Pregnancy diet, exercise & prenatal vitamins

The stronger your body is, the less likely you are to feel pain in your back and pelvis. If you can manage, do some kind of exercise. Swimming is a good choice as the water partially supports weight, decreasing the burden on your pelvis and back. However, you can choose the kind of sport you like as long as it isn’t riding horses or contact sports like soccer, basketball or football. This is due to the risk of falling, being kicked or pushed.  Also, remember to take an iron supplement. This can help if you’re feeling exhausted due to an iron deficiency.

Pregnancy symptoms & belly pictures

Your pregnancy might begin to feel more difficult. Common pregnancy symptoms at 27 weeks pregnant with twins are:

• Your back and pelvis may be sore or ache. Think about your posture, and try to prevent swaying too much in your lower back.

• You may feel uncomfortable and exhausted at this point in your pregnancy.

• Unless you’ve struggled with hyperemesis gravidarum– excessive nausea and vomiting – during pregnancy, you will have gained quite a few pounds by now. Look at this twin pregnancy weight gain chart.

• It’s completely normal to have braxton hicks contractions when you’re 27 weeks pregnant with twins. There’s nothing dangerous or worrisome about them. It’s your body’s way of preparing for birth. You just need to make sure that you can tell the difference between braxton hicks contractions and premature labor. Giving birth during week 27 is extremely premature, and you need to go to a hospital or medical facility as soon as possible should you be in labour.

Baby size & fetal development

Your babies measure approximately 36,5 centimeters (14.37 inches), when you’re 27 weeks pregnant with twins. The median weight for dichorionic twins is 1063 grams (2lbs, 5oz) and for monochorionic twins it’s 1015 grams (2lbs, 3oz). Look at our estimated fetal weight charts to learn more about how twins grow in the second half of pregnancy. Your babies might not be as long or weigh as much as singleton babies at this point. It’s normal that twins weigh less than average and in general are smaller. This will even out in early childhood – unless your twins are genetically predisposed for being petite.

Ultrasound & survival rate at 27 weeks

In developed countries you’ll be monitored closely, when you’re pregnant with twins. Your doctor and midwife will do growth scans using ultrasound, and they will let you know if they think one or both of your babies are too small. They’ll intervene if possible. You can help by not smoking, drinking alcohol or eating very unhealthy as that puts you at risk of having a smaller child. If your babies are not growing enough, it can also be because the placenta(s) works poorly. A malfunctioning placenta can be caused by high blood pressure or preeclampsia. If you give birth to twins at 27 weeks, they’ll be born in the extremely premature category. The survival rate for extremely premature babies born in high-income settings has changed significantly over the past few decades. Less than 10 percent of extremely preterm babies die in high-income settings. More than 90 percent of extremely preterm babies born in low-income countries die within the first few days of life.

Previous week – 26 weeks pregnant with twins

Next week – 28 weeks pregnant with twins

Pregnancy diet, exercise & prenatal vitamins

It’s a good idea to take a break and relax if you experience a lot of Braxton Hicks contractions. It’s normal to have them, but take note if you all of a sudden get them more often than usual. Contact your doctor or midwife if they carry on for long or become painful. You don’t have to stay inactive. It’s fine to be active or exercise, as long as you pay attention to the signals your body is sending you. Don’t exercise until exhaustion and stop what you’re doing if you feel any pain.

Also, remember iron supplements, which will help if you are tired and also will help you after your birth with blood loss.

Baby size & development

Your babies measure around 29 centimeters (11.42 inches), when you’re 23 weeks pregnant with twins. The median baby weight for dichorionic twins is 609 grams (1lbs, 2oz) and for monochorionic twins it’s 589 grams (1lbs, 4oz). Although your babies lungs are not yet fully developed, they are practicing breathing, making breathing-like movements. They’re also dreaming now, and their eyes move back and forth just like an adult’s eyes during REM sleep. Your babies are active. They’re kicking, punching, twisting and turning in your womb.

Ultrasound scans & growth

You’ll have several growth scans throughout your pregnancy. This is to make sure that your children are growing as they should. If your expecting identical twins who share a placenta (monochorionic twins), you’re likely to have more scans than a women expecting twins with separate placentas (dichorionic twins). This is because monochorionic twins are more at risk of growth and weight issues due to the shared placenta.

Pregnancy symptoms & belly pictures

You may still have issues with morning sickness, feeling more tired than usual and/or a stomach that doesn’t function as well as before you got pregnant. This can make you feel very uncomfortable. Another common pregnancy symptom is:

• Braxton Hicks contractions. That’s your body practicing for birth. Your uterus will contract and feel tight or hard. This can last from a few seconds to several minutes and repeat itself for a while. However, it shouldn’t hurt or go on for hours. If it does, contact your midwife or doctor immediately. It differs a lot from woman to woman and pregnancy to pregnancy when and if you feel the Braxton Hicks contractions. All women have them, but some don’t feel them.

• Generally speaking, you should have felt your babies move for the first time at 23 weeks pregnant with twins. If you haven’t felt your babies move yet, it doesn’t necessarily mean that there’s anything wrong. The position of the placenta(s) has a lot to do with when and how you feel your babies move. In the beginning it may feel more like a gentle tap than a kick. If you’re worried about not feeling your babies move, then please contact your doctor or midwife and let them know that you haven’t felt any movement yet.

Previous week – 22 weeks pregnant with twins

Next week – 24 weeks pregnant with twins