Overview of Week 27 of pregnancy
During week 27 of pregnancy:
- Your baby is 14.5 inches long
- You are in trimester two
- 13 more weeks to go
- Baby is showing brain activity
This is the last week of the second trimester. Your baby will spend the next few months gaining fat and muscle. They will also practice important skills for life on the outside, like breathing, sucking, and swallowing. The lungs and brain will also continue to develop.
How many months pregnant is 27 weeks?
During the 27th week, you are roughly 6 months, 1 week pregnant. You are still in trimester two, but this is the last week. Next week marks the beginning of the third and last trimester. Only 3 more months of pregnancy left to go.
How big is baby at 27 weeks pregnant?
Your baby is now around 14.5 inches long, from head to toe. Curled up in your uterus, it is roughly the size of a broccoli head. As for weight, your little one weighs just under 2 pounds by week 27 of pregnancy.
Baby development during week 27 of pregnancy
Ears
The nerve network between the ears and brain is maturing which means that your baby’s auditory development is increasing. Your baby has been able to hear all your bodily noises from inside the uterus for a while now, but now may be able to hear things from outside your body as well. Your voice, as well as your partner’s voice, are probably recognizable now by your little one.
Brain
At 27 weeks pregnant, brain activity is able to be detected by your growing fetus. The network of nerves in the brain is becoming more mature and complex. Neurons and synapses are formed to make this complex network connect throughout the brain.
Pregnancy Week 27 Symptoms
Braxton-Hicks
Braxton-Hick contractions are false labor pains caused by the contraction of the uterus. They are not contractions that indicate that labor is coming; instead, they prepare your body for labor. Unlike labor contractions, these contractions come irregularly and do not increase in length or strength. They can feel uncomfortable and like mild menstrual cramps. You may start to feel Braxton-Hicks at any time in your pregnancy from now on.
Stretch marks
You may have started to notice stretch marks forming on your belly and breasts. These indented, purple, red, or blue lines occur when skin is stretched quickly. It is difficult to avoid stretch marks during pregnancy and they are usually permanent scars. You may not be able to avoid them completely, but you can start to use lotions and oils on your belly and breasts to help reduce the severity of the marks.
Swelling
Swelling in pregnancy is a normal symptom that usually starts in the second trimester and may worsen towards the end of pregnancy. Excess fluids in the body and pressure from your growing uterus can cause water retention in the feet, ankles, and hands. If you notice your fingers starting to swell, you should remove any rings until the swelling goes down. Let your doctor or midwife know if the swelling worsens or if there is a large amount in your face or around your eyes.
Pregnancy brain
You may notice that you seem to forget more things nowadays. You may not remember specific details, dates, or things on your to-do list. Perhaps you may not be able to focus on tasks and your mind seems to wonder. This is a common occurrence in pregnancy. In order to combat this, writing yourself notes and leaving them around your home might be a beneficial idea.
Hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids are swollen veins in your rectum and around your anus. During pregnancy, increased blood flow to the pelvic area, as well as increased pressure from the uterus, causes veins around your rectum to swell.
Pregnancy week 27 tips
Take pictures
Have you taken your weekly baby bump photo yet? These pictures will be a good memory to look back on and it is a fun way to show your belly growing throughout your pregnancy. In fact, if you have been taking pictures since the beginning of your pregnancy, you will probably already see some transformation.
Think about your birth plan
This is a good time to start thinking about your birth plan and deciding on how you want your labor and delivery experience to go. A birth plan is a written plan about what your ideal delivery experience will be like. It includes things like if you want any pain medication, who you would like to be in the delivery room with you, and your wishes for possible induction. Other things you may want to consider are how you plan to feed your baby and if you would like music, candles, or anything else in the birthing room.
Research car seats
If you haven’t already, start researching car seats. You will need a car seat before you take your baby home from the hospital, so you will need to make sure you have your car seat purchased well before your due date. For newborns, you can choose between either an infant seat or a convertible seat; both will need to be rear-facing. Infant car seats can be detached from the base and you will be able to carry your baby around in them. Convertible seats remain in the car; therefore you will need to take your baby out every time you make a stop. Convertible seats, however, can be switched to a forward-facing position, and therefore you will be able to use them for a much longer period of time.
Take an infant CPR class
As a mom-to-be, it is good to be prepared for any scenario. An infant CPR class will train you how to deal with the unfortunate event that your baby has a cardiac or breathing emergency. Even if you never use it (hopefully you won’t), it will give some peace of mind that you will actually know how to respond.
