27 Weeks/6 Months Pregnant

Fetal Development This Week

Baby's Sense of Taste and Sound

Most babies this age, yours included, still like to snuggle in a slightly curled position inside the uterus (thus the term "fetal position"). Even so, beginning at this stage, your baby's length will be measured from top of head to toe — which makes your baby nearly a full 15 inches now. And at just over two pounds, he or she has doubled in weight from four weeks ago.
 
Your baby's auditory development (hearing) is progressing as the network of nerves to the ears matures. And even though the sounds your baby hears are muffled (thanks to the creamy coating of vernix covering those ears), he or she may recognize both yours and your partner's voices.  So this might be a good time to read and even sing to your baby (or rather, your belly) — and a good chance to start boning up on those nursery rhymes and lullabies you'll need to be repeating (and repeating) pretty soon. And while you're at it, here's another way to have some family fun at 27 weeks pregnant: If your partner presses his ear to your belly, he might be able to hear the baby's heartbeat.
 
Your baby's taste buds are very developed now too (with more taste buds than he or she will ever have outside the womb, actually). Need a taste test? If you eat some spicy food (you hot mama, you), your baby will be able to taste the difference in the amniotic fluid (but keep in mind that you'll have different mealtimes, with your baby's coming about two hours after yours). Some babies will even respond to that spicy kick by hiccupping. And although hiccups (which feel like belly spasms to you) may seem like they're disturbing to your baby, he or she isn't stressed at all. It's just one more sensation that babies need to get used to. 



What is happenning now?

You are now 27 weeks pregnant, which is the beginning of week 28.

Your baby is now developing their immune system with natural antibodies passing from your blood stream to them through the placenta. Your baby is now capable of coordinating a suck and swallow action, needed to drink milk after being born. However, this reflex does not fully mature until about 34 to 36 weeks. Your baby may look around and is capable of distinguishing light from dark and tracking movement.

Babies born at 28 weeks (or less) are regarded as extremely premature. However, only 9% of all premature babies are born this early. Babies born around 27 to 28 weeks gestation have about a 75 to 85% chance of survival, if they have access to specialised care and a fully equipped intensive care nursery.

Physical changes

Rib pain. Your uterus eventually starts encroaching on your ribcage, often causing pain and discomfort due to strain on the muscles between the ribs. Sitting more upright and giving your baby a gentle 'push down' with your hand may help take the pressure off.

Leg cramps. Nearly 50% of pregnant women experience leg cramps in their feet, calves or thighs, generally during the last few months of pregnancy. Leg cramps often occur at night, jolting you awake (and perhaps your startled partner), adding to insomnia and tiredness.



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