27 weeks pregnant

This week marks the final week of the second trimester. Your Child’s brain is now growing faster than any other part of the body. 

You may experience some joint pain as your pregnancy progresses.

Your Child’s development
The brain keeps developing very fast, preparing to take full control of Your Child’s body after birth. The little one weighs about 900g and measures 38 cm in height — the size of a head of cauliflower. 

Nervous system:  Your Child’s nervous system is continuing to mature, but the chances of having mental deficiency caused by a premature birth remain above 10%. However, by next week, the risk will be much lower. 

Fat: Your Child is also gaining fat, which will help the skin look smoother. The little baby cheeks are also slowly filling up. 

The taste buds: Your Child’s taste buds are very developed now. This means that Your Child is able to differentiate the taste of amniotic fluid. If you eat some spicy food, your baby will be able to taste the difference in the amniotic fluid. Some babies will even respond to that spicy taste by hiccupping.

Hiccuping: Hiccups are part of every child’s natural development; it is linked to the brain learning how to monitor the breathing muscles. So, if Your Child is hiccuping in your belly, it’s a good thing.

Your development
As Your Child grows and your belly gets bigger, you might be feeling physically exhausted. Your back and pelvis could be feeling achy because of the pregnancy hormone relaxin, which weakens your joints and leads to a condition known as symphysis pubis dysfunction (SPD). 

Symphysis pubis dysfunction: Although SPD may not harm Your Child, it may make life difficult for you. Many available treatment options can help you manage the condition. So, be sure to consult your doctor if you experience pubic, pelvic, perineal, or lower back pain that seems like SPD.

What you can do now
With the due date getting nearer, it’s better to start preparing your home for Your Child. You can prepare a baby bed close to yours, clean your air conditioner, and hang curtains with yellow or other friendly colors.

Tdap vaccine: The Tdap vaccine, normally given between weeks 27-36 of your pregnancy, protects your baby after birth before Your Child is old enough to be vaccinated against whooping cough at 2 months of age. Also known as pertussis, whooping cough is a serious respiratory infection that can be life-threatening for newborns. By receiving the vaccination, your body produces antibodies to fight the disease. These antibodies will then be passed to Your Child through the placenta.