Pregnancy Week 27 vs Week 28
Complete comparison of baby development, mom's symptoms, and changes between these weeks
📊
Time Difference
1 week apart
🔄
Trimester
Crossing from 2nd to 3rd trimester
Baby Size Comparison
Growth Progress
Week 27Cauliflower
Week 28Eggplant
Your baby is approximately 69% through pregnancy
Week 27
📏
Length
14.4 inches
⚖️
Weight
2 pounds
🍎
Size Comparison
Cauliflower
Week 28
📏
Length
14.8 inches
⚖️
Weight
2.2 pounds
🍎
Size Comparison
Eggplant
What Changes Between Week 27 and 28?
👶New Baby Developments
- ✓Welcome to the third trimester - the final stretch!
- ✓Eyes can open and close fully and baby blinks regularly
- ✓Baby can blink in response to light
- ✓Lungs are capable of breathing air with medical support if born now
- ✓Brain is developing billions of neurons with rapid growth in cerebral cortex
🤰New or Changing Symptoms
- ✓Shortness of breath as uterus pushes up on diaphragm
- ✓Trouble sleeping due to size, discomfort, and frequent bathroom trips
- ✓Possible sciatic pain shooting down legs and buttocks
- ✓Frequent urination returns as baby drops lower into pelvis
- ✓More frequent and intense Braxton Hicks contractions
📈Key Changes Summary
Baby Growth: Your baby continues to grow rapidly, with organs developing and maturing each day.
Your Body: Your body adapts to support your growing baby with various physical and hormonal changes.
Baby Development Milestones
Week 27 Development
- •Baby can recognize and respond to your voice, your partner's voice, and familiar sounds
- •Lungs continue maturing but still aren't fully ready for breathing air
- •Baby has established regular sleep and wake cycles that may not match yours
- •Brain is highly active with waves that can be measured on EEG
- •Hands are active - baby grasps umbilical cord, touches face, and sucks thumb
- •Baby can open and close eyes now
Week 28 Development
- •Welcome to the third trimester - the final stretch!
- •Eyes can open and close fully and baby blinks regularly
- •Baby can blink in response to light
- •Lungs are capable of breathing air with medical support if born now
- •Brain is developing billions of neurons with rapid growth in cerebral cortex
- •Baby is adding fat layers making skin less translucent
Common Symptoms
Week 27 Symptoms
- •Preparing physically and mentally for third trimester
- •Possible sciatic nerve pain shooting down legs from baby's position
- •Increased Braxton Hicks contractions
- •Possible swelling in hands, feet, and face
- •Trouble sleeping and frequent nighttime urination
- •Possible anxiety about upcoming labor and delivery
Week 28 Symptoms
- •Shortness of breath as uterus pushes up on diaphragm
- •Trouble sleeping due to size, discomfort, and frequent bathroom trips
- •Possible sciatic pain shooting down legs and buttocks
- •Frequent urination returns as baby drops lower into pelvis
- •More frequent and intense Braxton Hicks contractions
- •Swelling in feet, ankles, and hands
Nutrition Tips
Week 27 Nutrition
- •Continue balanced nutrition with variety of whole foods
- •Eat foods rich in vitamin K like leafy greens for blood clotting
- •Include healthy fats like avocados, nuts, and olive oil for brain development
- •Stay hydrated with 10-12 glasses of water daily
- •Include DHA-rich foods for final brain development surge
- •Eat small frequent meals to maintain energy
Week 28 Nutrition
- •Eat iron-rich foods (27mg daily) for increasing red blood cell production and baby's iron stores
- •Include 1000-1300mg of calcium daily for baby's rapidly hardening bones
- •Stay hydrated with 10-12 glasses of water despite frequent urination
- •Eat 75-100g of protein at every meal for fetal growth
- •Include vitamin D (600 IU daily) for calcium absorption
- •Eat small frequent meals to avoid heartburn and breathlessness
⚕️When to Contact Your Healthcare Provider
During weeks 27 to 28, contact your healthcare provider if you experience:
- •Severe abdominal pain or cramping
- •Heavy bleeding or passing clots
- •Severe headache with vision changes
- •Persistent fever over 100.4°F (38°C)
- •Sudden swelling of hands, face, or feet
- •Decreased fetal movement