Third Trimester Pregnancy
Third Trimester
If you’re not sure if you’re in your third trimester yet you may be wondering “When does the third trimester start?” Pregnancy is measured by the number of weeks or months since your last period. Your third trimester begins at 28 weeks pregnant.
This final trimester will no doubt be as emotionally challenging as it is physically challenging. In the third trimester babies are notorious for making their mothers uncomfortable. It’s at this point that most women feel they just want to get their pregnancy over with. It’s important to try to stay positive and look forward to the end of pregnancy when you’re finally able to hold your new baby in your arms.
Third Trimester Fetus
Third Trimester Fetal Development
By the end of your seventh month of pregnancy in the third trimester your baby will begin to build up their own fat deposits that can later be used to live off of independently. Your baby will be about 14 inches long and could weigh anywhere from two to four pounds. Your baby will now be fully able to hear everything going on outside the womb. Your baby will even begin to respond to stimulation such as pain and light.
In your eighth month of pregnancy in the third trimester your baby will grow to about 18 to 20 inches long and could weigh up to 6 pounds. During this period your baby will continue building fat deposits used to sustain life outside the womb. Your baby’s brain and central nervous system are now developing rapidly. Most internal systems are now operational in your baby’s body with the exception of the lungs which develop last.
By the ninth month of pregnancy during your third trimester your baby will finally have fully developed lungs ready to cry the second they are born. Your baby will now shift into position to be birthed which can cause pelvic pain. By the end of the nine month your baby will finally be born and could weigh 6 to 10 pounds and could be up to 20 inches or more in length.
Fetal Hiccups Third Trimester
In your third trimester you can even begin to notice your baby hiccupping. These small jerking motions may tickle a little bit but are no cause for alarm. They probably won’t last more than 5 or 10 minutes and most mothers describe the feeling as amazing.
Third Trimester Symptoms
In this trimester you will easily be able to feel baby move around inside you. Although this can be a truly magical feeling, it can often be accompanied by extreme discomfort. Below you’ll find a list of common third trimester symptoms.
Third Trimester Weight Gain
By the end of your third trimester you should be approximately 25 to 35 pounds heavier than you were before you became pregnant. A lot of this weight is held in the baby, placenta and amniotic fluids that support your baby’s growth and development. Extra fat storage, mostly in the breasts accounts for some of the weight gain as well as an increase in blood and fluid volume.
Third Trimester Fatigue
It’s not easy to grow a human. It’s also not easy carrying around an extra 30 pounds. Your uterus can actually push other organs in the body aside to make room for a growing baby, which puts extra stress on your body. Here are a few things you can do to fight back against fatigue.
- Light Exercise – Even a quick walk around the block or up a flight of stairs will do the trick. Prenatal yoga and swimming are also excellent forms of exercise in your third trimester. Always pay attention to your body and never over work yourself. If just the thought of getting up makes you feel tired, you might want to take a break.
- Taking Breaks – Taking small breaks during the day can provide the temporary relief you need to stay sane. Meditation is also helpful, though just closing your eyes for a few minutes can help a lot. This can make a huge difference in your third trimester.
- Eat Small, Frequent Meals – Food gives your body energy, but eating too much can make you feel tired and bloated. Small, healthy meals and snacks like fruits and nuts can help keep your energy levels up without weighing you down.
Third Trimester Nausea
While many women feel nausea and morning sickness only in the first trimester, as many as 1 in 5 women will have trouble with nausea in the third trimester. Up to 5 out of 100 women will have morning sickness and nausea through their third trimester all the way up to delivery.
This nausea can be credited to an influx of hormones in the third trimester. Women with high levels of hCG are particularly susceptible to morning sickness and nausea. It’s also common for nausea to be caused by the sheer size of the fetus. This is likely to occur right after a meal and may be followed by heartburn and indigestion.
Nausea isn’t exactly a cause for alarm; however, there are some late-stage pregnancy liver problems that are known to cause nausea as well. Although these conditions are rare they can also be extremely life threatening if left untreated. Most doctors will recommend testing for women who experience nausea and abdominal pain in the third trimester to check for any liver problems.
If nausea is accompanied by severe headaches, abdominal pain and visual distortions (like seeing spots) in your third trimester you should get medical attention immediately. These are the symptoms of preeclampsia, an illness that affects nearly 1 in 10 pregnant women. Preeclampsia can cause a wide range of problems including death.
Pelvic Pressure during Pregnancy
By the beginning of your third trimester your baby will have already become quite large and will begin to move into position for birth by turning upside down, squarely positioning their head on your pelvis. This position can cause a lot of pelvis pressure as your baby makes room for a growing baby. On the bright side, when your baby drops into this position you will feel a lot less pressure on your lungs. This will allow you to finally take a deep breath again.
How to Treat Pelvic Pressure During Pregnancy
Fortunately, there are some things you can do to help alleviate the pain of pelvic pressure in your third trimester. Here are a few suggestions:
- Pelvic Exercise – Exercises like pelvic tilts can help strengthen your hips and relieve pain.
