Week 27: Cooking + cleaning = nesting
Image: @laleewan
Welcome to week 27 of the Happy Parents Happy Baby guide to pregnancy, birth and beyond.
This week we'll be covering:
We hope you enjoy it!
Five signs you’re nesting
Nesting is a completely normal instinct for parents who are expecting a child. You want to have everything as prepared as possible for the imminent arrival of your baby. It’s also an emotional response to wanting to create a safe environment for your child. It’s a great way of putting the extra adrenaline to good use when you can be sure you may not have the energy or inclination to do some of these things for a little while once your baby is here.
Listen to your body and as long as you’re not doing anything unsafe and are taking breaks, enjoy yourself!
The house has never been so clean
You’ve donned the rubber gloves and scrubbed floors and bathrooms to within an inch of their lives. Your windows and floors are gleaming.
This is all a sign that you’re getting ready for your newborn’s arrival and it’s totally natural. Just make sure you don’t climb any ladders and are careful when using strong cleaning chemicals.
You can’t stop shopping
Nappies, muslins and cute outfits - you’ve probably been shopping up a storm already and that’s totally normal. This is such an exciting time in your life and you will want to buy some new things for your baby. Remember though that some items will only be used for a short time and you can buy great quality items second hand. Also remember that you need space to store all of this new stuff and that you don’t need to get it all in one go.
Constant trips to the charity shop
Decluttering is another form of nesting that many parents find themselves doing in the lead up to the birth. Out with the old and in with the new never looked so good. You might be cleaning out cupboards and wardrobes and taking bin bags full of stuff to the tip or charity shop. Again, enjoy the energy burst while it lasts and just make sure you’re not lifting anything too heavy.
Filling the freezer and cupboards
Food is so important during and after your pregnancy so it’s natural to want to make sure you’re stocked up on all of your favourites. You might also want to do some batch cooking to make sure you have some meals for the first few weeks when you’re sleep deprived and getting to grips with everything.
The nursery has been ready for weeks
One of the most special parts of having a baby is preparing a room or special space for them. There are loads of places to turn to for inspiration, whether it’s social media or shops. Making a calm, cosy and warm space to feed, change and settle your baby to sleep will make such a difference in the first few weeks and months and help you bond with your baby and start your new family life.
Your baby’s development in week 27
Size of a cabbage
Weighs approximately 910g and is around 37cm long
Your baby’s heart rate will have slowed to around 140 beats per minute but this is still a lot faster than the average adult’s heart rate. Their brain, lungs and digestive system are formed but still not fully mature.
Your baby’s taste buds will also be developed now so if you eat something sweet or spicy, they’ll be able to taste it too!
Week 27 Checklist
You might like to:
Buy a car seat. You will need to buy a car seat before your baby is born, because you will need to put your baby in it if you give birth in hospital. It’s important to buy one which fits your car and is suitable for a newborn. You will also want to practise fitting the car seat before your baby is born.
Get a Fit to Fly form. If you are planning to fly after 28 weeks pregnant an airline may ask you to show this letter from your GP which states when your baby is due and that your pregnancy is uncomplicated.
Consider a hospital tour. Some hospitals offer tours of their labour wards and maternity units which couples can find beneficial. It will give you the opportunity to ask questions and to see the environment where you will give birth.
Spotlight on: Backache
Each week we'll be delving into the common symptoms of pregnancy and bringing you top tips for managing them from our team of specialists and parent community.
Backache
We’re at week 27 and we’re sure you’re already experiencing some aches and pains as your bump grows and you start to feel heavier. Back pain can start in the early stages of pregnancy and continue until your due date as your ligaments stretch and soften to prepare your body for labour. It can be quite distressing to experience back pain and can affect your day-to-day life and keep you up at night too.
Why?
As your ligaments loosen it can put a strain on your joints which can lead to backache. Your posture can also change because as your bump grows heavier the curve of your spine increases which can be painful. Some women may find the pain worse if they have been on their feet a lot and in the evenings. Lower back pain can also be accompanied by pelvic girdle pain which can be very sore.
There are a few circumstances when back pain could be a sign of something more serious - but this is rare. If you have back pain in your second or third trimester which doesn’t feel like sore joints or the weight of your baby, this could be a sign of early labour and you need to speak to your GP urgently. If your back pain is accompanied by a temperature or pain when you pee this could be a sign of a UTI and you will need antibiotics. Pain in one or both of your sides - under your ribs - could be a sign of pre-eclampsia.
Top tips:
There are plenty of things you can do which might ease your back pain.
Avoid lifting heavy objects
Try exercise such as pilates, yoga or swimming
Avoid high heeled shoes
Keep your back supported and straight when sitting up - use pillows if you need to
Get plenty of rest
Have a relaxing bath
Have a massage - this is safe after the first trimester if you lie on your side
Try to avoid lying flat on your back for a long time
It’s safe to take paracetamol when you are pregnant but check with your doctor or midwife first in case you have any pre-existing conditions which mean you should avoid it. Make sure you follow the instructions on the packet.
Birth story of the week
Lara’s baby Amelia was born a week early, before she’d even officially started maternity leave!
“I went to bed about 11.30pm, but by midnight it felt like things might be starting and by 1am the contractions had definitely started. I spent quite a bit of time bouncing on my birthing ball using the hypnobirthing breathing techniques that we had learnt on the course, whilst we used the contraction timer apps to monitor things. The contractions got very strong pretty quickly and by 3.30am both the apps were telling us to go to hospital! Over the phone, the midwife advised that being a first time Mum I should try and stay at home for as long as possible, however after waiting an additional 45 minutes I really wanted to head into hospital. 5 minutes into the drive we realised that we didn’t have our hospital notes, I’d only written my birth plan that morning and I’d left the notes on the kitchen table! So we had to go back and grab them!
“Once I was back at the hospital and examined, I was told that I was 10cm dilated!! We went up to the birth centre where the midwives were amazing and really supported my birth plan and within an hour and a half Amelia was born very calmly. I felt elated! It was amazing to meet her after she had been inside me for 9 months.”
Welcome to the world Amelia!
Treat of the week
This week’s treat will hopefully help you to get a little extra sleep. Ewan the dream sheep replicates the comfort of the womb with actual recordings of Mum’s womb and heartbeat along with the calming shush of a real human voice, to help your little one to sleep peacefully.
Products are based on suggestions from our specialists and community of parents. We may earn commission from shopping links.
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That's all for now...
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Have a great week.
Team HPHB x
Information you
can trust
Our articles are based on the latest-evidence based guidelines and scientific research and are written by our team of medical experts.
Coming up
next week
Sleeping and how to get as much as you can
Spotlight on: insomnia
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