27 Weeks Pregnant - What's Going On? Development And Movement Of The Fetus

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-07 17:49

27 weeks pregnant

Week 27 of pregnancy is the third week of the seventh obstetric month of pregnancy, each of which is exactly 28 days. There are still 13 weeks ahead, during which the baby will continue to grow and develop, preparing for an independent life outside of mother's belly.

Content:

• Fetal development at 27 weeks gestation
• Sensations
• What happens to the uterus at 27 weeks gestation
• What happens to the belly at 27 weeks gestation
• Causes of pain at 27 weeks of gestation
• Intimate life at 27 weeks of gestation
• Discharge at 27 weeks of gestation: norm and pathology
• Analyzes and studies at 27 weeks of gestation
• Ultrasound at 27 weeks of gestation
• The principles of good nutrition
• Weight at 27 weeks gestation
• Answers to popular questions

Fetal development at 27 weeks gestation

The baby's weight is already approaching one kilogram. On average, the fetus at the 27th week of its development weighs about 900 g, and its height is 36 cm. Starting from last week and the rest of its intrauterine life, the child will continue to actively grow. This is a natural process, which is explained by the production of growth hormone in his body - somatotropin, which became possible due to the development of the anterior pituitary gland.

The endocrine glands come into action. The pancreas produces insulin, and the thyroid gland produces thyroxine, calcitonin, and triiodothyronine. These hormones are necessary for the normal course of metabolic processes and for the development of the child's body as a whole.

The respiratory system continues to improve. Alveoli and bronchial passages are actively developing in the lungs. Starting this week, a surfactant appears in them, which will allow them not to stick together. The lungs are not yet ready to breathe spontaneously, however, if the baby is born at 27 weeks, he will have a fairly high chance of survival. Naturally, it will not be possible to do without specialized equipment and without the help of doctors.

The baby's immunity is now in a stage of active development, in order to provide him with the necessary protection after the birth of a child.

Every day the baby becomes more and more like a newborn. His eyes begin to open, his ears protrude, his fingertips acquire soft nails, eyelashes and eyebrows become thicker, hair grows on his head. The skin is still covered with wrinkles, because the body of the crumbs is constantly in contact with water. Under the dermis, fat is actively accumulating, which will provide adequate thermoregulation of the baby after birth. The skin itself is no longer as red as before; little by little, it begins to brighten.

The child gives a reaction to sound and light, smiles and frowns, fingering the umbilical cord with his fingers. If the baby is born at 27 weeks, he will already be able to distinguish not only tastes, but also smells.

The fetus no longer spends all the time in a dream, it periodically wakes up, but still for a very short period of time. During the waking period, the baby is actively tumbling, swimming, kicking, stretching. This allows him to gain muscle strength, so the woman clearly feels when the child inside her has woken up. Often, watching her belly, the expectant mother notices his rhythmic twitching - this baby hiccups. Most often, hiccups do not last long and do not cause any discomfort in the child.

Sensations

As mentioned above, a woman may experience some discomfort due to the fact that the enlarged belly presses on the intestines and stomach, as well as on the diaphragm. This causes digestive problems in the form of belching, heartburn, and constipation. Sometimes there is a feeling of numbness in the upper and lower extremities.

To minimize discomfort, you need to follow simple guidelines:

• Spend time outdoors;
• Eat properly;
• Do not sit or stand for a long time;
• Do not lift heavy objects;
• Ventilate the room before bed.

These tips can also help relieve insomnia and headaches, and improve your mood.

Another leading sensation of a woman during pregnancy is fetal movements. From them you can understand what the baby is doing, as well as judge his health. It largely depends on the emotions that the woman herself experiences, so by all means you need to maintain a positive attitude, avoid stressful and conflict situations and rejoice that a new life is maturing inside.

What happens to the uterus at 27 weeks gestation

Without fail, during an ultrasound scan, the doctor examines the condition of the uterus. The thickness and height of its bottom and other important parameters are estimated. Normally, the uterus rises above the navel by 5-7 cm, and above the pubis by 26-28 cm.

Since the uterus is already quite large and heavy, it can cause some discomfort in a woman, for example, in choosing a sleeping position. If the wrong body position was taken, then there is a risk of pinching the vena cava. This, in turn, threatens with increased dizziness and even loss of consciousness. Therefore, doctors strongly recommend that women at such a late stage of pregnancy refuse to rest on their backs, and when the expectant mother is sitting, their legs should not be crossed.

