27 Weeks Pregnant

When you’re 27 weeks pregnant, your baby is somewhere between 35 and 38 centimetres long and weighs approximately 900 grams. At this stage, you may notice your breasts are changing as the areola grows bigger, and you may also have lucid dreams and mood swings. Your baby’s eyelids may open and she’ll be able to detect lights and shadows. She will also start growing more quickly over the next few weeks. Just like a newborn, your baby will be lulled to sleep by a rocking motion she’ll feel by your movements as you go about your day.

27 Weeks Pregnant: Your Baby’s Development

During 27th week of pregnancy, your baby may develop in the following ways:

  • Open-eyed. After being fused shut for more than four months, your baby’s eyelids can now open. Along with the visual part of her brain being active and most eye structures complete, this means that your baby can now see lights and shadows around her.

  • Rock-a-bye baby. Your baby can already be lulled to sleep by rocking from your movements. Your daily activities, such as running errands, can feel like rocking to your baby; thanks to the cushion of the amniotic fluid, all she’ll feel is gentle swaying.

  • Growth spurt. At 27 weeks pregnant, your baby will gain approximately half a kilogram over the next month, but she still has 13 more weeks to go till she’s ready for the outside world. Though she is growing quickly, her brain and lungs are still immature. The lung cells have only just begun to make surfactant around this week.

27 Weeks Pregnant - Fetus Development

27 Weeks Pregnant: Your Symptoms

When you get to 27 weeks of being pregnant, the symptoms you may experience around this week include:

  • Right on target. Your breasts keep changing throughout your pregnancy, and maybe even beyond. You may have found that the areola, the dark part of the breast surrounding the nipple, got darker in the first trimester. Now, the dark pigmented skin may extend and cover up to half of the breast. This is nature’s way of visually directing your baby towards her feed. It’s a temporary change that will probably disappear by your baby’s first birthday.

  • Lucid dreaming. You might find that you have an extremely vivid nightlife once you fall asleep. These dramatic dreams may be due to the extra hormones that are coursing through your body. These could also be your mind’s way of dealing with the range of thoughts and emotions you’re experiencing.

  • Mood swings. Mood swings may not be anything new to you but they’re still hard to cope with. Around your 27th week of pregnancy, chances are these won’t occur as regularly as in your first trimester, but don’t be surprised if you feel sudden changes in your mood, especially during this period. Mood swings are normal, so just give yourself some self care when they strike. Don’t be afraid to ask your partner from some help when you’re feeling delicate. Know how you can cope up with mood swings during pregnancy by simple exercises & avoiding overextending of work or home commitments.

Congratulations, now that you’re at your 27 weeks of pregnancy, you’ve made it in your last week of your second trimester. If you’re curious about how many months pregnant you are, you’re approximately in the sixth month of pregnancy. That’s quite the milestone.

FAQ at 27 Weeks

Should I have more ultrasounds?

If you have a low-risk pregnancy, you may have four or five scans during the course of your pregnancy. After 27 weeks of pregnancy, your doctor may give you a growth scan to make sure your baby is doing well, and perhaps even give you another ultrasound between 36 and 40 weeks. In some cases, you may need further scans if you’re over 35 years old, you’re carrying twins or multiples, or if you have any medical conditions that require further monitoring. While it may be tempting to see as much of your baby as possible, bear in mind this is a medical procedure, so using an ultrasound to create photos or a video keepsake of your baby is not recommended.

Should I have a 3D or 4D ultrasound?

The routine ultrasound you’ve probably had up till now is a 2D ultrasound, but sometimes your doctor may recommend a 3D or 4D ultrasound, which will show more detail, either as a three-dimensional image of your baby, or in a short video. These ultrasounds are not usually used for routine prenatal exams, but if needed, your doctor will arrange for these to be done for healthcare reasons, such as to get a closer look at the baby’s development. Your doctor will tell you if you need a more detailed ultrasound and when.

27 Weeks Pregnant: Your Checklist

  • Think about whether you'd like to hire a doula, a trained labor support professional. Have a look at how to find a perfect doula to help & support you during pregnancy labor.

  • Expect more dramatic or vivid dreams, which may be due to the extra hormones

  • Plan who could help out during those first weeks at home with your newborn. . Get week-by-week expert tips on pregnancy to keep track of your baby’s development & to ensure well-being of both you & your baby during entire nine months journey!

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