27 Weeks: What's Happening

This week, your baby weighs just over 2 pounds and is about 15 inches long with her legs extended. She's sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing her eyes, and perhaps even sucking her fingers. With more brain tissue developing, your baby's brain is very active now. While her lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with a lot of medical help — if she were to be born now. Your baby also now has eyelashes on her eyelids, her eyes can move in their sockets, and she can tell light and dark, but she cannot discern specific objects yet. Her senses are becoming fine-tuned and more responsive to light, sound, taste, smell, and touch. Her skin is becoming smoother as body fat accumulates beneath the skin. Since her brain is developing further, she now can direct breathing movements. Chalk up any tiny rhythmic movements 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 they don't bother her, so just relax and enjoy the tickle.