What's happening in my body?

You're probably putting on a few pounds now and you may be feeling bloated and constipated. This is partly because your stomach is being squeezed by your growing baby, and partly due to the pregnancy hormone, progesterone.

It might help to drink lots of water, choose high fibre options (such as brown bread, rather than white) and eat lots of fresh fruit and veg.

Read more tips to deal with bloating on week 10's page.

The best sleeping positions during pregnancy

Should you sleep on your back or side? The NHS guidance says that sleeping on either side is better than sleeping on your back. That's because after week 28, research suggests that sleeping on your back can double the risk of stillbirth. It's also more likely to give you backache, constipation and piles.

Here are some tips for a safe and sound night's sleep:

• support your baby bump with a pillow
• keep your knees and legs bent
• put another pillow between your legs
• if you roll onto your back, don't worry, just roll back onto your side again

Are you fit to fly?

This is probably the last week you can fly anywhere without a “fitness to fly note”.

If you need to fly after this you will need a note from your midwife or doctor to confirm that your pregnancy is uncomplicated. Check the cut off dates with your airline.

Find out more about travel during pregnancy.

2nd trimester pregnancy symptoms (at 27 weeks)

You may be feeling tired now, so nap when you can. You might be snoring more. Snoring is very common in pregnancy as your nasal passages are more likely to become swollen and blocked.

Your signs of pregnancy could also include:

• sleeping problems (week 19 has information about feeling tired)
• stretch marks (read about stretch marks on week 17's page)
• swollen and bleeding gums (week 13 has information about gum health during pregnancy)
• pains on the side of your baby bump, caused by your expanding womb ("round ligament pains")
• piles (read about piles on week 22's page)
• headaches
• backache
• nosebleeds
• indigestion and heartburn (week 25 talks about digestive problems)
• bloating (read about bloating on week 16's page)
• leg cramps (week 20 explains how to deal with cramp)
• feeling hot
• dizziness
• swollen hands and feet
• urine infections
• vaginal infections (see week 15 for vaginal health)
• darkened skin on your face or brown patches – this is known as chloasma or the "mask of pregnancy"
• greasier, spotty skin
• thicker and shinier hair

You may also experience symptoms from earlier weeks, such as:

• mood swings (week 8's page has information on mood swings)
• morning sickness (read about dealing with morning sickness on week 6's page)
• weird pregnancy cravings (read about pregnancy cravings on week 5's page)
• a heightened sense of smell
• sore or leaky breasts (read about breast pain on week 14's page) - a white milky pregnancy discharge from your vagina and light spotting (seek medical advice for any bleeding)

Read Tommy's guide to common pregnancy symptoms.

What does my baby look like?

Your baby, or foetus, is around 36.6cm long from head to heel, and weighs about 875g. That's approximately the size of a big leek, and the weight of a head of cauliflower.

Your baby's lungs are now capable of breathing. Your baby is also getting plumper by the day. A few weeks ago, your baby looked a bit like a wrinkled prune. Now the folds of skin are being filled out by fat, and all their organs are maturing, as your baby prepares for life outside the uterus (womb).

Go back to week 26

Go to week 28