Wow, you're really pregnant now, mama-to-be! The end is in sight, and soon you'll be holding your little bundle of joy in your arms. Have you started to pick out baby names? Decorated the nursery? Now is definitely the time to do it, if you haven't already.
It's not uncommon for pregnant mothers to start to "nest" in the third trimester. This nesting instinct can be mild in some women, and more severe it others. You may have the obsessive need to clean and tidy up your house, or organize and prepare your nursery. In the final days of pregnancy, nesting can be a sign that your labor and delivery is just around the corner!
The third trimester lasts between weeks 29 and 40 of gestation. Keep in mind, though, that a full-term baby can come anytime between week 37 and 42, and only a small percentage of babies actually arrive on their due date.
Get ready to see your doctor very regularly in the third trimester - every two weeks up until week 36! From week 36 until you deliver, you will be having prenatal visits every week!
Now that your baby's due date is just around the corner, expect lots of internal and external body changes to occur in the next few weeks. You will gain the most weight in the third trimester, as your baby is packing on the pounds and maturing.
As your uterus expands in these last three months, it will add pressure to your abdomen, back, sides, and pelvis. As a result, expect to experience more pregnancy hip pain, pelvic pain, backaches, and sciatica . The fatigue and frequent urination that you experienced in the first trimester will also return in full force by the third trimester.
With your belly being the largest it has ever been, you will most likely experience pregnancy insomnia, You may find it difficult to find a comfortable position to sleep because of your size. Insomnia can really affect your moods, and your relationship with your husband or partner can suffer as a result. Body pillows become a necessity in the third trimester.
Unfortunately, for some women, stretch marks are the worse symptom of pregnancy. Between 50 and 75 percent of women develop stretch marks during pregnancy. Stretch mark prevention includes keeping hydrated with water and massaging the affected area in a circular motion. Because there is a hereditary aspect of stretch marks, some women will get these unattractive marks, regardless of how well lotioned or hydrated they are. Stretch mark treatment may include plastic surgery, prescription creams, and other surgical procedures. However, these treatments can be expensive, so embracing your stretch marks as a side effect of having your beautiful baby is the way to go!
It's the final stretch of pregnancy! You won't have to carry all that extra weight for much longer . . . but just because you've got a big belly doesn't mean you should stop exercising or eating right! Women who exercise regularly will have more energy, experience less swelling, less back pain, and have an easier labor. With all these positives, who wouldn't want to exercise during pregnancy? If you're still not feel motivated enough, or simply don't have the energy, why not try a few pregnancy stretches? They may make you feel better.
Along with exercise, remember to continue to eat right during pregnancy. To decrease your fatigue, you may want to eat six mini-meals throughout the day, instead of three large meals. Breakfast can start out with oatmeal with bananas and a glass of orange juice. For variety, you may want to add some scrambled eggs to the menu. A mid-morning snack can include a yogurt parfait or even some low salt pretzels, crackers, or even a few veggie sticks. Instead of a heavy meal at lunch, eat a salad, pasta, or soup that has plenty of vegetables and at least one source of protein. A smoothie makes a refreshing mid-afternoon snack. Go wild for dinner, and choose grilled or baked lean meats or fish, or even a nice, warming stew. An evening snack can offer a filling and delicious treat before resting for the night. Eat your snack at least an hour before bedtime. These are just some healthy ideas that will refresh you and give you some much needed energy.
As your delivery day approaches, your emotions may whirl out of control as the anxiety and stress of being a new parent begins to hit you. To help you feel better, reach out and get emotional support from your family, friends, and partner. Support groups and even counseling can help alleviate your fears. Open communication with your husband or partner is also important. For some women, keeping a journal helps prioritize and find solutions for the issue that they are facing. Express yourself and don't keep anything bottled up!
Remember that having crying spells one second and laughing hysterical the next is a perfectly normal part of pregnancy. This emotional rollercoaster won't last forever. To cope, try to find ways to relax!
Along with your emotional changes, don't be too shocked when it starts to impact your sex life. Just because you're rounder and larger doesn't mean that you can't have sex or be intimate with your partner or husband. Sex is actually a natural inducer!
The end is in sight, and it's been quite a journey! Any complication that occurs in the third trimester may lead to premature delivery. Luckily, with today's modern technology and wonderful neonatal intensive care units, babies who are born early have a good chance for survival.
In the third trimester, a number of obstetric problems can complicate pregnancy, including problems with your placenta (placenta previa or placenta abruption), vaginal bleeding, and fevers of over 100 degrees F.
Gestational diabetes and high blood pressure in pregnancy (called preeclampsia) can also causes problems. If these conditions are not controlled, it can become dangerous for both mom and baby. You may need to have your labor induced.
Towards the end of your pregnancy, between week 35 and 37, you will be tested for Group B Strep - a bacteria that is commonly found in a woman's bowel, vagina, or bladder. Normally Strep B doesn't cause any symptoms to the woman, but it can hurt your baby. Your baby can become infected before or during the birthing process. Babies infected with Strep B can develop pneumonia and meningitis, and even long-term hearing and vision problems. That's why prevention and treatment is key.
Are you ready to say hello to your baby? Have you thought about what to bring to the hospital for delivery? It's a good idea to have your hospital bag packed from week 35 onward, as you never know when your little one will make his or her entrance into the world! You should also start planning for your hospital stay now.
In the last few weeks of pregnancy, you may experience false labor pains, also called "Braxton-Hicks contractions." Unlike real labor pains, these contractions will be irregular and will not get stronger in time.
Have you made the decision of whether or not you want a medicated labor? There are many pain medications available, including localized pain relievers (analgesics) and regional pain blockers (epidurals).
Keep in mind that the better you've cared for yourself, the easier your labor will be and you won't have as many physical health consequences of pregnancy and delivery. Regular exercise and healthy eating habits will help with your body bounce back from pregnancy.
Now what about the psychological consequences of pregnancy? Getting emotional support from your friends and family, as well as getting adequate sleep at night, will help you cope with all your emotions after the baby comes.
In the third trimester, you and your husband may want to think about cord blood banking.
You can privately bank your baby's umbilical cord blood or donate it for research.
Congrats, mama! Isn't your baby as cute as can be? Those last nine months were definitely worth it!
As you're caring for your newborn, don't worry if you're still experiencing raging mood swings. Postpartum mood swings are often very normal. These "baby blues" shouldn't last too long, only a few days or two weeks after giving birth. Getting some rest should help level out your emotions. Try taking a ten or fifteen minute refresher nap when you can.
If your moods don't improve after three weeks, you may have postpartum depression, which shares some common symptoms as the baby blues. Postpartum depression can make it difficult to bond and care for your baby, so getting help from a therapist or your doctor is very important.
Remember to take it easy after your labor and delivery. Pregnancy and delivery can often take a lot out of you. Your body needs to heal-both physically and emotionally. Doctors often recommend that you wait six weeks before resuming sex, so your body can heal. Your doctor may also suggest that you avoid heavy exercise or hard labor as well.
To ensure that you are healing properly, you will see your doctor six weeks after your delivery.
Are you breastfeeding your baby? The pregnancy body pillow that you purchased can also be used as nursing pillow.
Wow, you're really pregnant now, mama-to-be! The end is in sight, and soon you'll be holding your little bundle of joy in your arms. Have you started to pick out baby names? Decorated the nursery? Now is definitely the time to do it, if you haven't already.
