Pregnant: What happens in 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 still grew very quickly and appeared noticeably larger compared to the body. By now all body proportions match those of a 'full-term' newborn.

The brain develops structure: In the 27th week of pregnancy the surface of the brain changes. The smooth surface now slowly develops its characteristic folds. With this development, the fetus's brain activity also increases.

Doing somersaults: As long as there is enough room in the uterus, your baby uses it completely. It can happen that it kicks the mother's ribs with its feet one day and dances around in the lower abdomen the next. The fetus is by no means ready to assume the correct position for birth and will, until it happens, continue to move and turn a lot.

Lungs continue to mature: The formation of your baby's lungs is almost complete. This increases its chances of survival in the event of preterm birth. However, the fetus in the 27th week of pregnancy still cannot breathe on its own outside the womb. Because what is still missing is sufficient 'Surfactant'. This is a substance that cleans and protects the bronchi and prevents the alveoli from sticking together when breathing. Production will only really ramp up in the coming weeks.

Blood from the bone marrow: From now on, blood is formed directly in the fetus's bone marrow. Thus the bone marrow is already taking on its future function in week 27.

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 scale it brings a proud weight of up to 1000 grams – so a whole kilogram. With 200 grams, the weight gain is now 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 position in your belly, shows more and more of its face to be seen shows. With a bit of luck, you'll also see your baby moving vigorously.

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

The end of the 2nd trimester is in sight in the 27th week of pregnancy. With that the probably most relaxed phase of pregnancy ends for many expectant mothers. While the pregnancy complaints of the first months may indeed be a thing of the past, physical limitations increasingly appear in the last months. Here you get an overview:

Weight gain: Not only does your child gain weight. You will now gain about 400 to 500 grams per week. This is mainly retained fluid. Most women notice this in their legs and fingers.

Swollen hands: The increasing fluid retention causes hands and fingers to swell. It is best to take off your rings now, before you may not be able to remove them later. Some women more often have the sensation 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 sufficient blood circulation. Light massage and gentle touching of the hands can make the annoying tingling disappear. And even after birth, these complaints should disappear 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. It's best to relieve your body and circulation by lying on your left side.

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

Vivid dreams: Perhaps you have already noticed in recent weeks that your dreams are changing. Pregnancy hormones cause you to dream restlessly from week 27 onwards. 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 sleep.

Important examinations 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 point it out to you again.

In the test for gestational diabetes, your gynecologist will take your blood sugar level under close scrutiny, to determine whether your metabolism has slowed and whether 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 in keeping the blood sugar level in check. If it remains unchanged over a longer period, the doctor will administer insulin.

Your rhesus factor was already tested during the first ultrasound. This is repeated in week 24 to 27. If this examination shows that you are rhesus-negative (Rh-negative) and your child is rhesus-positive, this means that you have antibodies against your baby's blood have formed. In the first pregnancy this is not problematic, because the number of antibodies usually remains relatively low. As a result, there is the possibility of being treated preventively 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 register for a childbirth preparation course. What awaits you there? The The offerings for preparation courses are diverse. In a classic course you will usually discuss the following topics and questions:

The last third of pregnancy: What to expect in a normal pregnancy course and how you can support the natural process until birth?
The birth: What happens during a birth without complications? How does the baby move through the pelvis and what else is involved in a birth? What are possible complications? Among other things, you will learn breathing techniques that you can use during childbirth.
After birth: There are often special courses in which you can learn about handling your newborn and its care. But even during childbirth preparation, basic questions are often clarified.
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 ideas with other participants.

Who runs the course?

In general, 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 it covers 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 this case, there are usually one or two appointments at which your partner may accompany you and learn how he or she can best support you. Midwives also often offer special couples' or compressed weekend courses.

For the 28th week of pregnancy