Week Twenty-Seven Pregnancy

You Are

Congratulations! Congratulations, you have officially entered your third trimester. Your body is exerting itself to accommodate your rapidly growing baby at this stage of your pregnancy. At times, the enlarging uterus can cause fatigue, back pain and difficulty breathing. You can suffer from increased heartburn and indigestion; eating smaller meals and sitting up after meals may help.

It may be a bit harder for you to sleep well, as discomfort and increased urge to urinate may disturb your sleep. Using a pregnancy pillow can make you feel more comfortable when sleeping. Swelling of the feet and hands is normal – stay well hydrated and support your legs to help with it.

It is a good time to start thinking about your options for birth preparedness and taking prenatal classes.

Your Baby

Your baby has now reached a length of about 14.5 inches and weighs approximately 2 pounds, which is as big as a head of cauliflower. Your baby’s brain is growing fast and they are beginning to play around with blinking and eye movements.

Although the lungs are developing, they are not yet fully prepared. If your baby was born at this stage, competent medical help can save their life.

As your baby gets more active, you may feel stronger and clearer kicks. Your baby is beginning to develop a sleep-wake rhythm, which you can see in their movement changes.