Week 27: The end of the second trimester

You’ve reached the last week of the second trimester — a real marker on the journey. Your baby, about the size of a bok choy, is busy: the brain is forming ever more complex connections, the lungs are maturing as surfactant production ramps up, and they can now blink, cough, and suck. All five senses are up and running.

You may notice some of that first-trimester fatigue creeping back as your body works harder and sleep gets trickier. Aches, heartburn and the occasional breathless moment are all par for the course as your bump and baby grow.

It’s a nice moment to look back at how far you’ve come — through the queasy early weeks, the golden middle stretch, and now to the threshold of the final trimester. The weeks ahead bring more frequent check-ups and the real anticipation of meeting your baby.

The third trimester does bring its own load of symptoms — more heartburn, swelling, backache, breathlessness and broken sleep — so this is a good moment to double down on the basics that help: rest without guilt, gentle movement and daylight, good hydration, and a comfortable side-sleeping setup. It’s also worth lining up the bigger jobs over the coming weeks while you still have a little energy: finishing antenatal classes, sorting the baby essentials, and starting your hospital bag list.

Crossing into the third trimester can stir up the emotions as much as the to-do list — excitement, nerves, impatience, all at once. That’s completely normal. Be kind to yourself, share how you’re feeling with your partner or midwife, and try to enjoy these last weeks before everything changes.

Keep tuning in to your baby’s pattern of movement, rest when your body asks for it, and don’t hesitate to call your midwife with any worry, however small. You’re doing wonderfully.