- Warm Bath – Floating in any type of water will release your body from the strain of gravity. An Epsom salt bath can help relieve pain and makes your skin feel great.
- Belly Sling – A belly sling is a lot like it sounds. Belly slings are elastic straps that are designed to help lessen the effect of gravity on your growing belly.
- Prenatal Massage – For you, and not the baby of course! License therapists can provide prenatal massages to help loosen you up and they make you feel great all over.
Swelling During Pregnancy
Swelling during your final trimester of pregnancy can be quite common. Swelling, also know n as edema, is caused be a retention of excess fluids, mostly around the legs and ankles. About 70% of women suffer from swelling during pregnancy, so it is hard to avoid. However, there are some things you can do to help keep the swelling down.
Treating Swelling During Pregnancy
Here are a few things you can try to avoid swell in your third trimester:
- Get Plenty of Rest – After a long day of being on your feet you may notice they don’t fit in your shoes quite as well as they did before. This is completely normal and can be relieved by taking a load off. Regular breaks during the day where you can put your feet up for a few minutes will help prevent swelling in the feet and ankles.
- Drink Lots of Water – It may seem strange to drink more fluids when you are retaining fluids, drinking extra water can flush out any waste in your body which may have caused the swelling to begin with. It’s recommended to drink 64 ounces of water a day though pregnant women could probably use more than that.
- Salt Intake – While excessive amounts of salt have been known to cause swelling, the opposite is also true. Not having enough salt in your diet can also cause swelling. Moderate salt intake is recommended.
Cramping During Third Trimester
Some mild cramping may be normal in your third trimester as your uterus continues to grow and your baby makes room for the baby. The ligaments supporting the growing uterus can stretch and cause cramping. Braxton hicks contractions are also a common occurrence as your body prepares for the big day.
Mild or severe cramping that’s accompanied by diarrhea and back pain may be an indicator of preterm labor. Preterm labor is when your body goes into labor before you are due. Because it’s so hard to tell normal cramps and contractions from preterm labor, it’s important to consult with a physician if the cramping continues.
Third Trimester Ultrasound
Third Trimester Ultrasound
An ultrasound in the third trimester can give you a good idea of exactly how your baby is going to look when delivered, especially if you get a third trimester ultrasound during your last month of pregnancy. In your third trimester it will be difficult to see your baby’s entire body on the screen at one time. You may get a face, or an arm but odds are your baby will be too big to see entirely.
Sometimes a third trimester ultrasound is necessary to check if your baby is in breech position. Breech position is when your baby is in the womb feet down and head up. Normally a baby will turn and position herself with her head down in your pelvis to prepare for delivery. If your baby is in breech position, you may have to schedule a cesarean section operation. A cesarean section, also known as a C section, is an operation that delivers your baby through a small incision rather than vaginally. You may also opt for a C section if you’ve become overdue during your third trimester.
Pregnancy Exercises Third Trimester
Although you probably won’t want to go out jogging, there are some easy exercises you can do to help keep your body fit. Many yoga exercises are perfect for pregnant women as they are low impact and not physically straining. These exercises can help keep your tendons and joints stay in top condition even during periods when you’re not able to be active otherwise.
Half Butterfly
Start by sitting somewhere comfortable with your legs fully extended. Slowly, bend your knee and bring your foot up as close to your body as possible. This may be a stretch, so only go as far as you feel comfortable going. You can pull your leg towards your body using your opposite hand (right leg, left hand pulling) and rest the hand from the same side on the knee. Gently lift the knee up and then press it back down with the hand on your knee. Try to touch our knee to the floor while exhaling. Do this about 10 times for each leg. The half butterfly is great for loosening up your knee and hip joints which can actually speed up the amount of time it takes to deliver your baby.
Full Butterfly
Once you’ve mastered the half butterfly in your third trimester you can graduate to the full butterfly. The concept is basically the same except that this time you will be working both legs at once. This can actually save you a lot of time, allowing you to stretch both knees and hips at the same time. The only difference with the full butterfly is that you will be putting your hands on your feet and pressing down on your legs using your elbows instead of your hands. This little exercise can do wonders for tired legs and provide a world of relief for inner thigh muscles which makes it perfect for the third trimester.
Sleeping Abdominal Stretch
This yoga pose is perfect for relieving constipation and improving your digestion. It can also help to alleviate the strain and stiffness in your spine cause by sitting for extended periods of time. To start this pose, pretend you’re about to do a sit-up with your hands behind your head and your feet flat on the ground with your knees bent up into the air. Slowly lower both legs to one side while still bent at the knee. Turn your head in the opposite direction to provide a sort of twist to your spine. Repeat by facing the opposite direction. You should hold this pose for about 10-15 seconds each rep. These exercises can be performed daily to help relieve pain and strengthen your body during your third trimester.
