Fetal development in pregnancy week 27:
You’ve made it to the final trimester now, only 10 weeks to go! Your baby now weighs about 2 pounds and is about 14 inches long. They look like a fully formed baby at this point, only smaller and very thin. Survival, if born now, is around the 85% chance rate. Baby will go through another growth spurt now and may have predictable periods of sleep now.
The ears are covered the waxy substance called vernix which may muffle the sounds that they hear. Some experts believe that babies begin to dream at week 28, because the brain is so very active now. Brain tissue is developing rapidly.
It’s possible to hear the baby’s heartbeat by just placing an ear on your abdomen at this point! Lungs have developed enough that they could function outside of the womb and the central nervous system is well formed.
Amniotic fluid and the absence of fat on your baby’s body makes their skin appear wrinkly at this time. Baby will continue to fill out after they are born and begin to gain newborn weight.
Maternal Changes
By about 27 weeks pregnant you may start losing some of the energy you experienced during the second trimester. Your body will expend a lot of energy in the upcoming weeks as your baby continues to mature and develop. As your uterus continues to grow during your pregnancy week by week, the demands on your circulatory system continue to rise, creating extra fatigue. This is a good time to try to fit in a small catnap or two if you can during the day. Even 15 minutes of rest can help you feel energetic and recharged during the day.
About 27 weeks pregnant many women start to experience braxton hicks contractions. These are nothing more than ‘pre’ labor contractions that help your body prepare for labor. Most of the time they are random and while sometimes uncomfortable, not usually outright painful.
Some time between now and the early part of your third trimester if you are working you will want to discuss your maternity leave with your employer. Don’t assume that maternity leave is a right you are guaranteed as an employee. There are many rules and regulations that dictate who can and can’t take maternity leave. Many employers are under no obligation to provide pregnant women with maternity leave (though most do offer some kind of maternity leave).
Fortunately you do have rights and as a pregnant woman and parent you deserve to know your rights. Many companies and states provide pregnant women disability pay or medical leave for roughly six to eight weeks after delivery. States that have disability plans providing up to 60 percent of a women’s pay during the postpartum recovery period include Rhode Island, Hawaii, New Jersey and New York. Typically programs like this however have a maximum amount of income or cap they pay out each week.
Many companies however provide no paid maternity leave. You may however be eligible to take unpaid maternity leave or a family leave of absence. There are certain conditions however you may have to meet. In some cases you may have to be on the job a certain length of time before you qualify. You should talk with your human resources representative or your manger to discuss your choices so you can make plans and an informed decision when planning your maternity leave. You may qualify for Family Medical Leave which provides up to 12 weeks of unpaid time off after your give birth or adopt a baby. Often you can begin your leave before delivery. Remember to talk with your employer so you know what choices you have available to you.
Dad
If mom is starting to complain about her weight remind her of the importance of weight gain in pregnancy for a health pregnancy. You should also help her by not tempting her with sweets and setting a good example yourself.
Maternity Clothes
Most career-oriented mothers look for maternity pant sets/short sets at one time or another. The key to buying maternity pant sets/short sets is finding one or two styles that you can mix and match with a variety of tops and accessories. Truth be told, you only need one or two maternity pant sets/short sets to last you your entire pregnancy. Pant sets can often be worn in a variety of ways; you can wear them with or without a jacket, with or without various accessories, and with a casual, formal, career or even sexy top for an evening out on the town.
Destination Maternity’s pants sets and shorts sets are crafted with love and care. They typically look elegant and professional, making them a favorite even among non-pregnant women!
Pregnancy Health Tips
If you are employed during your pregnancy, at some point in time you will want to talk with your employer about maternity leave. Many women assume that maternity leave is a right they are guaranteed to as an employee; however there are many employers that are not required to provide any type of leave for women after pregnancy. It is important that you know your rights with respect to maternity leave prior to delivery of your baby.
Some companies or states provide medical leave or maternity disability for women who are pregnant. This type of leave may or may not provide wage compensation for a period of time between six and eight weeks after delivery. New York, Rhode Island, New Jersey, and Hawaii actually have state run disability plans which can provide up to 60 percent of your pay during the first few weeks postpartum. However, even these programs have a cap, usually up to $600 per week. In California women enjoy a state run disability plan and also a state funded family leave plan.
Most companies don’t provide paid maternity leave, in part because they aren’t required to. Though some women will be eligible for unpaid leaves of absence during their pregnancy, others don’t qualify because they haven’t been on the job long enough, or in some cases because the company they work for is too small to qualify for maternity leave programs under federal law.
It is important that you know your rights concerning maternity leave so you can discuss your options with your employer.
Typically, maternity leave falls into the category of disability leave, and for employers offering disability leave, this is usually a period of time up to six weeks for a vaginal delivery or eight weeks for a cesarean delivery that you are able to take off from work while your body recovers from delivery. Take note though, if you work for a very small company, such as a company with 10 employees or less, you may not be entitled to any type of disability leave. Be sure to check with your company’s policies regarding maternity and disability leave now if you haven’t already.
Some women will qualify for Family Medical Leave. The Family and Medical Leave Act or FMLA grants parents (including male partners) 12 weeks of unpaid time off after the birth or adoption of a baby. The 12 weeks you take for your baby’s birth can begin prior to actual delivery. FMLA covers any employees, men and women who have worked at their current job for at least 12 months and 1,250 hours. You also must be employed by a company that employs a minimum of 50 employees within a 75 mile radius in order to qualify. If your company is smaller than this or you have not been on the job at least 1 year, then you will not qualify for this protection.
The FMLA leave is advantageous because it enables you to take this time off work to care for your newborn baby, continue your health insurance coverage during your time off, and allows you to return to the same job you left or an equivalent job if your job is no longer available.
You should know that your employer can require you to use up your vacation and sick leave as part of the 12 weeks that you take off via FMLA. FMLA leave does not provide any wage compensation for parents during the postpartum period.
The Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978 also protects pregnant women on the job. If you work for a company that has more than 15 employees you have the right to protection from discrimination under the law. Many women are able to participate in optional short term disability insurance programs at work that provide wage replacement for the time you are medically unable to return to work after delivery. If this is not the case you might want to start planning to save some money to cover the time you take off from work after delivery.
Twin Tips
Be sure to check out multiples programs that offer their products at free or reduced prices. It never hurts to ask! Your local club may have a local list and other online support groups might also have national or international offers handy.