The
second trimester of your pregnancy is closing and your baby is starting to look
more like, well, a baby. By now your child is roughly fourteen inches long (if
fully measured from head to little toes) and weighs about two pounds. In order
for your baby to show his full strength you’ll notice a lot of activity in your
tummy. Kicking and turning at all hours is normal, even if it’s not always
noticeable. Many mothers claim that they don’t feel anything going on or only
feel kicks a few times a day; this can be cause for concern, but most likely
it’s not a dire emergency. Babies at twenty-seven weeks have developed sleeping
patterns, so he might just be taking a nap. If it’s been even longer than a
simple afternoon snooze there’s still little room to worry, placenta often
blocks kicks (especially if anteriorly set) and keeps you oblivious to any
acrobatics.
Feeling
your baby get some early exercise isn’t the only great milestone of the
twenty-seventh week! He’s now taking on the well-dubbed ‘fetal position’, brain
tissue is rapidly developing, his eyes are opening and closing, and the common
knack for thumb-sucking has potential to start. While the lungs are still very
immature, he’s progressed to using the amniotic fluid for oxygen. However, most
exciting for future moms is the fact that your baby can recognize your voice!
Sounds may be rather muffled in your child’s ears depending on where the
placenta is located, but who can resist talking to their baby? If you and your
partner are lucky enough there’s a chance that the infant’s heartbeat can be
heard through your tummy!
In
regards to your baby, this stage of pregnancy and development can be
extraordinary and beautiful, but in regards to yourself...not so much. Symptoms
associated with pregnancy are in full swing, and as always, vary from woman to
woman. Common ailments are fatigue, cramps (in the legs, mostly at night),
nausea, heartburn, back pain, trouble sleeping, and swelling of the
extremities. Edema (the aforementioned swelling) is due to fluid build up and
is normal, but still annoying. ManyWeeksPregnant
advises to remove your rings before swollen fingers make it impossible.
Elevating, massaging, and exercising the troubled limbs, and reducing salt
intake, can help keep the cankles at bay.
Uncomfortable
effects of pregnancy are sure to be felt until the day you give birth, but any
severe pains or abnormalities need to be handled immediately. If you notice
your abdomen to be aching or feeling especially tender, have excessive vomiting
and/or nausea, chills or fevers, period-like cramps, vaginal discharge even
slightly tinted with blood, or experience any abdominal trauma then contact
your physician. It’s easy to jump to conclusions and expect the worst if these
issues come up, but panicking won’t do your baby any good either. On the
opposite end, trusting your body and heightened maternal instincts is vital to
being a mother. Even a minor suspicion that something is amiss is worth your
attention, and if you feel it’s severe enough then it’s worth medical attention
as well.
