27 Weeks Pregnant

When you are 27 weeks pregnant, you are through your second trimester and may want to consider signing up for childbirth classes at your hospital or community center. At week 27 of your pregnancy, your baby can suck its thumb to calm itself. At this time, the eyelids begin to open and muscle coordination continues to develop. At 27 weeks pregnant, your uterus is moving closer to your rib cage, making it difficult for your lungs to fully expand. While this may cause you to experience some shortness of breath, your baby is still getting the oxygen he or she needs.

 

27 Weeks Pregnant: An Overview

You're now 27 weeks pregnant -- this marks the beginning of your
 third trimester! Congratulations, you are two-thirds of the way there!
 
If your baby was born in week 27 of pregnancy, he or she would have a 90 percent chance of surviving. He or she would also look similar to a baby born at 40 weeks, albeit a lot smaller and thinner. This period of pregnancy from 27 weeks onward is known as within the period of fetal viability.
 
Keep in mind, though, that there is still a lot of development that will occur during the next 13 weeks. Also, a premature baby born during this week of pregnancy will be in for a long hospital stay. A baby born this premature will probably not be able to breathe on his or her own, cannot maintain a consistent body temperature, and cannot protect him or herself against infections.
 
When you're 27 weeks pregnant, your baby measures about 9.6 inches crown to rump, and weighs a little more than 2 pounds.
 
(27 Weeks Pregnant Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD