Pregnancy Week By Week

27 Weeks Pregnant: Development, Symptoms and Care

At 27 weeks pregnant, you are nearing the next stage of pregnancy and may be thinking more about birth and life with your baby. A useful focus now is checking outstanding results, making everyday life more comfortable and knowing how to get help between appointments.

Your baby’s development at 27 weeks

Your baby can open their eyes, and the brain is continuing to develop in shape and structure. More growth and weight gain lie ahead. These changes are ongoing; they do not mean the nervous system or other organs are finished developing.

Body changes and symptoms

Heartburn, back discomfort and interrupted sleep can become tiring. Smaller meals and avoiding lying down straight after eating may help reflux. Talk with your clinician about persistent pain or poor sleep, and check before using medicines or supplements.

Ask for advice about new or persistent itching, particularly on your hands or feet or when there is no rash. Sudden swelling, blurred vision, severe headache or pain under your ribs needs urgent medical assessment, not a wait until the next scheduled visit.

Movements: do not wait on a concern

There is no single normal number of movements. Pay attention to your baby’s own pattern and strength as you become familiar with them. Reduced, weaker or concerningly changed movement needs immediate contact with your maternity team.

Do not wait until tomorrow, count for a set time before calling, or use a home Doppler for reassurance. If you cannot reach the team, go to a hospital maternity or emergency unit. If you have never felt movement, contact them immediately.

Prepare for side-sleeping from 28 weeks

From 28 weeks, start every sleep on your side, including daytime naps. Either side is suitable. If you wake on your back, simply turn onto your side before going back to sleep. You do not need to stay awake trying to control every movement in bed.

A pillow between your knees or supporting your bump may help with comfort. If pain or breathing difficulty makes sleep hard, seek advice rather than trying to manage it through positioning alone.

Appointments and feeding questions

If the glucose tolerance test or its results are still outstanding, contact your care team. The usual testing window is 24 to 28 weeks for people without diabetes already diagnosed in the pregnancy. Ask what to do if timing or tolerating the test has been difficult.

Check your whooping cough vaccination plan, ideally 20 to 32 weeks, and ask about RSV vaccination from 28 weeks. Bring your vaccine history so the clinician can advise appropriately.

If you hope to breastfeed, you can ask about attachment, support after birth and whom to contact if feeding is difficult. You can also discuss other feeding needs or plans without having to justify them. Preparing questions is more useful than expecting yourself to know everything before the baby arrives.

When to seek medical help

In Australia, call 000 for heavy bleeding, severe abdominal pain, severe breathing difficulty, chest pain or collapse. Do not drive yourself if faint or very unwell.

Contact your GP, midwife or hospital immediately for vaginal bleeding, leaking fluid, fever, vomiting that prevents drinking, severe headache, vision changes, sudden swelling or pain under your ribs. Regular or painful contractions, pelvic pressure or persistent lower back or abdominal pain before 37 weeks may be signs of early labour: call your maternity team and go to hospital. Seek urgent care if your usual team is unavailable.