27 weeks pregnant: Baby’s development, symptoms and top tips

At 27 weeks your baby is almost 37cm long and weighs about 875g – quickly approaching a kilo!

After a lot of work, your baby’s lungs can now breathe. They are still not fully developed and won’t be until you are full-term, but this is an important step towards life outside the womb.

Your baby is gaining fat each week now, helping them look more like a ‘real’ baby and less like a wrinkled prune.

All the kicks and prods that are keeping you up at night and wearing you out all day are helping your baby’s muscles develop. They are also gaining more control over their body.

Your baby’s sensation of taste is developing, too. If you eat something spicy, they might be able to taste it through the amniotic fluid. See how they react to different foods (usually about 2 hours after you’ve eaten) – did that curry make them hiccup?

Plenty of kicks

Your bump is growing, and you’ll be feeling good – though your baby will be keeping you on your toes, as they’ll be active and moving around at precisely the times you want to get some rest or sleep. They’ll also be finding space harder and harder to come by in the womb when practicing their movements, which you’ll notice when they kick against the abdominal wall.

These kicks can be painful, and you’ll feel it more, of course, if you’re expecting twins. Though the baby does have less room to move as your approach the end of your pregnancy, they will still remain active right up to the point they are born. It’s not true that movements reduce as you reach full term.

Round ligament pain

The round ligaments that support your womb come under a lot of pressure as it increases in size and your baby moves around. Pulling sensations in your abdomen and lower back pain are the most common symptoms you’ll experience as a result of this in week 27. You can ease the discomfort by supporting your bump with your hands when you make sudden movements, or when you roll over or get up out of bed.

Pelvic pain

You might also be experiencing pain in the joints around your pelvis, which can make it painful to do things like getting out of the bath, putting on trousers or shoes, or even just walking. If you’re in a lot of pain, it could be you’re suffering from Pelvic Girdle Pain (PGP). Talk to your midwife. They might recommend physiotherapy to help alleviate your symptoms.

Bigger appetite

You'll now find that you have a bigger appetite and frequently get cravings as your body and your baby demand the extra calories and nutrients they need. When shopping, try to buy healthy snacks that don’tcontain any empty calories. Fruit, nuts, yoghurts and smoothies will all help you get from one meal to the next without breaking out the biscuits. Keeping an eye on your weight is important because gaining too much weight poses a risk to you and the baby – but a little bit of what you fancy every now and then is fine.

Faintness or dizziness

If you’re feeling faint or dizzy, there could be a number of reasons. If your iron levels are low, that can make you feel weak. Talk to your midwife and they will arrange a blood test. In the meantime, up your iron intake by eating iron-rich foods like red meat, lentils, pulses and spinach.

Your midwife can also check your blood pressure – another cause of dizziness – and make recommendations if it’s too low or too high. If you find you feel especially dizzy – or get a ‘head rush’ – when you first get up from sitting or lying down, try taking it slowly. Give yourself time to adjust before you start moving.

Don’t just ignore faintness or dizziness, as it could be a sign that you need help.

Book your antenatal classes

If this is your first baby, it's worth considering an antenatal class. They help you to prepare for the birth, and they also give you an opportunity to meet other pregnant women in your area. You could make a new friend or two, and when your babies are small, it can be a real lifesaver to know some fellow mums who are in the same boat!

You might also like to book onto an infant first aid class, so that you’ll know what to doin the event of an emergency. Various organisations offer these courses, including the Red Cross, St Johns Ambulance, and NCT, so have a look for a class near you.

Visit your hospital

If you are planning to have your baby in hospital, then this is a great time to take a tour of your local hospital's delivery suite and postnatal ward, if you are able. (If you live in a large city, you may even have more than one to choose from!)

Knowing what facilities are available will be very useful if you're writing a birth plan, and you'll also probably feel more relaxed during labour if your surroundings are familiar.

Think about a birth plan

If you like the idea of having a birth plan, now's a good time to get started on it. Your midwife will be able to help you, taking into account things like your medical history, your personal circumstances and the facilities at your local hospital. You may also want to discuss your plan with your partner, friends or family before putting your wishes in writing.

