Your Pregnancy at Week 27

Welcome to the last week of your second trimester as you enter the final stages of your pregnancy! Your baby is growing rapidly, and you may have noticed that your belly has grown significantly. Your baby's skin is no longer transparent, but rather red. The body is covered with vernix to protect the skin, which appears wrinkled.

Eight out of every ten pregnant women have varying degrees of oedema, which becomes more serious in the later stages of pregnancy. You can try sleeping with your feet raised or on your left side.

It is easy to get tired during pregnancy; take a nap during the day if you can and get a good rest at night!

Gaining too much or too little weight during pregnancy increases the risk of complications, and gaining about 11 to 16 kilograms (25 to 35 pounds) throughout pregnancy is normal. How much weight to gain depends on your pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI); consult with your obstetrician or midwife, who will refer you to a dietitian if needed.

Many pregnant women experience leaking problems later in their pregnancy due to hormonal changes causing the pelvic floor muscles to relax, providing less support for the bladder. Women over 35, who have given birth vaginally, or who are overweight, are more likely to experience incontinence during pregnancy. Furthermore, a family history of incontinence and certain chronic medical conditions may increase the incidence of urine leakage during pregnancy.

There may be pain and throbbing in the buttocks and groin, which can be alleviated by wearing a pregnancy support belt.

Oedema during pregnancy is normal and will not have a negative impact on the health of pregnant women and babies. Physiological oedema will heal without medication after delivery, so pregnant women do not need to worry too much.