27 Weeks Pregnant? Here’s What No One Tells You (But You Need to Know!)

EP 98:

This week on Oh Baybee!, we’re diving into week 27 of pregnancy — a MAJOR milestone as you step into the third trimester! 🎉 If you’ve been feeling a little foggy, itchy, emotional, or just plain confused about what’s normal — this episode is for you.

We’re talking all things:

• 👶🏾 Baby’s brain glow-up (it’s wild, y’all!)
• 🤰🏾 Pregnancy symptoms that actually make sense once you know why
• 📋 What to start doing right now to feel ready for birth and breastfeeding
• 😵‍💫 Emotional prep for the transition into motherhood (nobody prepares you for this part!)

This episode is packed with real, evidence-based info that’ll leave you feeling informed, empowered, and less alone. And if you’re wondering how in the world you’re supposed to prep for labor and breastfeeding before baby even arrives — I’ve got you covered.

🎯 Join my Bump To Bundle Blueprint course — your step-by-step roadmap for birth, breastfeeding, and everything in between.
👉🏾 Click here to enroll now

📝 Resources & Links Mentioned:
→ Enroll in Bump to Bundle Blueprint
→ Watch the “How To Prep For Birth Like A Boss!” video
→ Download your free hospital bag checklist 

📩 Let’s connect!
Birth Prep Academy YouTube
Website: www.birthprepacademy.com

Transcript

0:05

Hi, I'm Stephanie Poole, founder and CEO of Birth Prep Academy. I'm on a mission to help pregnant moms prepare for their first hospital birth. I'm sharing revealing conversations about what it really takes to successfully transition into motherhood. So join me. Here to discover things like what to expect in childbirth, how to prepare for your birth. We'll also talk about breastfeeding and so much more. I'm so grateful to share it all with you right here on Oh Baby, the podcast created for pregnant moms preparing for their first hospital birth. Let's get started. Hey there, and welcome back to the channel, or if you're brand new here. I'm Stephanie Poole, a certified doula and lactation consultant. But more importantly, I help pregnant moms just like you feel confident and ready to give birth like a boss. And I'm talking. Even if it's your very first time. Okay. Now that we've gotten that out the way, can we just pause for a second and say, oh my goodness, you are 27 weeks pregnant. Like what? You are officially in the third trimester, But also you're probably thinking, what the heck is happening to my body right now? Because this is where things get real. And I'm talking real, real in this episode. I'm giving you the real talk. On what's happening at 27 weeks from weird symptoms. Yes, the itchy belly is a thing. We're gonna get into it. So sit tight to what's happening with your baby's brain to exactly what you should be doing right now to get ready for labor and breastfeeding because. The countdown is on my friend, so make sure you watch to the end, because I'm dropping my go-to strategy to avoid that wild newborn chaos and how you can totally get ahead of the game when the baby gets here. So with that being said, let's go. All right, let's talk about baby. At 27 weeks, your baby is around 15 inches long and weighs about two pounds, which is about the size of a head of cauliflower or a big bunch of bananas depending on the app that you're using. But here's what's really exciting. Your baby's brain is going through a serious glow up. Right now. We're talking billions of neurons. They're just firing off. They're also learning how to regulate temperature and even starting to dream during REM sleep. So yeah, your baby's having a glow up, for sure. Now, I know we talked about this before, but in case you're new. Did you know that research shows your baby will start to recognize your voice? Now, I've gone over this part before, but it's so super important. I love to hit it as much as I can, and that is that your baby is starting to recognize your voice. So if you've been talking or singing, right, if you've done your homework because I've given it as homework in my previous episodes, then your baby will likely get to know your voice so much so that they will know you. Even after they're born, they'll be able to recognize you and your partner's voice that is talking so strongly to them. Even now, this is a great time to start bonding and, and doing those things like talking to the baby, playing music, rubbing your belly. It actually helps with early attachment and brain development, which means it's a win win. All right. I'm off my soapbox about that. Now let's talk about what's going on with you Because this week can feel like a rollercoaster. Let's break it down with some real symptoms that you might be feeling. Okay. Number one, brain fog. you may be walking into a room and forgetting why. Well, that's not just you. Pregnancy brain is real. Estrogen and progesterone are changing how your brain processes info. So just