About You

Week 27 is the first week of the 3rd trimester - you're in the home stretch, the third trimester. It may be the furthest thing from your mind right now, but it's not too soon to think about family planning. You'll should make some decisions about postpartum birth control before your baby arrives, as it is important to give your uterus time to return to normal before having another baby (and 2 babies born 10 months apart is hard to manage). If you're considering a tubal ligation, be aware that you may be required to sign a consent form at least 30 days before hand. If you'd like the option of having the surgery during your postpartum hospital stay, don't wait too much longer to discuss it with your health provider (you can still change your mind later).

This week you may start noticing some new bodily symptoms of pregnancy. Along with an aching back, for example, you may find that your leg muscles cramp up now and then. This is because they are carrying extra weight, and your expanding uterus is putting pressure on the veins that return blood from your legs to your heart as well as on the nerves leading from your trunk to your legs. Unfortunately, the cramps may get worse as your pregnancy progresses and are more common at night but can also happen during the day. When a cramp strikes, stretch the calf muscle by pointing your toes than flexing them towards your knee, go for a walk or give the muscle a massage – these things should give you some relief.

About Baby

Measuring your baby from top to toe with legs extended, it is about 36.8 centimetres, and weighs a little more than 907 grams – about the size of a head of cauliflower. Your baby is now developing sleep patterns (which you may notice as regular intervals of sleep and kicking – although this may not coincide with your sleep patterns!), with the eyes opening and closing and finger sucking.

Baby’s brain is now very active. The lungs are immature (yet capable of functioning with a lot of medical intervention if born now) and tiny rhythmic movements felt may be due a case of baby hiccups.

This week’s activities for the pregnancy to-do list

✔Research cord blood banking

✔Find a birth doula, if desired (a non-medical person who assists a woman before, during, or after childbirth, as well as her partner). This could be a mother or close friend.

✔Sign up for a breastfeeding class. If you are a first-time mum and planning to breastfeed your baby, it's a good idea to take a breastfeeding class. Ask your health care provider or childbirth education teacher where you can take one, or locate breastfeeding resources in your area

Note that this article contains general information only and is not intended to replace advice from a qualified health professional.

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