Pregnant: What happens in pregnancy week 27

Your baby's development in the 27th week of pregnancy

The proportions are right: At the beginning of your pregnancy, your baby's head grew very quickly and appeared significantly larger compared to the body. By now all body proportions correspond to those of a "fully developed" newborn.

The brain is getting structure: In the 27th week of pregnancy, the surface of the brain changes. The smooth surface is now slowly getting its typical grooves. This development also increases the fetal brain activity.

Tumbling around: As long as there is enough space in the uterus, your baby makes full use of it. It can happen that it kicks the mother's ribs with its feet one day and is dancing around in the lower abdomen the next day. The fetus is by no means ready to assume the correct birth position and will, until it happens, continue to move and turn a lot.

Lungs continue to mature: The development of your baby's lungs is almost complete. This increases its chances of survival in the event of a premature birth. Nevertheless, the fetus in the 27th week of pregnancy still cannot breathe on its own outside the womb. Because what is still missing so far is enough "surfactant". This is a substance that cleans and protects the bronchi and prevents the alveoli from sticking together when breathing. Production will only be ramped up properly in the coming weeks.

Blood from the bone marrow: From now on, blood is formed directly in the fetus's bone marrow. This means the bone marrow already begins to take on its future function in week 27 of pregnancy.

What can be seen on the ultrasound image?

In the 27th week of pregnancy your baby now measures about 2 cm more than in the previous week. Its length is now approximately 36 cm and corresponds roughly to that of a cauliflower. On the scales it puts on a proud weight of up to 1000 grams – so a whole kilogram. With 200 grams the weight gain now is twice as high as in the 26th week of pregnancy. On the ultrasound image there is now a real little human to be seen, who depending on the position in your belly reveals more and more of its face to see. With a bit of luck, you can also experience your child's urge to move in full action.

Physical changes – what happens to the mother in week 27 of pregnancy?

The end of the 2nd trimester is in sight in the 27th week of pregnancy. This means the probably most relaxed phase of pregnancy will end for many expectant mothers. If the pregnancy complaints of the first months may be a thing of the past, increasing physical limitations appear in the last months. Here you get an overview:

Weight gain: Not only does your child gain weight. You will also from now on put on around 400 to 500 grams more per week on the scales. This is mainly stored fluid. Most women notice this in their legs and fingers.

Swollen hands: The increasing water retention causes hands and fingers to swell. It's best to take off your rings now before you might not get them off your fingers later. Some women more often have the feeling that their hand is falling asleep – the so-called carpal tunnel syndrome: Too much pressure on the nerve on the inside of the hand prevents adequate blood circulation. Light massaging and gentle touches of the hands make the annoying tingling disappear. And even after birth these complaints should resolve on their own.

Pressure on the vena cava: Especially when lying on their back, many women now notice that the weight of the baby presses on the body's largest vein, the vena cava. This can lead to dizziness and discomfort. The best way to relieve your body and circulation is to lie on your left side.

Increased urge to urinate:In addition to stored fluid, many pregnant women in the 27th week of pregnancy and generally in the following 3rd trimester more frequently feel the need to use the toilet. This is partly due to the heavy weight of your baby and the uterus, which presses on the internal organs, especially the bladder.

Vivid dreams: You may have already noticed in recent weeks that your dreams are changing. Pregnancy hormones from week 27 onward increasingly cause you to have restless dreams. In this way your body processes the pregnancy and possible worries. Regular physical activities such as walks, yoga, or fitness exercises have a positive effect on your sleeping patterns.

Important check-up in the 27th week of pregnancy

If you have in the 24th week of pregnancy not yet had a test for rhesus incompatibility or gestational diabetes done, now is the time at the latest when your doctor will bring it to your attention again.

In the test for gestational diabetes your gynecologist examines your blood sugar level very closely, to determine whether your metabolism is slowing down and whether the sugar in your blood is broken down quickly. If this is the case, he or she will advise you on the measures to be taken: Often sufficient exercise and a balanced nutrition during pregnancy effective to keep the blood sugar level in check. If it remains elevated over a longer period, the doctor will administer insulin.

Your rhesus factor was already tested during the first ultrasound examination. This is done again in weeks 24 to 27. If this examination finds that you are rhesus-negative (Rh-negative) and your child is rhesus-positive, it means that you have formed antibodies against your baby's blood have formed.In the first pregnancy this is usually harmless, as the number of antibodies usually remains relatively low. As a result, there is the possibility of receiving preventive treatment in subsequent pregnancies. However, if it is your second pregnancy with the same scenario, it can become life-threatening for your child. Now you are dependent on medical care.

27th week of pregnancy: the childbirth preparation course

If you are becoming parents for the first time, you will probably have countless questions running through your mind. Many parents therefore sign up for a childbirth preparation course. What can you expect there? The range of preparation course offerings is diverse. In a classic course you will usually discuss the following topics and questions:

The last third of pregnancy: What can you expect in a normal pregnancy course and how can you promote the natural process until birth?
The birth: What happens in an uncomplicated birth? How does the baby slide through the pelvis and what else is part of a birth? What are possible complications? Among other things, you will learn breathing techniques that you can apply during labor.
After the birth: There are often special courses where you can learn about handling and caring for your newborn. But many basic questions are also clarified during childbirth preparation.
Exchange and questions: The courses offer pregnant women plenty of space for their own questions and the chance to talk about fears and feelings. There is also the opportunity to exchange experiences with other participants.

Who runs the course?

As a rule, the preparation courses are led by an experienced midwife. In this case, the health insurance also covers the course fees for the mother. If your partner also participates, it's best to check with their health insurance whether they will cover part of the fees.

Should I attend the childbirth preparation course alone or as a couple?

The offers are primarily aimed at pregnant women and take place once a week In most cases there are one or two sessions when your partner may accompany you and learn how best to support you. Midwives also often offer special couples' or condensed weekend courses.

For the 28th week of pregnancy