give yourself a little grace here. All right. Number two, heartburn. Your baby's pushing everything up, so if you're feeling like a fire breathing dragon after dinner, you are not alone, my friend. I want you to try smaller meals. Avoid spicy food before bed, and don't lie down right after eating. Give yourself time to really digest your food well. okay, number three is belly itching or dry skin. Your belly is stretching like crazy and your skin is trying to keep up. So I want you to lather on some coconut oil or a good fragrance-free belly butter that will really help your skin to stay hydrated. All right. Number four is Braxton Hicks. Now, Braxton Hicks, I've spoke about this one previously as well, but I wanna do a quick recap just to let you know that they are practice contractions. And you may actually start to see them starting to show up from now until you actually give birth. they may look like you, your belly is getting tight, maybe a little bit uncomfortable, but it shouldn't be painful. And all of this is totally normal. Remember, if they get super regular or painful, then you should definitely call your provider. Now here's a pro tip. Start tracking these when symptoms start showing up. Not only does it help you to prep for what's next, but it gives your provider more context, if anything off. Okay, now let's talk prep, because the biggest thing that I hear from new moms is I wish I had known sooner what to expect when giving birth. So at 27 weeks, here's what I want you to start doing. First up, I want you to start your birth prep plan now. Not the cute Pinterest version. I mean, really leaning into what actually happens during labor, how to advocate for yourself and understanding what your body will do. That's exactly what I break down inside of Bump to Bundle Blueprint, which I'll talk a little bit more about in just a little bit. Alright, the next thing I want you to do is learn about breastfeeding before your baby gets here. Waiting until your baby is. Born to figure out breastfeeding is like waiting until a final exam to open the textbook. Your hormones will be on a wild postpartum ride. And trying to learn everything in the moment can be overwhelming. In fact, there was a recent study that showed that women who prepare for birth prenatally by getting childbirth classes and breastfeeding classes actually have a better birth experience. This is not just my opinion, it is evidence-based and research backed. So you definitely wanna learn about breastfeeding. before your baby gets here. Alright, now step three is to prep your questions for your next prenatal visit. Ask about your provider's birth philosophy. What happens if you go past your due date and when they typically recommend interventions, the more you ask now, the more confident you'll feel, then, okay, this is the part most people skip over, but we don't do surface level here. In fact, I want to really talk about how you are feeling. You might actually start to feel emotionally overwhelmed. I mean, you are at 27 weeks, you might start feeling like everything is happening too fast, and I'm just here to tell you that's normal. You're growing a human and your identity is shifting. That's a big deal. So I want you to save space for that. Also, you might be feeling a little lonely, even with people around. It is possible, especially if no one's checking in on you and how you're feeling about this huge life change. So here's your permission. Slip to talk about it. Ask for support, and take care of your mental health. Now, before postpartum hits like a ton of bricks, and let me just say this, that may mean that it starts to look like you setting boundaries or perhaps even practicing saying no now, so that it's easier later. Also try journaling. Journal how you want your birth and early motherhood to feel this matters just as much as what's on your registry. Alright, mama. Now you've got the inside scoop on what's really going on at 27 weeks and what to do about it. But listen, if you're watching this and thinking, I just don't feel ready yet. Well girl, that's totally okay because you don't have to figure all of this out on your own. That's exactly why I have the bump to bundle blueprint. It's actually a complete course. To help you prep for labor, birth and breastfeeding with zero guesswork, big fat goose egg, zero guesswork. It's packed with real talk. Practical videos and step-by-step support to help you walk into birth feeling confident and know exactly what to do. Once baby is here, just click the link in the description to join now and start learning before your baby arrives because trust me, that knowledge is your superpower. And if you love this kind of real no fluff support, just hit that subscribe button and check out my next video. I'll have it linked here. Remember, you've got this mama, and I'm cheering you on every step of the way. I.