You are now 27 weeks pregnant, which is the beginning of week 28. Your unborn baby is about 37cm long from head to toe (14.8 inches) and weighs about 1,100 grams (2lb 7 oz).
Your baby is now developing their immune system with natural antibodies passing from your blood stream to them through the placenta. Your baby is now capable of coordinating a suck and swallow action, needed to drink milk after being born. However, this reflex does not fully mature until about 34 to 36 weeks. Your baby may look around and is capable of distinguishing light from dark and tracking movement.
What is my body doing at 27 weeks?
Look down, and you don't need us to tell you that your belly will have grown by now. Your uterus will now be about the size of a basketball. Whilst it might be growing, your tummy will feel rather squished, so those big plates of pasta you were craving in the early part of your pregnancy may be harder to stomach. You may even feel nauseous after eating a large meal because you’re so full.
You may also notice that your leg – particularly your calf - muscle spasms. Some experts think it’s due to a shortage of nutrients such as calcium and magnesium being available to your body because they’re being used to help grow your baby. Cramps are most likely to occur when you’ve been sitting or lying still for a while, so don’t be surprised if you’re woken up at night by them.
Common symptoms to look out for:
Leg cramps
Nearly 50% of pregnant women experience leg cramps in their feet, calves or thighs, generally during the last few months of pregnancy. Leg cramps often occur at night, jolting you awake (and perhaps your startled partner), adding to insomnia and tiredness.
If you are waking at night and unable to get back to sleep you may wish to try a relaxation visualisation.
Other considerations
Natural therapies and pregnancy
Your baby is now developing their immune system with natural antibodies passing from your blood stream to them through the placenta. Your baby is now capable of coordinating a suck and swallow action, needed to drink milk after being born. However, this reflex does not fully mature until about 34 to 36 weeks. Your baby may look around and is capable of distinguishing light from dark and tracking movement.
What is my body doing at 27 weeks?
Look down, and you don't need us to tell you that your belly will have grown by now. Your uterus will now be about the size of a basketball. Whilst it might be growing, your tummy will feel rather squished, so those big plates of pasta you were craving in the early part of your pregnancy may be harder to stomach. You may even feel nauseous after eating a large meal because you’re so full.
You may also notice that your leg – particularly your calf - muscle spasms. Some experts think it’s due to a shortage of nutrients such as calcium and magnesium being available to your body because they’re being used to help grow your baby. Cramps are most likely to occur when you’ve been sitting or lying still for a while, so don’t be surprised if you’re woken up at night by them.
Common symptoms to look out for:
- Itchy tummy: Thanks to the skin stretching out across your expanding belly, your skin may become dry and itchy. Apply oils and moisturisers to the itchy areas, and if the urge to scratch is overwhelming, soak in an soothing oatmeal bath.
- Swelling: Nearly three quarters of women experience swelling elsewhere in the body (unfortunately, it’s not just the stomach!) due to edema. This happens when fluids build up in your body tissues thanks to an increase in blood flow and pressure on the vein that returns blood from your lower body to the heart. Most commonly affecting the feet, ankles and hands, this lovely side effect usually begins somewhere around this stage of pregnancy. Don’t worry about it and bear in mind that it will disappear once your baby is born - but if the swelling seems to be excessive, check with your doctor, as it could be a sign of preeclampsia.
- Bleeding gums: Ah, another lovely pregnancy side effect! Your gums could be swollen, inflamed and bleeding thanks to those glorious pregnancy hormones. Although it might be tempting to stay away from floss if your gums are bleeding, it’s more important than ever to brush and floss twice a day to keep your mouth in tip-top shape.
Physical changes
Rib pain
Your uterus eventually starts encroaching on your ribcage, often causing pain and discomfort due to strain on the muscles between the ribs. Sitting more upright and giving your baby a gentle 'push down' with your hand may help take the pressure off.
Your uterus eventually starts encroaching on your ribcage, often causing pain and discomfort due to strain on the muscles between the ribs. Sitting more upright and giving your baby a gentle 'push down' with your hand may help take the pressure off.
Leg cramps
Nearly 50% of pregnant women experience leg cramps in their feet, calves or thighs, generally during the last few months of pregnancy. Leg cramps often occur at night, jolting you awake (and perhaps your startled partner), adding to insomnia and tiredness.
If you are waking at night and unable to get back to sleep you may wish to try a relaxation visualisation.
Other considerations
When to stop work or study
If you are currently working and/or studying, you may be making plans for when you will stop. Depending on your circumstances, this may be several weeks before your baby is due, or perhaps as close to the due date as possible. If you are feeling well and coping (or even thriving) with your commitments and the pregnancy is progressing normally, when you stop will essentially come down to your own personal choice. However, bear in mind that sometimes health concerns (for yourself or your baby) could mean finishing earlier than anticipated. Also, your planned '2 weeks off' may turn out to be a couple of days if your baby decides to come early! Try to be flexible and factor in these unforeseen circumstances.
If you are currently working and/or studying, you may be making plans for when you will stop. Depending on your circumstances, this may be several weeks before your baby is due, or perhaps as close to the due date as possible. If you are feeling well and coping (or even thriving) with your commitments and the pregnancy is progressing normally, when you stop will essentially come down to your own personal choice. However, bear in mind that sometimes health concerns (for yourself or your baby) could mean finishing earlier than anticipated. Also, your planned '2 weeks off' may turn out to be a couple of days if your baby decides to come early! Try to be flexible and factor in these unforeseen circumstances.
Natural therapies and pregnancy
Hypnosis and Hypnobirthing
Hypnosis uses repeated instructions to bring the person into a state of deep relaxation. Once in a relaxed state, the person's subconscious is believed to be free to explore psychological or emotional problems, being open to suggestions from the therapist. The hypnotised state aims to address emotional and behavioural problems, as well as bodily functions and addictions to restore them to a normalised balance.
Hypnosis is used for pain control and is becoming a popular method for pain relief in labour. Hypnobirthing and similar techniques use positive thinking, relaxation, visualisation, breathing and auto-suggestion learned during pregnancy to help attain a 'pain-free labour'.
Hypnosis uses repeated instructions to bring the person into a state of deep relaxation. Once in a relaxed state, the person's subconscious is believed to be free to explore psychological or emotional problems, being open to suggestions from the therapist. The hypnotised state aims to address emotional and behavioural problems, as well as bodily functions and addictions to restore them to a normalised balance.
Hypnosis is used for pain control and is becoming a popular method for pain relief in labour. Hypnobirthing and similar techniques use positive thinking, relaxation, visualisation, breathing and auto-suggestion learned during pregnancy to help attain a 'pain-free labour'.
What to do this week:
- Eat smaller meals: To help your changing tummy, go for smaller, more regular meals that are easier to digest.Tryhalf a sliced avocado on wholemeal bread, summer fruits and natural yogurt topped with chopped nuts or a ham and salad pitta bread.
- Try pregnancy yoga: To help with cramps, try some pregnancy yoga stretches (straightening out your leg and flexing your ankle and toes is a great way to do this). Going for a quick walk can sometimes help, too. You could also get your partner to massage the muscle. Probably not a good idea at 3am, though!
- Snack before bed: To try and prevent nocturnal cramps from happening, tuck into snacks containing calcium and magnesium, such as a glass of milk and a banana. A magnesium spray might also be a good idea.
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