How To Remain Chill and Enjoy Your Pregnancy: The Third Trimester
And you’ve made it to the third trimester!
It is definitely the hardest. For me at least. The belly is huge now. As much as I tried to walk normal, I still waddled and walked like a penguin.
Your baby is considered “full term,” at 37thweek, even though your due date is three weeks away. If you go into labor now, baby’s lungs will likely be mature enough to fully adjust to life outside the womb. Lauren was already in the brace (upside down) position and I can’t wait to get her out. I was hoping she would arrive early but actually the longer they bake in the womb, the better. She came just one day before her EDD.
Check Up Appointments
During the last month of your pregnancy, you might start to feel like you live in the doctor’s office. You will be going in every week from 36 weeks on. The baby’s position, size and heart rate will be monitored, and the doctor will also check the amount of fluid in your placenta.
Take time to ask your physician or the nurses about anything related to labor and delivery. This is definitely an exciting time, but also can be scary. Don’t be shy about asking questions. That’s what they are there for!
Symptoms
You will continue to gain weight throughout the third trimester. You will feel hungry very quickly but unable to eat a lot at each meal. This is because the growing womb takes up most of the real estate inside your body. Most likely, you’ll feel like you just keep getting bigger and bigger! At some point, you may notice that your baby dropped (into your pelvic area instead of sitting high near your tummy). Do expect frequent urination to soon plague your life. Baby is sitting right on your bladder, which makes it hard to go very long without using the bathroom. It’s kind of inconvenient but at least your baby is no longer crushing against your rib bones.
You will likely feel out of breath quite often. This doesn’t mean you are unhealthy. Again it is because the baby is taking up a lot of space; and you are carrying a lot of weigh around you all the time.
It may be harder than ever to get comfortable to sIeep well at night. If you can, take it easy through the day — this may be your last chance to do so for quite a while. Keep monitoring your baby’s movements, too, and let your doctor know immediately if you notice a decrease. Though her quarters are getting cozy, she should still be as active as before.
Not everyone gets stretch marks, but if you do, don’t fret. Most of the time, they fade significantly after pregnancy. Mine didn’t appear till I was well into my 3rd trimester. There are creams that supposedly prevent, or lessen them. Mine didn’t work, I’m blaming it on genetics.
To me, the weirdest bodily changes in pregnancy is having my belly button pop out. My sister didn’t warn me, because it didn’t happen in both her pregnancies. Anyway, I took this opportunity of giving it a good clean!
Swelling is pretty common in pregnancy, especially in the feet. However, if you do swell, make sure you monitor this. In some cases, it can be a symptom of pre-eclampsia, which is very serious.
Preparing for Delivery and Baby
This is time to make the final preparations for the arrival of your baby. This includes everything from washing all those teeny, tiny outfits, to setting up the nursery. Unpack the sterilizer from the box, set it up and find out how it works now.
You’ll also want to pack your hospital bag, make arrangements for other children (if you have them) for when you go into labor, and if you have enough energy, maybe even make some freezer meals.
Taking care of yourself
Continue doing everything you can to be healthy. I walked a lot; apparently it helped with easier delivery. In my case, it worked! Lauren came out after 3 pushes.
Treat yourself
Now is the time to get that haircut you’ve been thinking about. Go for a pedicure, and even look into getting a pregnancy massage. You’ll not only look good, you will feel better.
Eat Well
Go ahead and treat yourself some dessert every once in a while, but make sure the bulk of your meals is the healthy stuff. Chow down on vegetables and fruit, drink enough water, and consume some protein, healthy carbs, and sources of calcium. Eat as much fresh produce as you can!
Spend Time with Your Spouse
Remember, this parenting journey is not just yours; it’s also your partner’s. Spend some alone time with each other, talk, let him feel the baby kicks and enjoy each other’s company. Knowing he is there for you can be extremely comforting.
Spend Time with Your Baby
Take time every day to sit with your hands on your belly and feel baby inside you. All too soon, this will be a distant memory. Baby can hear your voice, so definitely talk to him or her. It feels funny talking to yourself at first but soon you will be a natural and refer to yourself as mommy. Yes you, a mommy! When your baby is born, it is soothing to them to hear a familiar voice. Talk about love at first ‘sound’.
Capture This Moment
I wished I had done this. Take more photos of your pregnant self. Whether you have professional maternity pictures taken or taking selfies with your phone’s camera, be sure to capture some of the last and most pronounced images of your pregnant self. Even if you don’t enjoy seeing yourself pregnant, your child will love seeing a picture of mommy when she was in her tummy.
Pregnancy Privileges
People are very careful around a pregnant lady. Enjoy the seat offered to you on a public transport, the dedicated car park for cars with kids (well, technically you don’t have kids yet, but people will not blame you for taking the spot now). I also noticed that people would make way for me while walking on the street. I must have looked huge, but hey, soak up the extra attention while you still can. Oh, this is the perfect time to ask for favours or to get your partner to do things for you. Ask nicely, of course.
The “home stretch” of pregnancy may feel long, But all too soon, it will be over and you will hold your baby in your arms. Taking moments to enjoy the final weeks of your pregnancy will help you appreciate the experience throughout your life.
This concludes the Enjoy Your Pregnancy series. You can find the post on first and second trimester here.
I hope you feel a little more prepared for your upcoming birth!
PS: Get tips from experience mothers on how to prepare for the birth.
PPS: Do follow me on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for updates on pregnancy, motherhood and everything else in between.
I hope you feel a little more prepared for your upcoming birth!
PS: Get tips from experience mothers on how to prepare for the birth.
PPS: Do follow me on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for updates on pregnancy, motherhood and everything else in between.
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HELLO! I’M MICHELLE.
I love my family, building successful ventures and helping others achieve their dream motherhood. This blog combines those three loves.
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