Week 27

You’ve made it—Week 27 marks the start of the third trimester! 🎉 Your baby is now about the size of a cucumber, measuring around 14.5 inches long and weighing close to 2.2 pounds. From here on out, baby’s main job is to grow, grow, grow—and your body will feel every bit of it.

What’s Happening in Your Body?

Baby’s brain is getting more complex, with grooves and ridges forming. They’re also sleeping in cycles now—about 20 minutes at a time—and even dreaming during REM sleep. Their lungs are continuing to mature, and they’re practicing breathing movements with amniotic fluid.

You might notice more rhythmic movements, like hiccups, and stronger kicks that sometimes make your whole belly shift.

For you, this is when pregnancy starts to feel more real and heavier. Your uterus is now pushing up toward your ribcage, which might make breathing more challenging.

Common Symptoms This Week

• Frequent baby kicks and rolls—you’ll definitely notice patterns now

• Braxton Hicks contractions (irregular “practice” contractions)

• Backaches, hip pain, or pelvic pressure

• Swelling in feet, ankles, and hands (mild swelling is normal)

• Leg cramps and restless legs at night

• Heartburn and indigestion

• More fatigue, as carrying baby becomes more tiring

• Shortness of breath as baby presses against your diaphragm

And yep, sleeping comfortably gets even harder—welcome to the third-trimester toss-and-turn routine.

What You Can Do This Week

• Go for your glucose screening test, if you haven’t yet

• Start timing baby’s movements—get familiar with what’s “normal” for your baby

• Use a pregnancy pillow to find a better sleeping position

• Do light prenatal exercises to ease aches and improve circulation

• Elevate your feet whenever you can to reduce swelling

• Drink lots of water to help with Braxton Hicks, swelling, and digestion

This is also a great week to start thinking about childbirth education classes, hospital tours, and your postpartum support plan.

And of course, keep tracking the special moments—like baby’s “dance parties” in your belly—in Cubtale so you can look back on them later.

Real Talk

Week 27 is both exciting and overwhelming. You’re in the home stretch, but you still have a few months to go. Baby feels so real with every movement, but labor and birth might feel like a big unknown right now.

It’s okay to feel a mix of excitement and anxiety. You’re entering the final phase of pregnancy—and while it comes with more aches, it also brings you closer to meeting your baby.

Take it one week at a time. You’re almost there.