Third Trimester Pregnancy

You have now entered the 28th week of your pregnancy. The much awaited moment is coming to you gradually. This is perhaps the happiest tenure of your pregnancy. This is the time when you interact with your child and everyone around you becomes a part of that experience husband, children, relatives and friends. This further strengthens the bond between the mother and the child. As the final days approach, try to remain happy, keep doing regular exercises suggested by the experts and have a healthy diet, so that you are ready physically and mentally for the delivery.

During your third semester pregnancy, the baby is completely developed. All the organs have been formed and have started functioning. The child has only to gain weight. The longer he is in the womb, the healthier will he be. As the baby grows in size his movement is restricted considerably as he is short of room. This is the time when the mother can feel the movements very strongly, which go on diminishing as the EDD (the expected date of delivery) arrives.

With everyday as the size and weight of the baby increases, the pressure on the bladder tends to increase. The legs and the pelvis also start feeling the weight. Backaches increase. now is the time when you start losing courage, it is now that you want the baby out as soon as possible so that you are relieved of the burden. But the baby will come only when the time is due, so the best thing you can do is rest as much as possible, avoid standing for long hours, and think about the time when your baby will be in your arms. Just a few more days to go.

Your baby in the third trimester pregnancy:

  • By now your baby who is 36 weeks old is about 18 inches in length. The size increases as the final day approaches. A healthy baby may be around 20 inches long.
  • The waxy, slimy coating called vernix has finally disappeared.
  • The head moves towards the pelvis, an indication that the final stage of pregnancy has arrived.

Changes in the Mother during third trimester pregnancy.

As the due date comes closer, mothers to be are full of anxiety. With the growth of the baby, breathing becomes more and more difficult. Some of them suffer from insomnia. While some just bask in the warmth of motherhood awaiting the arrival of their little one.

The following changes take place in the mother:

  • The child has the heat of his own, which he emanates; this apparently increases the skin temperature of the mother, giving her hot flushes.
  • The pressure on the bladder forces her to urinate frequently.
  • As the mother tends to retain fluids, swellings can be seen on her hands, face, feet and ankles.
  • Hormonal changes in the body may stimulate the growth of hair on her body.
  • She may also experience contractions which are commonly referred to as false pains, or false labour, also known as Braxton-Hicks contractions.
  • The itching on the belly due to the stretching of the uterus gives rise to stretch marks. Although stretch marks are also visible on the breasts, hips and thighs.
  • The nipples may start leaking as the colostrum, which is a liquid that is a very rich source of nourishment for the child starts oozing.
  • She may suffer from haemorrhoids.
  • Heartburn, indigestion and constipation become common.

The third trimester pregnancy is the time when you have got to be careful with your activities. Do not lift heavy loads or small children if you have any. As your equilibrium is altered, there are chances that you might trip with heavy loads. Also added loads mean added risks that will put unnecessary pressure on the uterus, which is already under heavy pressure.

The third trimester of your pregnancy means ceremonies, celebrations and baby showers. By now you know everything about your child including the sex. Now is the time to get ready. You never know when there is an alarm and you would have to rush to the hospital. So keep your bags ready, all the stuff that you might need. Make a list and get the stuff beforehand. Once you are in labour then you have no time to think. And now that you are all set, just relax and wait for the most awaited moment when your baby will be in your arms.