27 weeks pregnant: the end of your second trimester

Congratulations! At 27 weeks pregnant, you’re in the final week of your second trimester and about to enter your final few months of pregnancy.

You might be starting to wonder what to expect this week and beyond, and have questions about what Braxton Hicks contractions feel like and when to stop sleeping on your back.

Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! Take a look at what’s happening for you and your baby at 27 weeks.

At 27 weeks pregnant, you’re 6-7 months along in your pregnancy. This is the last week of your second trimester, so you’re on the home stretch now! In just a couple of months, it will finally be time to meet your baby.

Your baby is now about the size of a head of cauliflower, measuring around 36.6cm from their head to their heel, and weighing roughly 1kg ^1,2 . Up to now, they’ve looked a little wrinkly, like a prune. But now they’re filling out with layers of fat, giving them the cute baby look they’ll have once they arrive¹.

At 27 weeks pregnant, your baby’s brain is growing quickly and their senses are developing well. Their senses of smell and taste are coming along nicely, and they’re starting to respond to sights and sounds.

They can turn their head to look towards any bright lights they can make out, and you might feel them jump at loud noises or move around happily when they hear your voice³.

You’ve probably noticed by now that your baby has a fairly regular sleep schedule. You’re likely to feel lots of kicks and movements  inside your 27-weeks-pregnant bump when they’re awake and then feel them settle down when they go to sleep⁴.

Babies don’t stick to anyone else’s sleep schedule, even in the womb, and you might find that your baby is wide awake and moving around while you’re trying to get some shut-eye!

You’re probably used to a lot of the most common pregnancy symptoms by now. Here are the ones that most often make an appearance at 27 weeks pregnant.

Your baby and bump are getting bigger by the day and could well be putting more pressure on your lower back, causing backache. It can help to focus on your posture – try to avoid arching your back when you’re sitting or standing⁵.

You can also try⁵:

• Wearing supportive, comfortable shoes
• Tucking your hands under your bump while you’re standing up
• Getting as much rest as you can
• Gentle stretches

In the later stages of your pregnancy, your body can hold onto more water than usual. This can cause swelling, especially in your legs and ankles⁶.

Swelling can be uncomfortable, but as long as it doesn’t come on suddenly, it’s not usually harmful to you or your baby. You can try easing your symptoms by wearing comfy shoes and resting with your feet up as much as you can⁶.

Your pregnancy hormones and growing baby can make you more likely to get heartburn and indigestion later on in your pregnancy, with symptoms like burping, acid reflux, and feeling bloated⁷.

It can help to eat smaller meals more often, not eat in the few hours before you go to bed, and avoid spicy, fatty, or rich foods⁷.

In the last few months of pregnancy, your body might start to prepare for labour by having practice or ‘Braxton Hicks’ contractions⁸.

It can be tricky to tell the difference between Braxton Hicks contractions and real contractions that mean you’re going into labour, especially if this is your first pregnancy.

Here are some of the ways you can spot the difference⁸:

It’s always better to stay on the safe side, so if you’re still not sure, get in touch with your midwife.

Research shows that in your third trimester (from 28 weeks onwards), sleeping on your back can double the risk of stillbirth. So now is a good time to start going to sleep on your side if you don’t already⁹.

You can sleep on either your left or right side, and use pillows to support your bump and knees if that’s more comfortable. Don’t worry if you wake up on your back, just turn back onto your side to go back to sleep⁹.

You should be able to feel your baby’s movements  every day from now, right up until you give birth. There’s no set number of movements you should feel every day, but it’s a good idea to notice what’s normal for your baby¹⁰.

If your baby’s movements stop or slow down, it’s important to call your midwife or maternity straight away so they can check their movements and heartbeat. Don’t wait until the next day, even if it’s the middle of the night¹⁰.

If you’re at risk of developing gestational diabetes, you’ll have a screening test when you’re 24-28 weeks pregnant. This involves taking two blood tests to see how your body reacts to glucose¹¹. If you think you should have had a screening but haven’t heard anything, talk to your midwife.

Your birth plan is a written record of the things you’d like to happen during and after labour, including things like where you want to give birth and what kind of pain relief you’d like¹².

You don’t have to have a birth plan, but some parents-to-be find that it helps put them at ease to have their wishes written down. If you do want to create a birth plan, this is something your midwife can help you with.

If you’re feeling organised, you might want to start thinking about packing a hospital bag ready for when you go into labour. You’ll want to pack things for you, like nighties and nursing bras as well as things for your baby, like onesies and wipes.

Get our ultimate guide to packing your hospital bag here.