You have finished two-thirds of your journey through pregnancy. Now you are in the third trimester that spans from 28 weeks to the birth of your baby. You will experience several changes in these last few weeks of pregnancy. Above all, you are excited to prepare your home to welcome your baby and anxious about the birth process too.
Your baby is almost human now, and will gain weight and length. In the last few weeks, the brain, genitals, lungs, kidneys, bones, and other organs continue to grow and mature. You baby will also begin to hear and open eyes!
Major changes in the third trimester
In the third trimester, your baby grows bigger still and you develop a real bulge in your tummy. You may experience discomfort due to the huge belly. The baby may move frequently in the initial part of the third trimester. Later, the baby may grow too big to move inside and the movements may become less. Eventually, the baby settles in the womb with head in downward position towards the end of the third trimester.
You certainly will gain weight and get more bulky in the tummy. By the 9th month, you would have gained around 24 to 29 pounds.
Sleeping
Sleeping can be difficult with a protruding belly. Lying on the back interferes with blood circulation and you certainly cannot lie on your stomach. It is best to sleep on the sides. You may support your belly with a pillow and place another one between your legs. It is best to sleep on your left to maintain blood flow. Sleep can be disturbed because of frequent urination, heartburn, backache, and shortness of breath. Stress, vivid dreams, and anxiety about child birth can also interfere with a sound sleep.
Sex life
You may have sex if you haven’t leaked water and your membranes are intact, there isn’t any bleeding, and your placenta, the organ that connects the baby to the womb, is situated in a normal position. You may find a comfortable position for sex. However, as pregnancy advances, you may lose the desire and inclination for sex. This may be because of the growing size of your womb and also because you will plan for the birth of your little one on priority.
Other changes
You may experience backache as you adopt a wrong posture due to the large belly. As pregnancy advances, the hormones may relax the joints of pelvic bones and hurt the back. You may use heat pads or ice packs and opt for a relaxing massage. You may do some exercises after consulting your doctor.
You may develop shortness of breath as the growing womb presses upon the lungs and the diaphragm, the muscle that separates the lungs from the abdomen and helps in respiratory movements.
You may develop indigestion and heartburn as the enlarging womb pushes the stomach and intestines out of position and presses upon them. In addition, hormonal changes can cause the digestive system to slow down. You may try some small and frequent meals throughout the day, and avoid fried food.
You may notice some dilated and tortuous blue vessels in your legs. These are called varicose veins. The growing womb presses upon the bigger vessels in the pelvis and interrupts the flow of blood from the legs upwards. Similar dilated vessels may develop in the rectum, the part of the intestine that acts as a storehouse for fecal matter. These are called hemorrhoids and may bleed painfully.
Your breasts will grow bigger and you may even notice yellowish milk like fluid called colostrum from your nipples. The breasts are just preparing to feed the baby soon.
You may have frequent urge to pass urine. This is because the baby settles in the pelvis and irritates the bladder.
You may experience some infrequent contractions of the womb. These are called the ‘Braxton Hicks’ contractions. These are a practice for the final contractions of labor. These may become more frequent as the third trimester approaches an end.
You may have increase in vaginal discharge which is usually white in color and odorless.
You may have swollen feet because the enlarging womb may press upon the blood vessels in the pelvis and hinder the drainage of blood. This will disappear if you take some rest and keep your legs elevated.
Signs that labor might start soon
You can sense an approaching labor if you are a little watchful. The most common felt sign of labor are more frequent contractions of your womb. You may feel a gush of waters. This is because the water filled sac in the womb in which the baby is contained has burst. You should consult your health professional without delay. In the last few weeks, your baby may settle into your pelvis and stop moving. This is called dropping or lightening. Though you may not really feel it, you may be partially relieved from your breathing problems as the pressure on the lungs is lessened due to the baby moving down. Your health professional may examine your cervix, the lower part of the womb that opens into the birth canal. A cervix that begins to open and thin down, is a sign that labor is near. This is called dilatation and effacement of the cervix. As the cervix ripens, you may notice the mucus plug being expelled. This seals the canal of the cervix during pregnancy.
The most certain indication of labor is regular and frequent contractions of the womb. These gradually become stronger and are felt in abdomen and back. Unlike Braxton Hocks contractions, these do not lessen with change in activity. Cervical dilatation and effacement is another sign that confirms labor.
Missed due date
Since the beginning of your pregnancy, you have been calculating your due date. In a normal pregnancy, this date is the end of 40 weeks of pregnancy. You may not strictly deliver on your due date as it is perfectly fine to deliver anywhere between the 37th and 42nd weeks of pregnancy. You are bound to be anxious, if you do not go into labor in time. If you overshoot your due date, you should consult your health professional. You may need labor to be stimulated if you are over 42 weeks. This is done by medical and surgical methods by either giving medicines that stimulate contractions or by artificially rupturing the membranes. This is called ‘induction of labor’.
The last milestone
Pregnancy can be a wonderful experience as you see motherhood unfurl. You have felt, seen, and experienced your baby grow, and have borne pain to get the baby into this world. It is indeed great to be a mom! Happy parenting!
