You’re in the 27th week of your gestation. Welcome to the last phase of your second trimester! That means you’re in the 6th month of your pregnancy. In 3 months, your little one will be in your arm. So, gradually the end is slowly drawing close.
The ultrasound scans, during this time, show that the baby inside you has formed his or her organs. The baby can even listen to your voice from inside. Therefore, you shouldn’t be surprised, if you feel movements inside your belly.
That’s not all! Besides feeling your baby’s movements in the 27th week of pregnancy, this week you will undergo several other changes.
What Happens To Your Baby Inside Your Womb?
In the 27th week, the baby developed a lot inside your womb and the developments include:
The Weight and Height
Your baby weighs around 875g. That is approximately the size of a big leek and the weight of a head of cauliflower. Along with this, from head to heel the baby inside you is around 36.6 cm.
The Auditory Skills
This week, his or her auditory or hearing skills are developing and slowly maturing. He or she may recognise your and your partner’s voices, the sound that reaches him or her is muffled, due to the creamy vernix covering. For you, your partner and the rest of the family members, this may be the right time to read and sing nursery rhymes as well as lullabies to your baby bump. Who knows you might hear your baby kicking or moving from the inside in response.
Opening of The Eyes
By this time, the little one’s eyes slowly respond to the light that shines upon your belly. Yes! He or she will be able to open and close eyes. You will sense the wiggling and fluttering of your baby from the inside.
Baby’s Hiccups
Your little one’s taste buds are developed by now. For instance, if you have anything spicy your little one will be able to get the taste of it from the amniotic fluid. In response, you might feel the foetal hiccups. Well! The hiccups might feel like spasms in your belly.
Practising Breathing
Although the little one inside you, can’t breathe like you, your baby is still busy practising before taking that big breath outside the womb, with the support of the placenta (the placenta nourishes the baby with much-needed oxygen and all-essential nutrients), and the amniotic fluid.
Now that you are aware of the magical changes that occur in the little one inside your womb, learn about the changes that occur in your body this week.
What Happens To Your Body In The 27th Week?
The more you progress with your baby bump, and slowly step into the last phase of your pregnancy, you will be able to notice the signs of changes in your body. Thanks to pregnancy hormones, some changes may be magically beautiful, while some are quite challenging. The changes include:
Extra Hair In The Body
While you might have thick and beautiful hair on your head, you might even have facial hair as well as hair on the rest of your body. Due to the soaring pregnancy hormones, the cycle of hair growth changes. Since more hair follicles stay, during the growth phase, it is called the anagen phase.
Restlessness In The Legs
In the later stage of your pregnancy, this is a “creepy–crawly” sensation in the lower part of your leg. Due to the lack of iron and folate as well as the changes in the pregnancy hormones, you might feel restlessness in the legs. Stay away from caffeine intake and smoking as it might worsen this symptom.
Swelling
Edema or swelling in the feet and ankles is common in the second stage of your pregnancy. The pregnancy hormones can be responsible for pregnancy swelling. The body retains more fluids for it to swell. Moreover, with the baby’s growth, the pressure in the uterus and bladder increases too. This further reduces the blood flow from the legs to the heart.
Weight Gain
Eating right and in balance is the norm this week so that your baby can grow healthy till such that you deliver him or her. In the process, you might gain a little weight. Well! You might need just about 300 calories extra. However, remember, you should not go overweight or underweight.
Besides the above-mentioned changes, you might also experience bleeding gums, itchiness in the belly, dizziness, disturbed sleep as well as nasal congestion.
What Do You Need To Do This Week For a Healthy Pregnancy?
Having said all the above, you might feel your energy levels are high during this week. While you’re struggling to sleep and a little stressed out physically and emotionally, here are a few techniques that you can apply to stay healthy:
- You can eat in balance. Have nutritious food.
- Do some exercise (stretching exercises and Kegels must be helpful).
- Stay hydrated, but stay away from consuming excessive liquid.
- You can even shop for your baby, before his or her arrival.
- Keep your doctor informed of any problems this week.
The 27th week of your pregnancy is a milestone both for you and the little one inside you. There is excitement and nervousness for you and your family. However, this week, remember to include cord blood banking in your birth plan. The benefits of cord blood banking can safeguard you and your family’s healthy future.