What happens to the belly at 27 weeks gestation

The size of the belly has increased, so now it protrudes noticeably from under the clothes. It is possible that it is at the 27th week of pregnancy that a woman will first encounter heartburn, belching, bloating, constipation and increased urination. All these "troubles" are understandable, since the grown uterus presses on the internal organs both from above and below.

Observing the movements of the crumbs inside the abdomen, it is often possible to understand where he is now turning and what he is doing - sleeping or awake. The child's activity increases precisely at the time when the woman goes to bed to rest. To calm your baby, you can try singing a lullaby to him, lightly stroking your belly. It's good if the father is involved in this occupation.

Special attention should be paid to the skin of the abdomen, because now it is very tense and can peel off. Also, at this time, the risk of the formation of stretch marks increases, which primarily appear on the stomach. To get rid of discomfort and reduce the risk of stretch marks, it is necessary to moisturize the skin. For this purpose, you can purchase special products or use vegetable oils.

The abdomen should not hurt or become "stone". If this happens, you need to see a doctor.

Causes of pain at 27 weeks of gestation

At the 27th week of pregnancy, a woman may periodically experience pain associated with her position.

Even if they are not strong and do not cause pronounced discomfort, you should understand the reasons for their occurrence:

• Abdominal pain that occurs after a change in body position is most often explained by a sprain in the ligaments that are preparing for the upcoming birth.
• Abdominal pains similar to indigestion are attributed to training contractions. As a rule, such sensations are rather short-lived and are not accompanied by other symptoms.
• Pain in the spinal column, lower back and lower extremities is explained by their tension due to the increased load on the body. To reduce discomfort, you need to wear comfortable orthopedic shoes, rest more, massage your feet, and in the evenings you can do foot baths.
• Cramping pains in the legs indicate a calcium deficiency in the body.
• Pain in the pubis and pelvic bones is due to their slow separation, which helps to expand the birth canal and facilitate the passage of the child through them.

However, there are also pains that cannot be tolerated in any case. So, in the event of severe painful sensations in the abdominal area, which accompany the appearance of discharge with blood, it is necessary to call an ambulance.

Pain that occurs during urination requires a visit to the doctor. If they are accompanied by an increase in body temperature and a burning sensation in the genital tract, then you need to consult a specialist. These symptoms indicate a urinary tract infection.

Pain in the anal area and the appearance of blood on the underwear indicate an exacerbation of hemorrhoids. This condition requires treatment, which must be prescribed by a doctor.

Intimate life at 27 weeks of gestation

Intimate life will be prohibited if a woman has a threat of premature birth. The fact is that during orgasm, the uterus contracts, and this can be dangerous.

In the case when the pregnancy has a normal course, intimate life at week 27 can continue. However, caution will not be superfluous now. For example, it is necessary to abandon those positions that involve excessive pressure on the abdomen. Do not practice deep penetration or jerky movements. Otherwise, there are practically no restrictions.

Doctors unanimously recommend that women refuse to change their sexual partner during pregnancy. This will protect yourself and your child from various infectious diseases that can seriously harm your health. Even in the case when a woman is confident in her new chosen one, the microflora of her vagina during pregnancy may "not accept him", reacting with the development of inflammation.

Discharge at 27 weeks of gestation: norm and pathology

The most dangerous secretions are those with blood impurities. They can signal the onset of preterm labor, placental abruption, placenta previa. Therefore, if bleeding from the genital tract is detected, you must go to an ambulance.

Normally, the discharge should be light or with a slight milky tint. They may give off a sour smell, but they should not contain any impurities or inclusions.

Discharges with the smell of fish, beer, yeast, etc. are considered a deviation from the norm. Concern should be shown when the discharge changes its natural color to yellow, green, earthy or brown. Most often, this indicates the addition of an infection that requires treatment.

Another frequent companion of a woman during pregnancy is candidiasis. It will be indicated by such signs as: the appearance of cheesy clots in the discharge, itching and burning in the genital area. It is imperative to get rid of thrush before childbirth, since the risk of infection of the child during his passage through the genital tract is extremely high.

It is imperative to consult a doctor if amniotic fluid is found. Sometimes they leave in abundant flows, which indicates the onset of premature labor, and sometimes in small portions, which indicates a thinning of the placenta. Both of these situations pose a threat to fetal health and require hospitalization for the woman.

Sometimes at 27 weeks, there is a discharge from the mammary glands. This is the first colostrum that can leave marks on a bra. To prevent the growth of bacteria, the breast should be washed with warm water and gently patted with a towel.

