27 Weeks Pregnant - Fetal Size, Abdomen, Pain

2024 Author: Rachel Wainwright | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 07:39

27 weeks pregnant

Since fertilization took place, 25 weeks have passed, and the seventh lunar month of pregnancy is in progress. The fetus is actively growing and developing, termination of pregnancy at 27 weeks is no longer a miscarriage, but a premature birth, and the fetus has a lot of chances of survival if its gestational age reaches 27 weeks.

Changes in the fetus

An ultrasound scan at the 27th week of pregnancy allows you to assess how the future baby is growing and developing. The size of the fetus at 27 weeks of gestation in length normally reaches 36 cm, its average weight is about 900 g.

Acceleration of growth in this period is largely due to the active production of growth hormone by the pituitary gland of the fetus - somatotropin. In addition, the activity of other endocrine glands, which are responsible for growth, for example, the thyroid gland, is also high. With the activation of its own endocrine system, the fetus at the 27th week of pregnancy becomes less and less dependent on the hormonal status of the mother, which is manifested, among other things, by an improvement in the woman's well-being at this time.

In general, all the organs and systems of the unborn child are formed, they are maturing and improving. The most significant changes occur in the respiratory system - it improves every week more and more. At the 27th week of pregnancy, pulmonary alveoli are actively formed - respiratory sacs, which form the basis of lung tissue. Surfactant continues to accumulate - a substance that helps the lungs to expand after the first breath and no longer collapse. Its content in the lung tissue at 27 weeks of gestation may already be sufficient for spontaneous breathing of a newborn baby.

The fetal immune system is improving, without the normal functioning of which it is almost impossible for a baby to fight infections. According to statistics, it is infections that become one of the main reasons for the death of premature babies in the first days after birth.

The appearance and size of the fetus at the 27th week of pregnancy is increasingly approaching the newborn, it becomes prettier. The future baby has formed eyes and their appendages (eyelashes, eyebrows, eyelids), ears, nose and mouth. By ultrasound at the 27th week of pregnancy, you can find out the sex of the fetus - its external genitals are already formed.

Changes in a woman's body at 27 weeks of gestation

The abdomen at 27 weeks of gestation has increased in size due to the growth of the uterus, its bottom is determined 27 cm above the bosom, or 6-7 cm above the level of the navel. It is no longer easy for a woman to sleep in a supine position, since the uterus in the abdomen at 27 weeks gestation can squeeze the inferior vena cava, which makes it difficult for blood to return from the legs to the heart. For a more comfortable sleep, it is recommended to go to bed on the left side. At this time, heartburn, nausea, flatulence, shortness of breath and sleep disturbances can also cause discomfort.

The woman feels her baby quite well, determines which direction he is turned, where his head is, and where his legs are. The fruit is actively moving, its movements are felt as jolts or light tangential movements, depending on the applied force. Rapid and strong movements of the unborn baby can cause pain at 27 weeks of pregnancy in the lower abdomen.

Dangerous for a woman are the sensations when the stomach seems to be stiff. The expectant mother should be alerted by bloody discharge at 27 weeks of pregnancy from the vagina. This is a dangerous sign even if there is no pain at 27 weeks of gestation. The cause of the appearance of blood can be placental abruption, its low attachment to the wall of the uterus, or the beginning of premature labor.

Normally, the discharge at 27 weeks of gestation is transparent or whitish, odorless. In the case of pathology, their consistency changes to curdled, flaky bubbling. If the discharge is too abundant, leakage of amniotic fluid can be suspected.

Examination at 27 weeks of gestation

Observation of a doctor in the second half of pregnancy becomes even more important. A woman visits a gynecologist at least once every 2 weeks, more often if necessary. There is no need for a planned ultrasound at 27 weeks of pregnancy, this examination is prescribed in case of some trouble or if it was not possible to carry out it at an earlier date. Urine analysis before visiting a doctor is still relevant - it allows you to exclude gestosis or the addition of an infection.

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