Week 27

Your baby is the size of a cabbage.

Voice Recognition
Your baby may recognize both your and your partner’s voices by now. His/Her hearing is progressing as the network of nerves to the ears matures. So this might be a good time to read and even sing to your baby (or rather, your tummy). If you want your baby to love music as much as you do there is also a product out there called belly buds that are headphones for your belly!

Tasting and Hiccupping
One of the cutest and most uncomfortable part of pregnancy is when your little one gets the hiccups. Your baby’s taste buds are very developed now too. Need a taste test? If you eat some spicy food, your baby will be able to taste the difference in the amniotic fluid which could lead to those pesky hiccups but don’t worry baby is okay.

Swelling and Edema
Beginning somewhere around this stage of pregnancy, nearly three in four pregnant women start to experience mild swelling of the extremities — particularly the feet, ankles and hands. While you may have a hard time squeezing into shoes or getting your rings on or off, keep in mind that the puff factor is completely normal and temporary. However, if the swelling seems to be nonstop and all the time contact your practitioner to ask about preeclampsia.  For swelling relief avoid sitting or standing for a long time, try some pregnancy-appropriate exercise like walking or swimming (if your practitioner okays it) and sit or sleep with your feet elevated. Be sure to drink enough each day; restricting fluid intake will not decrease swelling, but keeping hydrated may.

New Navel
By now you might be noticing a little bulge under your shirt. That your inny has now become an outy. There is not much that you can do at this point other than taking a moment to clean out any missed lint! Don’t worry though your belly button will go back in after childbirth, it just might be a little more stretched out than it was before.