Week 27: I See the Light

Welcome to your third trimester of pregnancy! You’re getting closer and closer to meeting your little one! As you progress through the weeks, it is important to keep moving and doing gentle exercises and stretches (unless contraindicated by your health care professional). As your tummy gets bigger and your baby grows, you will develop more joint and ligament pains. Pregnancy hormones that cause your hips to open and ligaments to become looser are important for preparing your body for birth but do contribute to the discomfort. Gentle stretches and staying active will help alleviate these pains and also prepare you for labour. Another hindrance this trimester is sleep, or the lack thereof. If you haven’t already, it is recommended to sleep on your sides for the duration of your pregnancy, as this is the most optimal position to support proper blood flow to your baby while resting. Many factors contribute to insomnia in your third trimester: fears, baby’s movements, difficulty getting comfortable, urinary frequency, acid reflux, and general aches and pains. Depending on what is contributing to your insomnia will indicate what strategies you can use to help improve your sleep. In general, some helpful tips are deep breathing exercises before bed, prayer, mindfulness, avoiding screens before bedtime, reading, etc. Adjust your pillows to support your tummy, knees and back. Moreover, set a calm and relaxed environment in the bedroom. Your body is resilient and will adapt in time.

Your baby is 27 weeks and is using all five senses! The last sense to develop is sight. Your baby’s eyelids open this week, and the eyes become responsive to light. He can now learn to relate light with day and dark with night. Your baby can see changes in light, hear the sound of your voice, feel your comforting touch, and become familiar with your smell and taste changes in the amniotic fluid. Each of these senses is now used to bond with you and prepare for life outside the womb.