Analyzes and studies at 27 weeks of gestation

Visits to the doctor should be regular and should not be violated. Now a woman will need to see her gynecologist more often - 2 times a month. At the reception, the doctor will measure the abdominal circumference and blood pressure, determine the height of the fundus of the uterus, listen to the baby's heartbeat and record the woman's weight.

It will also be necessary to donate blood for a general and clinical analysis, blood for determining the level of glucose. The urine is examined for protein. Sometimes cholesterol levels are elevated at 27 weeks. This is normal, since it is directly involved in hormonal changes in the woman's body (cholesterol is needed by the placenta to produce progesterone).

Starting from the 27th week of pregnancy, a woman has an increased risk of developing late toxicosis. Its signs are: increased blood pressure, protein in the urine, pronounced edema. That is why examinations with the doctor should be regular, and the delivery of tests planned.

If a woman has a negative Rh factor, then she will need to donate blood for Rh conflict.

Ultrasound at 27 weeks of gestation

There is no need to undergo an ultrasound scan at 27 weeks of gestation, unless there are special indications for this. Doctors can prescribe a study if they suspect a frozen pregnancy, if there are any threats to the fetus, for example, if a woman has suffered a serious illness, etc.

During an ultrasound scan, the doctor assesses the growth and development of the child, examines his internal organs and systems, and excludes violations in their functioning. The heart of the baby normally makes about 140 beats per minute, and the number of respiratory movements is equal to 40. Of course, the baby is not breathing yet, because he is in the amniotic fluid. However, the movement of the chest allows you to train the muscles and prepare them for life outside the mother's womb.

In parallel, the doctor assesses the quantity and quality of amniotic fluid, the condition and degree of maturity of the placenta. If the sex of the child was not known to the woman before, then during the ultrasound, the doctor will inform her of the sex of the baby.

The principles of good nutrition

The basic principles of nutrition at 27 weeks of gestation remain the same:

• You need to take food in small portions.
• Salt intake should be kept to a minimum.
• Products must be of high quality and fresh.
• It is necessary to abandon the abundant inclusion of confectionery, pastries, sweets in the menu.
• The menu should be balanced in composition.
• It is best to eat cereal for breakfast; during lunch, the emphasis should be on protein dishes, and dinner should be light and must contain foods rich in calcium (cottage cheese, kefir, yogurt, etc.).
• Every day you need to eat fresh vegetables and fruits.
• From drinks, preference should be given to plain water. It is also allowed to drink compotes, fruit drinks, fresh juices.

Weight at 27 weeks gestation

The average weight gain by 27 weeks of gestation should be 7.5-8 kg. Slight deviations in these indicators are allowed. If the weight gained is much higher, then you must adhere to a dietary diet. However, only a doctor can recommend it.

Answers to popular questions

• Is liquid discharge that appears at 27 weeks of gestation dangerous? Transparent, not abundant discharge, which may have a light milky tint, is considered normal. Changing the nature of the discharge requires contacting a specialist.
• At the 27th week of pregnancy, periodic aching abdominal pains appear - is it not dangerous? Mild abdominal pains are physiological. They arise due to the fact that the enlarged uterus compresses the nerve plexuses. However, if the pain does not subside, it becomes permanent, then an appeal to the doctor should be prompt.
• My stomach pulls for several minutes a day. What is it? Thus, training contractions appear, which is quite normal for the 27th week of pregnancy.
• Can I have sex for 27 weeks? If there are no contraindications, then you can.
• Are babies born at 27 weeks pregnant survive? Babies born at this time survive in 80% of cases - these are statistics. However, the help of doctors and the connection of the child to special equipment will be required.
• I was diagnosed with breech presentation. Can it still change? Maybe there is still enough room for the baby to turn over in the uterus.
• At the 27th week of pregnancy, my stomach sometimes turns to stone. What is it? Thus, the increased tone of the uterus appears. This condition can be caused by various reasons, therefore, a doctor's consultation is required. It is impossible to ignore the increased tone of the uterus.

Heartburn, thrush and a sore tooth - how to deal with it in the third trimester? Your baby looks almost the same as a newborn, but is still very thin. He has yet to gain weight and learn to keep warm. Until all organs are fully developed and the child is unable to breathe. But in children born at this time, with adequate medical care, the chances of survival are quite high:

The author of the article: Lapikova Valentina Vladimirovna | Gynecologist, reproductologist

Education: Diploma in Obstetrics and Gynecology received at the Russian State Medical University of the Federal Agency for Healthcare and Social Development (2010). In 2013 completed postgraduate studies at N. N. N. I. Pirogova.