Stuck for ideas? Our handy birth plan template might help!

Once you have a draft you're happy with, it’s a good idea to keep a copy with you and one in your records.

It's also worth remembering that labour can be unpredictable, and even the best-laid plans sometimes need to change. The midwives and doctors will always try to take your birth plan into account, but you may need to keep your expectations flexible if complications arise for you or the baby.

How to combat bloating

Pregnancy really does a number on your digestive tract. First, hormones slow down the process of digestion so that your baby can get all the nutrients they need from the food you eat. Then, your growing uterus starts pushing on your stomach, bowel, bladder and other organs, making everything work slightly less well than it usually does. One of the side effects is a build-up of gas in your system that can leave you feeling very uncomfortable.

Unfortunately, there’s not a lot you can do about it. There is a long list of foods (the FODMAPs) that you could try avoiding, as they are more likely to cause wind. These include things like cauliflower, broccoli and apples – none of which you particularly want to avoid when you’re trying to up your fruit and veg intake.

Another thing to try is eating smaller portions – little and often – so that your body isn’t having to digest so much at once. Make sure you’re sitting up while you’re eating, and not introducing air with your food – either by wolfing it down too quickly, or by sipping carbonated drinks along with it. Peppermint tea can help with digestion, and a nice belly rub will help ease the pain.

Flying

The further along in your pregnancy you are, the more uncomfortable you get and the less airlines want to carry you – just in case you go into labour on the plane! If you’re planning a baby moon abroad, do it sooner rather than later, and make sure your airline doesn’t require additional reassurances (such as a letter from your doctor) before you travel. It’s also important to ensure that your travel insurance covers you for any conditions or events related to your pregnancy.

Kegel exercises

Have you been doing your pelvic floor exercises? The chances are, unless you’ve been experiencing a bit of leakage when you laugh or cough, you won’t have given your pelvic floor much thought at all.

But this hammock-like group of muscles is under a lot of pressure right now and without exercise you might find that you have problems with bladder control immediately post-birth, or in the future.

Locate the muscles you use to stop urinating mid-flow, and practice squeezing and holding for short lengths of time. Make sure you don’t do it while you actually need a wee, as it can be harmful to your bladder. Try to incorporate your pelvic floor exercises into your daily life – for example, every time you browse Instagram you could do a few squeezes.

Prenatal visits

You should have your next midwife appointment next week, where they will take your blood pressure, check your urine, and measure the fundal height (i.e. the size of your uterus – which is now as big as a basketball!). They may also listen to the baby’s heartbeat and ask you about baby’s movements.

If you are at risk of gestational diabetes, your test should be coming up soon, so make sure you have booked an appointment. If you are rhesus negative, you will also be offered your first anti-D treatment.

What should I be doing at 27 weeks pregnant?

At 27 weeks pregnant, you should be taking care of yourself by eating well, taking plenty of rest, and doing what makes you happy.

If that’s planning the nursery, or starting to buy all the baby stuff – great. If you prefer to wait, that’s also fine. There’s no rush. Newborns really need very little.

What are signs of a healthy pregnancy at 27 weeks?

Your baby's movements are the best indicator of their wellbeing, so try and keep track of what they’re up to in there so that you notice if there is a reduction in movement. Of course, it’s also important that you’re feeling well. Don’t overdo it, and report any concerning symptoms to your midwife.

What position is baby in at 27 weeks?

Your baby may already be in a vertical lie position – either head down or bottom down. Don’t worry if they are bottom down, they have plenty of time to move before you give birth. Your midwife may be able to suggest ways for you to sit or lie to encourage your baby to flip, but they probably won’t worry about it yet.

Can I lay on my back while 27 weeks pregnant?

It’s recommended that you sleep on your side from 28 weeks pregnant. If you wake up on your back, don’t worry, just roll back on your side again.

How many months is 27 weeks pregnant?

At 27 weeks pregnant you are in your sixth month of pregnancy.

Got questions? At the HiPPBabyClub, we bring you real-world advice and support from HiPP parents, midwives, nutritionists and more. Join our Baby Club to find out more.