Week 27- Baby Boy Cauliflower

How your baby's growing: This week, your baby weighs almost 2 pounds (like a head of cauliflower) and is about 14 1/2 inches long with his legs extended. He's sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing his eyes, and perhaps even sucking his fingers. With more brain tissue developing, your baby's brain is very active now. While his lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with a lot of medical help — if he were to be born now. Chalk up any tiny rhythmic movements you may be feeling to a case of baby hiccups, which may be common from now on. Each episode usually lasts only a few moments, and they don't bother him, so just relax and enjoy the tickle.

How your life's changing: The second trimester is drawing to a close, but as your body gears up for the final lap, you may start noticing some new symptoms. Along with an aching back, for example, you may find that your leg muscles cramp up now and then. They're carrying extra weight, after all, and your expanding uterus is putting pressure on the veins that return blood from your legs to your heart as well as on the nerves leading from your trunk to your legs. Unfortunately, the cramps may get worse as your pregnancy progresses. Leg cramps are more common at night but can also happen during the day. When a cramp strikes, stretching the calf muscle should give you some relief. Straighten your leg and then gently flex your toes back toward your shin. Walking for a few minutes or massaging your calf sometimes helps, too. It may be the furthest thing from your mind right now, but it's not too soon to think about family planning. You'll want to have made some decisions about postpartum birth control before your baby arrives.

from BabyCenter

Baby: Your baby continues to grow and develop inside of you. Measuring about 14.5 inches long, he weighs just about 2 lbs. This week, his brain is developing quickly. His eyelids, which have remained closed up until this point, begin to open and now his retinas can begin to form. The retina contains specialized photoreceptor cells that respond to light, called rods and cones. Cones in particular help us perceive color. His skin is still wrinkly but by 27 weeks, he basically looks how he will look when you give birth to him, in just a couple of months!

Mom: Congratulations! You are at the end of your second trimester! How are you feeling? Muscle cramps in your legs may be more common as your pregnancy progresses. Not only are you carrying extra weight but slowed circulation and compressed nerves are adding to the problem. Going for a walk? Stretching your calves and asking your partner for a massage are all great ways to deal with these pesky cramps! Did you know? - The average woman needs 15mg of iron a day but while you are pregnant you will need about twice that or 30 mg a day. Iron is essential for the production of the protein in your red blood cells that carries oxygen to other cells. This protein is called hemoglobin. When you're pregnant, you have about 50% more blood volume than usual. Therefore, you need more iron to make more hemoglobin. You also need extra iron for your baby and placenta. Below you will find some foods that are rich in iron.
Red Meat
Eggs
Peas
Dried Fruit
Poultry
Dark Leafy Greens
Legumes
You may have heard that liver is a great source of iron but it also contains unsafe levels of vitamin A and should be avoided during pregnancy. Also, the iron in vegetables is best absorbed when foods rich in vitamin C are eaten in the same meal. It may be hard to get enough iron from your diet alone. If you are worried that you aren't getting enough iron from your normal diet, you should ask your physician if an iron supplement may be right for you.



Here's me right around 27 weeks!