At 27 weeks
At 27 weeks your baby is about the size of a patta gobhi (cabbage), around 36.6 cm from head to heel (NHS). This is the last week of the second trimester: the lungs are now capable of breathing and fat is filling out the folds of skin. You may feel bloated, constipated or more tired, and snoring is common.
Your Baby at 27 Weeks
Your baby's lungs are now capable of breathing, and the wrinkled look of a few weeks ago is fading as fat fills out the folds of skin. All the organs are maturing as your baby prepares for life outside the womb (NHS).
Muscles have developed and the body is well proportioned, though your baby is still thin and will put on a lot of weight over the next month. The skin is no longer see-through: it is red, wrinkly and covered in vernix, a waxy coating that protects it against infection and from the surrounding amniotic fluid (Pregnancy, Birth and Baby).
Your Body This Week
Bloating and constipation are common, partly because your growing baby squeezes your stomach and partly because of the hormone progesterone. Plenty of water, high-fibre wholewheat options rather than white ones, and lots of fresh fruit and vegetables can help, and snoring is also very common now because your nasal passages swell (NHS).
Women usually put on quite a lot of weight from now until 36 weeks, though this varies, and a healthy diet matters more than eating for two. Stretch marks may appear on the tummy, thighs or breasts and the skin can feel itchy; they are not harmful and fade over time (Pregnancy, Birth and Baby).
When to call your midwife or doctor: Seek medical advice for any vaginal bleeding (NHS). If your baby's movements slow down or change, call your midwife or maternity unit immediately, day or night, rather than waiting.
Garbh Sanskar This Week
A small daily practice for this stage, from Mamta’s 1:1 sessions. It is tradition and gentle self-care, not medical advice, so keep every check-up and follow your doctor or midwife first.
- Mantra: The Mahamrityunjaya mantra from the Rig Veda honours the three-eyed one as fragrant and the giver of nourishment, and uses the image of a ripe cucumber released from its stem. Chant it softly a few times at a comfortable speaking voice; see the Garbh Sanskar mantras guide for the full text and meaning.
- Music: From around the fifth month your baby begins to respond to sound, so a calm bhajan or favourite gentle song at bedtime can be a soothing wind-down for you. Play it at a comfortable volume and enjoy it for its own sake.
- Gentle movement: Mamta teaches side-lying rest with breath awareness at this stage: lie on either side with a pillow under your bump and another between your knees, and simply follow a slow, easy breath without holding it. It also gets you used to the NHS advice to sleep on your side from week 28; practise only with your doctor's or midwife's clearance.
- Food: Traditionally, Charaka's seventh month (roughly weeks 27 to 30) continues the milk and ghee of the sixth, with meals kept lighter on salt and fat, so think simple dal, rice and vegetables with only a little ghee. Have these alongside the iron, calcium and folic acid your doctor recommends; if you have gestational diabetes, your diabetes team's plan comes first.
- Garbh samvad (a line to say to your baby): We have reached the end of the second trimester together, little one. Thank you for every kick.
Questions About Week 27
What is the best sleeping position at 27 weeks pregnant?
The NHS says sleeping on either side is better than sleeping on your back, because after week 28 research suggests back sleeping can double the risk of stillbirth. Support your bump with a pillow, keep your knees bent with another pillow between your legs, and if you wake on your back, simply roll onto your side again.
Can I fly at 27 weeks pregnant?
The NHS says this is probably the last week you can fly without a 'fitness to fly' note. After this, you will need a note from your midwife or doctor confirming your pregnancy is uncomplicated, so check your airline's cut-off dates.
Is it normal to snore at 27 weeks pregnant?
Yes, snoring is very common in pregnancy because your nasal passages are more likely to become swollen and blocked. Tiredness is common at this stage too, so nap when you can.
Practise With Mamta, Wherever You Are
Mamta guides expecting mothers through private 1:1 Garbh Sanskar sessions online, scheduled in your own time zone, from the first trimester to the last week. Start with a free conversation on WhatsApp or read how sessions work.
Sources
Mamta is not a doctor. Medical points on this page come from the sources below, checked in October 2026. Sizes are approximate and babies vary; your scan report is what matters.