The change of pregnant women at week 27

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor I Le Thi Phuong - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology - Vinmec Ha Long International Hospital. Dr. Le Thi Phuong has 29 years of experience in the field of obstetrics and gynecology.
Pregnant women at 27 weeks are prone to edema of the extremities, which can be clearly seen in the feet, ankles and hands, the navel has signs of dilatation and stretch marks appear (especially in the abdomen). All these changes are due to the effect of the uterus expanding beyond the capacity of the skin and causing pressure on the surrounding organs.

1. What are the outstanding features of a 27-week pregnant woman?

1.1 Swelling and edema Pregnant women 27 weeks pregnant, the uterus is already the size of a basketball. During this period, nearly three-quarters of pregnant women begin to experience mild swelling in their extremities, especially the feet, ankles, and hands. Edema is a condition that occurs when fluid builds up in body tissues due to increased blood flow and uterine pressure on the vena cava (the large vein on the right side of the body that carries blood from the lower extremities to the heart). The swelling is only temporary, the body will soon return to normal immediately after giving birth. But if the edema is excessive, you should notify your doctor as it can be a sign of preeclampsia (along with a host of other symptoms such as increased blood pressure and protein in the urine).
To reduce edema, pregnant women should avoid sitting or standing for a long time, try some exercises suitable for pregnancy such as walking, swimming, raising legs while sitting or sleeping, drink enough water every day.
1.2 Changes in navel 2 questions that may come to mind as a pregnant woman looks down at her growing belly: One - What can be done when the belly button is stretched too much? And two - Can the navel be resized to its original size? The first answer: There is not much that a pregnant woman can do but easily clean all the sticky dirt that exists on the belly button. A second answer: The navel will return to its original position after childbirth, although it may dilate a little more than before.
1.3 Stretch marks Pregnant women may see stretch marks as the uterus continues to dilate. Most women have gained about 16-22 pounds by the 27th week of pregnancy and stretch marks are inevitable.

2. Symptoms of pregnancy week 27

2.1 Dizziness, fainting Dizziness or worse, fainting is a common symptom of pregnancy. To reduce dizziness, a woman should lie down and raise her legs as soon as she feels light-headed. If it is more severe than fainting, it is necessary to seek medical attention immediately to prevent unwanted complications.
2.2 Bleeding Gums Hormonal changes cause gums to swell, become inflamed, and even bleed. While bleeding gums are common (and will likely go away after delivery), it's still a good idea to care for your teeth and gums with simple things like brushing and flossing twice a day.


2.3 Stomach Itchy Stomach stretching can cause the skin of the abdomen to become dry and itchy. You can use a daily moisturizer and soak in a warm oatmeal bath to relieve itching.
2.4 Restless legs syndrome (RLS) Restless legs syndrome, which only happens to some women, is the feeling that the legs become tingling and jittery, especially when lying down at night. RLS is associated with iron deficiency, anemia, or sensitivities to certain foods. Practicing yoga or other relaxation techniques can help improve RLS.
2.5 Round ligament pain The increased size of the uterus causes the ligaments to stretch and thicken to accommodate and support the uterus, which in turn causes pain. To relieve pain, pregnant women should try some pain-relieving positions such as bending the knee toward the abdomen, or leaning over and bending one knee.
2.6 Nasal congestion Pregnant women can face swollen nasal passages, creating a feeling of stuffiness. Pregnant women will quickly recover after giving birth. To reduce symptoms, pregnant women should use saline spray or nasal decongestant bandages. Antihistamines and nasal sprays are still used by pregnant women, but to be sure, consult your doctor.

3. Advice for pregnant women at 27 weeks

3.1 Reduce the feeling of bloating Some foods that are eaten a lot can cause bloating like broccoli, asparagus, spinach and carrots. Limiting the use of these foods may contribute to symptom relief. In addition, pregnant women should make sure to drink enough water during the day and divide meals into 5-6 meals instead of 3 meals as usual.
3.2 Choose the best salmon Salmon is the best source of DHA - the brain-boosting fat. Pregnant women should choose salmon of natural origin (high in healthy fats) and limit the purchase of farmed salmon to avoid eating a lot of PCBs (artificial chemicals). Some salmon cooking tips that can help get rid of impurities such as removing the skin and dark meat (most chemicals found in fish accumulate in the skin and dark meat) and pre-boiling them thoroughly .
3.3 Soothe heat rash The cause of heat rash is because the pregnant woman's body, which already has a higher than normal body temperature, is combined with a wet body due to excessive sweating and skin friction. with skin or with clothing. Heat rash appears as raised, itchy, red patches on the skin. The most common location is in the crease between and below the breasts, where the lower abdomen rubs against the top of the pubic area and on the inner thighs. Calamine lotion is soothing (temporary) and is safe to use. If any rash or irritation persists for more than a few days, you should go to the hospital to be examined and treated as safely as possible.

3.4 Anti-edema The two main culprits for eye edema are water retention and fatigue. Therefore, pregnant women should try to rest and drink a lot of water to increase water excretion for the body. To reduce eye edema (especially in the morning), pregnant women should put cucumber slices, tea bags, spoons, bags of chilled blueberries on their eyes.
3.5 Monitoring heart rate During pregnancy, a woman's heart has to take on a heavier responsibility than pumping blood to supply the two bodies. Therefore, pregnant women should monitor their heart rate daily, especially after hard work. The best way to check your heart rate during exercise is to use the exercise-talk test (no need to take a pulse). If you can't exercise and talk at the same time, your heart rate may be very high.
For peace of mind with pregnancy health, pregnant women at 27 weeks can register to participate in the Maternity Care Program implemented by Vinmec International General Hospital with the aim of supporting and standing side by side with pregnant mothers until Day "Mother is round and child is square". The program includes the following service packages:
Maternity care program 2019 – 12 weeks Maternity care program 2019 – 27 weeks Maternity care program 2019 – 36 weeks Maternity care program 2019 – Labor The medical team at Vinmec are all experts and leading prestige in the field of obstetrics and gynecology; system of modern facilities to optimally support examination and screening techniques; A civilized, luxurious medical examination space and professional services - all these advantages have helped Vinmec become a hospital highly appreciated by experts for maternity care, the first choice of women. pregnant.

Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.

Article reference source: Webmd.com; Whattoexpect.com; parents.com