Your pregnancy: 27 weeks

Read what we are to expect this week (Week 27) as forecasted from www.babycenter.com. I'll try and publish these every week until the birth of Finnster! Enjoy!

a diagram of Finnster this week...

This week your baby weighs almost 2 pounds and is about 14.4 inches long with his legs extended. He can now open and close his eyes, and he sleeps and wakes at regular intervals. He may suck his fingers, and although his lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with assistance — if he were to be born prematurely. Chalk up any rhythmic movement 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 isn't bothersome to him, so enjoy the tickle. With more brain tissue developing, your baby's brain is very active now. Wonder what he's thinking?

Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.

How your life's changing:

Your body is gearing up for the final lap, so 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. They may also be aggravated by sluggish circulation and compressed nerves caused by your growing uterus. (As your uterus expands, it puts pressure on the blood vessels that return blood from your legs to your heart and on the nerves leading from your trunk to your legs.) Unfortunately, the cramps are likely to 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 (by straightening your leg and then gently flexing your toes back toward your shins) should give you some relief. 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 before your baby arrives. In some states, if you're considering a tubal ligation during your hospital stay, laws require that you sign a consent form at least a month before delivery day. (You can still change your mind later.)

Beyond orange juice "Need more vitamin C? Try red bell peppers! They have nearly twice the vitamin C of a navel orange, and a half cup is one of the five servings of fruits and vegetables you need each day." — Kayla B.

Surprising Facts: Symptoms you should never ignore

So many aches, pains, and strange feelings arise during pregnancy that it can be hard to decide what's normal and what warrants a call to your doctor or midwife. To complicate matters further, some symptoms may be more or less urgent depending on your particular situation or health history and on how far along you are in pregnancy. Here's a rundown of symptoms that could be a sign of a problem — if you have any of these complaints, call your doctor or midwife immediately:

Before you reach 37 weeks:

* Pelvic pressure (a feeling that your baby is pushing down), lower back pain (especially if it's a new problem for you), menstrual-like cramping or abdominal pain, or more than four contractions in an hour (even if they don't hurt)

* An increase in vaginal discharge or a change in the type of discharge — if it becomes watery, mucous-like, or bloody (even if it's only pink or blood-tinged)

At any time:

* Your baby is moving or kicking less than usual

* Severe or persistent abdominal pain or tenderness

* Vaginal bleeding or spotting, or watery or foul-smelling discharge

* Pain or burning when you urinate, or little or no urination

* Severe or persistent vomiting, or any vomiting accompanied by pain or fever

* Chills or a fever over 100 degrees F

* Blurred or double vision, or seeing spots or "floaters"

* A severe or persistent headache

* Any swelling in your face or puffiness around your eyes, anything more than mild swelling in your fingers or hands, or severe or sudden swelling in your legs, feet or ankles

* Rapid weight gain (more than 4 pounds in a week)

* Severe or persistent leg or calf pain that doesn't ease up when you flex your ankle and point your toes toward your nose or one leg significantly more swollen than the other

* Trauma to your abdomen

* Fainting, frequent dizziness, rapid heartbeat or palpitations

* Difficulty breathing, coughing up blood

* Persistent itching all over

* Any health problem that you'd ordinarily call your practitioner about, even if it's not pregnancy-related (like worsening asthma or a cold that gets worse rather than better)

Even if you don't see your symptom on the list above, trust your instincts and call your caregiver any time you have a concern about your pregnancy. If there's a problem, you'll get help right away. If nothing's wrong, you'll be reassured.