The infant's systems continue to get matured during this periodand this little one even begins gathering some weight in the forthcoming weeks. Up until between the pregnancy week 27 and 28, the infant's eyelids are fused altogether. After this week or next they generally open. The light sensitive part of the eye is called retina and it typically starts developing at about 27th week of pregnancy. The layers forming the retina will let the infant eyes to receive light and carry the information it is getting to the brain and form image. This basic action is called as 'sight'. It is so exciting to know that the infant is a tiny, seeing human miniature.
On the other hand, the womb continues to climb the height of mother’s stomach during this period. It now measures almost 2.8” above the umbilicus. If she were to measure the uterus from the pubic symphysis, she finds that it is about 27 centimeters to the top of her womb.
The mother might star observing that the abundant energy she experienced during the first part of the 2nd trimester is getting out somewhat as she approaches the 3rd trimester. The growing womb is putting increasing demands on the circulation and the infant during the 27 th week of pregnancy and beyond. One should note that it takes a lot of energy to bear new life. She should try to get some much required extra rests in the form of some sleeps if she can during the day. Even bit of catnap in the front seat of the car while her partner is driving would be sufficient.
The mother might start feeling increased Braxton hicks’ contractions in this period of pregnancy or later as she gears up for the 3rd trimester. Again for most of the expecting mothers Braxton hicks are just the pre contractions those prepare her for labor and delivery. They are generally not to worry about until she has had a history or pre-term labor. Is she a candidate for home uterine monitoring at 27 th week of pregnancy or later? Most of the contractions mother feels would be few and far between at this juncture although some women are at risks for getting premature babies. The risks for premature babies are higher in some women, especially those who have had a previous pre-term labor or other high risks of any pregnancy complication.
In some of the cases, the health care professional may suggest home uterine monitoring. This is typically done to carry out women who may experience premature labor. Risky factors that preclude the mother to this situation include a previous premature delivery, early rupture of the membranes, multiple pregnancy or even pre-elcampsia. The home uterine monitoring device allows the mother to record uterine contractions at home. The contractions those she has been experiencing are really recorded and transmitted from the home phone to healthcare center where these contractions would be evaluated. Some health care professionals can monitor the contractions at their homes whereas some insurance companies might cover home monitoring if using this technique is justified in their own way.
The cost of a premature labor can go into the hundreds of thousands of dollars, thus some dollars a day for home uterine monitoring would actually result in a cost saving for the mother and also for Health Insurance Company. Home uterine monitoring might be very advantageous for women at higher risks for pre-term deliveries. It can alert the health care provider to any repetitive contractions that signal labor early enough so that proper interventions can be taken to prolong the gestational period.
