What To Expect At Week 27

This week, your baby weighs almost 2 pounds (about the size of a head of cauliflower) and is about 14 1/2 inches long with their extended. The baby sleeps and wakes at regular intervals, opening and closing their eyes, and perhaps even sucking their fingers. With more brain tissue developing, your baby’s brain is very active now. While their lungs are still immature, they would be able to work with medical help in case of premature deliveries. Baby hiccups are common from now on. Each episode usually lasts only a few moments so just relax and enjoy the tickle. Approximately one-half of the women have back pain at some time during their pregnancy, usually in the lower part of the spine. It can be made worse by sitting for long periods of time, standing or lifting, and it tends to be worse at the end of the day. Leg cramps are more common at night but can also happen during the day. When a cramp strikes, stretching the calf muscle should give you some relief. Straighten your leg and then gently flex your toes back toward your shin. You may also notice a spike in your cravings. No one is really sure what causes cravings for certain foods during pregnancy, and the extent to which hormonal changes, the influence of cultural beliefs, or emotional issues are contributing to this phenomenon. However, as long as your cravings don’t include non-food products (one of the symptoms of a disorder called pica, which affects some pregnant women), go on your ‘gut feeling’, within reasonable limits, when it comes to satisfying your cravings.