Medically reviewed by Rachel Fitz-Desorgher, Parenting Consultant and former Midwife
At 27 weeks pregnant you're about to reach a significant milestone - next week, at 28 weeks pregnant, you'll reach your third trimester! That means your baby has done some serious growing and developing over the past few weeks. So for this article we've spoken to Rachel Fitz-Desorgher to discover what your baby's doing this week, what to expect from your body, any pregnancy symptoms you might have at 27 weeks and how to look after yourself.
What's 27 weeks pregnant in months?
At 27 weeks pregnant, you're in month six of your pregnancy - only three months left to go! This means you're in the last week of your second trimester, and are entering the third trimester.
How big is my baby at 27 weeks?
At 27 weeks pregnant your baby weighs around 2lbs which is almost double the weight they were four weeks ago. They're around 14 and a half inches long, making them about the same size as a head of cauliflower or broccoli.
What’s my baby doing at 27 weeks pregnant?
Brain development
Your baby’s brain is really active these days, as more brain tissue is developing. They're an active foetus, sleeping and waking up regularly, opening and closing their eyes and sucking their fingers too.
Movement
If you’re feeling any small rhythmic movements that feel like belly spasms, don’t be alarmed: they're just baby hiccups. Don’t fret, as these movements are usually short-lived and don’t harm your baby at all.
Your baby is as snuggly as ever too, most babies this age still like to assume the cosy curled position inside the uterus, also know as the foetal position.
They can hear better
In other exciting news, your baby’s auditory development will be better than ever as the network of nerves to the ears matures, and they may now recognise both yours and your partner’s voices, though they'll be muffled. So go ahead and sing or talk to your baby at 27 weeks, it's all good preparation for them being soothed by your voice after birth.
Eye development
Your baby’s eyes will also be developing. The irises – the coloured part of the eye – will have started to develop pigment by now. Many babies are born with blue eyes because they’re still making melanin - this will continue to develop once they're out of the womb and exposed to daylight. Often the eye colour changes during infancy, going from blue to green, hazel or brown. It’s likely that if you’re brown-eyed your baby will be too. But you’ll know for sure by the time your baby is around two years old.
Common symptoms at 27 weeks pregnant
Itchy belly
Itching in pregnancy is common, but you might find your bump beginning to itch a little bit more. We can become more sensitive in pregnancy and Rachel Fitz-Desorgher recommends avoiding fabric softener and using unperformed laundry detergent when you're pregnant. When your bump is growing, the stretching skin and stretch marks can cause itching.
However, Rachel also notes that itchy skin can be a sign of Cholestasis especially on the palms and feet. If you have itching, tell your midwife so she can do tests if necessary to exclude Cholestasis.
Swelling
Commonly affecting the feet, ankles and hands, swelling is a common symptom in pregnancy. However, the NHS suggests that if the swelling seems to be excessive or is accompanied by a severe headache or other symptoms, check with your doctor as it could be a sign of pre-eclampsia.
There are various things you can do to help reduce swollen feet in pregnancy.
Backache
Your growing bump can put pressure on your back, causing back pain. If you haven't already bought one, a pregnancy pillow can help to relieve backache when you're asleep, or relaxing on the sofa. Rachel suggests contacting a pregnancy physiotherapist if you're suffering, and mentioning it to your midwife so they can help too.
Cramp or Restless legs
You might also be suffering from restless legs or pregnancy leg cramps. These usually start in the second trimester and may be worse in the evening. A frustrating symptom, your leg (particularly your calf) muscle may spasm. They're most likely to occur when you’ve been sitting or lying still for a while. Try drinking plenty of water, gentle exercise such as walking or yoga, and introducing more magnesium and potassium to your diet. Rachel also recommends kneeling so there's pressure on the front of your shins to soothe and settle the spasms.
Bleeding gums
Make sure you visit your dentist throughout your pregnancy, as bleeding gums is a common side effect of hormone changes in your pregnancy. Remember that dental care is free in pregnancy and for a year afterwards.
Constipation and piles
Irregular bowel movements and sluggish digestion are uncomfortable and a nuisance, but it’s perfectly common in pregnancy. Constipation and piles are common as you come to the end of your second trimester.
