27-Weeks-Pregnant

Baby baby, it's getting a little cramped in there. Your baby is really pushing the boundaries of its accommodation and your uterus needs to expand a little more everyday just to fit it all in. This will inevitably mean you ll feel some ligament and muscle discomfort when you are 27 weeks pregnant. Your back, pelvis, sides of your belly and even your legs could be feeling aching and sore because of the effects your pregnancy hormones are having on all your connective tissues.

Gaining excess weight will not help your comfort levels. An average total weight gain over the 40 weeks of gestation is around 10-12 kilograms. The baby, its placenta and the amniotic fluid, your increased blood volume, extra circulating fluid, your breasts and a little extra fat are all responsible for adding up the kilograms.

Ouch! what's that?

If this is your first pregnancy, every new twinge or symptom will probably have you running for the reference books. Is this normal, should I be feeling like this, will the baby be alright? But, if you've done it all before and have the benefit of experience behind you, you're probably a little less concerned. Some level of worry is normal in pregnancy because it serves to put a stop to potentially risky behaviours. However, if you are feeling overwhelmed by anxiety and it is affecting your enjoyment of everyday life, it is time to speak with someone.

Your physical changes this week

• As your tummy is expanding, so is your rib cage. It needs to so that your uterus has more room to lift upwards and outwards. You may find yourself getting breathless around now because your lungs don t have their usual space to expand down into. You could need to take the occasional deep breath. Talking on the phone, climbing a steep flight of stairs or walking quickly can all mean your breathing rate increases. Watch your posture and avoid slouching, give your lungs as much room as they need to do their work of oxygenating you and your baby.
• Your tummy could be getting itchy this week, with a sensation of ants crawling over it. This is probably due to the collagen fibres in the middle layer of your skin stretching. Rubbing some moisturising cream into your belly after showering may help. Avoid water temperature extremes and drying soaps. Aim to wear only cotton or natural fibres against your skin and avoid overheating.
• Sleep may escape you when you are 27 weeks pregnant. You could find yourself going to bed very tired but just unable to drift off when you want to. Your brain could be flooded with thoughts and you problem solve until the wee small hours. Talking of wee, you're probably finding you still need to get up and go to the toilet a couple of times a night and that's not helping your insomnia. There's no point lying in bed tossing and turning for hours. If this happens, get up for a while. Watch some television, have a glass of milk, take a shower or read a book. Small comfort measures like clean sheets, fresh air, a fan blowing across you and a pile of supportive pillows can all be helpful.
• Even if you're longing for an afternoon lie down, if you're having trouble sleeping at night then try to resist the temptation. Instead, go to bed early and use your body's tired signals to their maximum advantage. Try having a regular bed-time routine and avoid using your computer just before going to bed. You want to deactivate the stimulus in your environment, not switch it on.
• You could be feeling irritated by Carpal Tunnel Syndrome this week. Fluid retention causes the carpal tunnel in your wrist to swell, placing pressure on the nerves which supply each hand. Physiotherapy can be very effective, so can a wrist splint which may need to be organised by your physiotherapist. If you are bothered by these symptoms, try sleeping with the affected hand elevated on a pillow. This will help drain your hand of excess fluid.