27 weeks pregnant, you might be feeling bigger than ever—and maybe even considering maternity clothes. You may also notice that your baby's movements have become more pronounced. If you've been feeling kicks or flutters since the beginning of your pregnancy, then you're probably not surprised by this development—but it's still exciting!
Symptoms
- You will feel a tight grip on your uterus for as long as a couple of minutes. It’s not painful, but definitely discomforting. These are called Braxton Hicks contractions. They prepare the uterus for actual contractions, so relax.
- You will see mild swelling in your ankle, feet, and hands. This is due to a condition called oedema. It usually occurs when fluid accumulates in your body due to increased blood flow and uterine pressure on your vena cava.
- The increased blood flow may also put pressure on your veins, resulting in varicose veins and haemorrhoids.
- You are still experiencing inflammation, swelling or bleeding in the gums. Although it starts in the second trimester, this problem may continue until after delivery.
- Your legs may become jittery and tingle a bit--this is called restless leg syndrome. It could be due to iron deficiency.
- Pregnancy hormones are causing the muscles in the pelvic floor to relax, causing you to pee more frequently and even experience incontinence during the latter part of pregnancy.
Maternal Weight Gain
You are now 27 weeks pregnant. You may notice that you have gained weight during this time. If you haven't been gaining enough weight, talk to your doctor about what you can do to make sure that happens.
The average amount of weight women gain when they're pregnant varies widely depending on how much they weigh before getting pregnant, whether they are carrying twins or triplets, and other factors such as whether they have given birth before.
The recommended minimum weight gain is 25 to 35 pounds for women who are having one baby, 30 to 40 pounds for those having twins and 35 to 45 pounds if they're expecting triplets or more.
Nutrition
At 27 weeks pregnant, you should already know what you should be eating and drinking during pregnancy, and what you shouldn't. But if not, we've got your back.
You may have heard that you can't eat certain foods while pregnant, but the truth is, there are plenty of things you CAN eat that will help boost your health and your baby's development.
For example, studies show that women who consume plenty of iron-rich foods during pregnancy reduce their risk of having a low birth weight baby by two-thirds! Iron-rich foods include red meat, dark green leafy vegetables, dried fruits and beans.
In addition to iron, other essential nutrients for your baby's growth include calcium and folic acid (aka vitamin B9). Folic acid helps prevent neural tube defects in the developing foetus. Calcium helps build strong bones for mum and baby! You can find these nutrients in dairy products like milk, cheese or yoghurt; or in leafy green veggies like spinach or kale.
If you're having trouble getting enough calories or nutrients because your food cravings have gone crazy lately, do not worry! There are plenty of ways to get around this problem while still eating healthy food like whole grains.
Pregnancy Care: Your Checklist at 27 Weeks Pregnant
- To strengthen the gums, practice good dental care. Visit the doctor if the bleeding persists, and floss every time you eat.
- If you are experiencing restless leg syndrome, try some gentle exercises to relieve yourself of body aches.
- If unwanted facial hair or body hair is bothering you, check out pregnancy-safe hair removal methods.
- Make sure you maintain a healthy pregnancy weight all throughout pregnancy.
- Start doing your research into placenta encapsulation if you are interested.
- Consult the doctor for information on breast milk. Now is when you will experience hormonal growth and therefore breast milk formation.
- By this time, your gynaecologist will have a better grasp of your pregnancy health. So you can ask her about the chances of delivering the baby vaginally or if you are more likely to have a caesarean birth.
Your next week: 28 weeks pregnant
Your previous week: 26 weeks pregnant
Updates from Pheona Ilagan
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