Heartburn
A mix of hormone changes, your expanding womb pressing on your stomach and relaxing of muscles in the oesophagus can let acid move back out of the stomach. There are ways you can treat pregnancy heartburn, and also do to help prevent it.
Headaches
More common in the first trimester, if you start to experience headaches in your pregnancy after 20 weeks, it's important to contact your midwife or GP, particularly if you get a bad, persistent headache. Rachel Fitz-Desorgher suggests taking a couple of paracetamol and if the pain hasn't reduced after an hour, call your midwife or healthcare provider. Rachel also notes that they can be cause by dehydration and skipping meals so make sure you're looking after yourself.
Stretch marks
Common in pregnancy, stretch marks can appear at any point. They can appear as pink, brown, purple or red streaky lines and they can also be raised and itchy. Try a stretch mark oil to help soothe them, though Rachel notes that you'll have to wait for time to reduce them.
Cystitis
If you're feeling uncomfortable when you go to the toilet, it could be a sign of cystitis, a urinary tract infection, which is a common problem during pregnancy due to your growing uterus and your hormones softening the connective tissue of the urethra. Drink plenty of water and if you think you have the symptoms of cystitis, get checked by your midwife as soon as possible.
Nausea and unusual food cravings
Most women will experience food aversions or cravings during their pregnancy, but you might notice more unusual food cravings. You might also find nausea starts to come back too.
What’s my body doing at 27 weeks pregnant?
Your bump at 27 weeks pregnant
You’ve probably noticed that you’re starting to gain some baby weight and may be feeling uncomfortable and bloated. This is due to the pregnancy hormone, progesterone, and because your stomach is being squeezed by your baby.
If you experience constipation then make sure you’re eating plenty of high-fibre foods. Plenty of water and lots of fresh fruit and vegetables will also help with this and bloating.
The chances are you've felt baby's movement at 27 weeks - in fact, the NHS recommends talking to your midwife if you've had no movement by 24 weeks. As the NHS says, there's no set number of times you should feel your baby moving through the day - they'll have their own pattern which you'll start to recognise. If you feel them moving less than usual, call your midwife or maternity unit so they can check your baby's movements and heartbeat.
Your breasts
Rachel notes that your breasts are likely to have increased in size so make sure you're still wearing the right bra size for you now and get measured if you're not sure. You don't have to do anything to prepare them for breastfeeding.
Looking after yourself at 27 weeks pregnant
Eat smaller meals
You might find yourself getting fuller quicker with regular meals, so help your changing tummy and go for smaller, more regular meals that are easier to digest. Try half a sliced avocado on wholemeal bread, summer fruits and natural yoghurt topped with chopped nuts or a ham and salad pitta bread. And remember that it's still important to avoid certain foods when you're pregnant.
Try pregnancy yoga
To help with cramps, try some pregnancy yoga stretches such as straightening out your leg and flexing your ankle and toes. Going for a quick walk can sometimes help, too.
Pelvic floor exercises
You're probably a little sick of hearing this, but keep toning up your pelvic floor muscles with some simple pelvic floor exercises is really important before birth and even after.
Snack before bed
To try and prevent nocturnal cramps from happening by tucking into snacks containing calcium and magnesium, such as a glass of milk and a banana. A magnesium spray might also be a good idea.
Other things to consider at 27 weeks pregnant
Flying at 27 weeks pregnant
This is likely to be the last week you'd be able to fly without a letter from your doctor according to the NHS. Bear in mind there are some travel vaccinations you won't be able to have, and if you are flying, make sure you walk around and stay hydrated as long-distance travel (longer than 4 hours) carries a small risk of blood clots ). There are plenty of things you can do to make flying when pregnant safer and more comfortable. For instance, you could consider buying a pair of compression stockings to help reduce leg swelling.
About the Expert
Rachel Fitz-Desorgher
Rachel Fitz-D is an active birth teacher, parenting consultant and author of Baby Skin To Skin, with over 30 years working as a midwife and as a parenting consultant. Based in Berkshire, near London, she has appeared on numerous radio programmes, talking about various issues from infant feeding to smacking to humanist parenting. She co-created Henley Birthcare, a unique freelance midwifery and doula service offering bespoke care.
Samantha Ball is a Product & Lifestyle Writer for Mother&Baby and freelanced for the website for two years before joining the team full time. She's a mum of two and loves browsing for the best products and cute outfits.