27 Weeks Pregnant – What to expect

You’re 27 weeks pregnant and the third trimester is so close now!

How many months is 27 weeks pregnant?

You are nearly in the 7th month of pregnancy, which means you’re almost on the home stretch.

27 Weeks Pregnant – Everything You Need To Know

This is also the last week of your second trimester.

Congratulations! You’re doing an amazing job growing this new baby of yours.

Before the third trimester starts, it’s a good idea to take stock of what needs to be done before baby arrives.

You might need to finish researching which car seat will best suit your needs. It’s good idea to check safety standards where you live and check the seat will fit properly in your car.

You have probably already booked birth education classes but if not, definitely make sure you do this as soon as possible.

It’s best to have completed birth classes by the time you’re around 35 weeks. This is to make sure you have finished classes before baby arrives – especially if you give birth earlier than expected.

Start to think about a birth plan too.

Your birth plan is a list of preferences and expectations about how you would like your birth to unfold.

You can talk to your doctor or midwife about your birth plan during an antenatal appointment.

A birth plan can also help your partner to understand his role as birth support person.

If you’re not sure whether a birth plan is right for you, check out Birth Plan – Why Write One? Free Birth Plan Template.

26 Weeks Pregnant: Relationships

With only three months to go, it wouldn’t hurt to talk with your partner about responsibilities after baby is born.

You probably realise your relationship will be affected once you become parents.

This is normal, and having open and honest discussions about expectations can help.

If you have other children, the impact a new sibling will have on them is also something to consider.

As adults, we can easily assume a new baby will be adored by older siblings.

In reality, is there is usually some jealousy and resentment, especially if your other child is still quite young.

Role play and stories can help your child prepare for the adjustment of becoming the oldest.

10 Things To Do With Your Child Before The New Baby Arrives is packed full of ways to prepare your child for the arrival of the new baby. 

27 Weeks Pregnant: Your Body

At week 27 of pregnancy, you are probably experiencing some wind now.

It’s caused by a loss of muscle control around your rectum, due to the pressure the growing baby is creating.

There’s really nothing you can do, other than avoid foods that cause gas.

You can find out what to avoid and what will give you some relief in our article Gas During Pregnancy.

You might also be experiencing more frequent urination.

As your baby grows, your bladder is under more pressure.

You could even have some bladder leakage when you sneeze. Be sure you visit the toilet frequently to avoid this.

Restless leg syndrome often becomes a problem around 27 weeks pregnant.

If your legs feel tired and jittery, especially at bedtime, this is probably the cause. It can be very uncomfortable.

It can also make it more difficult to get to sleep, and you’re probably already having enough trouble with that!

There are several ways to relieve restless legs; you can read about them here.

You could also be experiencing some dizziness and feeling faint.

This is due to the constriction of your blood vessels.

The pressure might be causing some oxygen deprivation to your brain.

If you feel dizzy or faint, take a seat immediately. You don’t want to have a fall.

Nasal congestion is also common at this stage of pregnancy.

It happens due to pregnancy hormones, which cause swelling in the membranes of your nose.

Drink plenty of fluids, sleep with your head elevated, and try saline drops in your nose to get some relief.

27 Weeks Pregnant Belly

It’s getting pretty snug in there as your baby grows.

Every day your uterus has to expand just a little more as baby gets bigger.

Gaining too much weight now is definitely not going to help you feel more comfortable.

Keep making healthy food choices and don’t skip your regular exercise.

You’ll feel better for it and it will help you to have a more positive pregnancy and birth experience.

27 Weeks Pregnant: Your Baby

Your baby is starting to show brain activity now.

This will continue to develop in complexity over the next few weeks.

Baby’s lungs are also developing rapidly, although this process won’t be complete until the very end of your pregnancy.

If baby is born now, the lungs would be able to function with medical assistance.

Right now, your baby continues to breathe amniotic fluid, as practice for those first breaths of air after birth.

This increases the chances you will feel your baby’s hiccups.

It’s kind of cute and adds an extra dimension to the bumps and thumps you’re already feeling.

Your baby is also gaining more all-important fat under the skin and around the other organs.

Braxton Hicks contractions are happening more frequently now, and you might sometimes wonder whether baby will make an appearance a little too soon.

Keep in mind, though, Braxton Hicks contractions don’t continue for hours on end.

They don’t become more rapid in succession, and they’re generally not painful.

If you experience contractions with these characteristics, you might be in early labour.

Call your doctor immediately if you suspect it.

As babies grow bigger, averages become more inaccurate.

Genetics take over and babies develop at their own unique rate.

Your baby at 27 weeks can weigh from 600 grams to 1.3 kg, is 35-40 cm long, and is about the size of a head of lettuce.