Welcome to week 27 of your pregnancy! This week, your baby is as big as a lettuce. Here's what else you can expect this week.
Your baby
Your baby is about the size of a head of lettuce now, weighing around 875 grams. Their lungs continue to develop as they practice breathing by inhaling and exhaling amniotic fluid. Your baby's hearing is getting more refined, and they can recognise your voice and other sounds, though their vision is still quite limited. The skin is still smoothing itself out as they accumulate more baby fat.
The eyes are open and the retina, which enables sight, is developing. It is believed your baby may now be dreaming — wouldn’t you love to know about what!
You
Only a hop, skip and a jump until your third trimester kicks off. You're getting there! This week you might be tested for gestational diabetes. At your maternity hospital, they might do what's called a glucose screening, where you drink this sickly sweet concoction and have your blood drawn multiple times. If you fail it, your doctor could diagnose gestational diabetes. Not a huge cause for worry, this can be controlled with diet changes, and if not, medication may become necessary. Either way, you’ll be watched more closely during the duration of your pregnancy because of it.
You might be starting to feel tired again. Bits of your body other than your belly seem to be inflating. Swelling of the hands and feet, known as oedema, is every common. However, tell your midwife or doctor immediately if you have severe or sudden swelling, particularly if it occurs in the morning or in your face.
One of the biggest and probably most important investments you will be making before your baby's arrival is the pram (or travel system, as they're calling them now). And I bet you are baffled by the sheer volume of different makes, models and contraptions available.
Should you go for something small and handy or something sturdier and more suited to long walks around the countryside and muddy park? Do you want a three-wheeler? How hard are the different models to fold and get into the boot of the car? There are just so many things to consider when shopping.
More: 20 Important Questions To Ask When Buying A Buggy
Anything else?
Headaches can often be common around this time, often due to hormone fluctuations or stress. But you can also get headaches if you’re hungry or dehydrated, so continue taking care of yourself and baby by eating at least every few hours and keeping a glass of water by your side for frequent sipping. Also... Is it getting tricky to remember stuff? Yep? You might be suffering with *technical term* Pregnancy Brain, which may be a physiological symptom of hormone fluctuations, but it also might be because, well, you’ve got quite a bit on your mind.
More: 5 Beauty Ingredients You Should Stay Away From When You Are Pregnant
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