Guide to the Third Trimester of Pregnancy

Guide to Third Trimester

It may feel as if there’s no way your belly can get any bigger, but there’s no doubt about it – it will get bigger over the course of the third trimester of pregnancy. A lot bigger. Here’s what to expect from your body and your rapidly-maturing baby in these final few weeks.

When is the Third Trimester?

The third trimester begins in week 28 of pregnancy and lasts until you give birth, which may be round week 40 of pregnancy. It’s likely however, that labour will start a couple of weeks earlier or later – infact, at least 50 percent of all babies are latecomers. If you do make it to (or past) week 40, you can try a few tricks to naturally induce labour on your own.

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Baby’s Growth During the Third Trimester

Your little one will get a whole lot larger in the third trimester, growing from about 2.5 pounds and 16 inches long in week 28 of pregnancy to between 6 and 9 pounds and 19-22 inches long in week 40. Indeed, your baby is growing fast – so don’t be surprised if their increase in size along with a decrease in living space leads to some serious kicks and pokes in your gut!
Here are a few highlights happening in your third trimester of pregnancy:

  • Bones: As your baby transforms cartilage to bone in months 7 and 8, they’ll be getting all of their calcium from you – so be sure to eat plenty of calcium-rich foods.

  • Hair, Skin and Nails: By week 32 of pregnancy, baby’s formally see-through skin will become opaque. In week 36, fat continues to accumulate as your baby sheds his vernix (the waxy substance that protects their skin from your amniotic fluid) and lanugo (the hairy coat that keeps them warm in there).

  • Digestive System: In the final weeks of pregnancy, meconium (or baby’s first poop) consisting mostly of blood cells, vernix and lanugo starts to build up in baby’s intestines.

  • Five Senses: Your baby’s touch receptors will be fully developed around week 29 or week 30. By week 31 of pregnancy, your baby will get signals from all five senses, perceiving light and dark, tasting what you eat and listening to the sound of your voice.

  • Brain: In the third trimester, your baby’s brain will grow faster than ever, test-driving some nifty skills including blinking, dreaming and regulating their own body temperature.

Around week 34 of pregnancy, baby’s body turns southward, settling into a heads-down, bottom-up position – unless ofcourse your baby stubbornly remains in the breech position (in which case your doctor will likely attempt to manually turn baby around week 37).

Changes in Your Body

With that busy baby inside your belly, you’re probably feeling lots of foetal activity. You may also be experiencing changes in your body as your bump gets bigger than ever, including:

  • Abdominal Achiness: As your round ligaments stretch to accommodate your growing bump, you may feel crampy or sharp pain. There’s not much you can do other than take it easy.

  • Fatigue: You’ll feel more zapped this trimester because of the demands pregnancy is putting on your body, so eat well and frequently, stay active and solve pregnancy sleep problems.

  • Heartburn: In the last few weeks of pregnancy, your uterus will push your stomach and its contents upward, causing that persistent burn.

  • Braxton Hicks Contractions:Your body’s way of preparing for labour, you’ll start to feel these irregular practise contractions now until real labour starts.

  • Varicose Veins: You may notice these bulging veins (including haemorrhoids) in your lower body due to all the extra blood you’re pumping. The good news: If you didn’t have them before pregnancy, they’ll likely disappear after you deliver.

  • Stretch Marks: These tiny tears, which appear in skin that’s being stretched to the limit during pregnancy, are usually a result of genetics. Moisturise to minimize their appearance.

  • Backache: As the pregnancy hormone relaxin loosens your joints and your growing belly pulls your centre of gravity forwad, you may start to have an achy back – another reason to put your feet up, literally. (Sharp, shooting pain from your back down your legs, on the other hand, may be a sign of sciatica).

  • Crazy Dreams: Your dreams may be more vivid than ever as your near your due date, likely due in part to pregnancy hormones. They’re totally normal – so take them with a grain of salt and have fun swapping stories with a loved one! For more information about pregnancy dreams, have a read of our previous blog.

  • Clumsiness: Your hormones are on overdrive, your belly is throwing you off balance and you’re more forgetful than ever. Try to be careful and have a sense of humour about it!

  • Lack of Bladder Control: You sneeze = you pee. Indeed, all that extra weight on your pelvic floor makes it harder to stay dry.

  • Leaky Breasts: Your body is warming up to feed baby.

With all of these pregnancy symptoms and more weighing on you, just try to keep your eye on the prize: your beautiful baby who you’ll meet in just a few weeks!

Symptoms to Have Checked Out

As D-day approaches, you may feel false labour symptoms. A few of the real signs of labour to watch out for include:

Your midwife will likely tell you when it’s time to call or head to the hospital – likely around the time active labour starts. Congrats! Baby is on the way!

  • Lightening: By about week 36, you may find yourself wadding as your baby drops in your pelvis.

  • Bloody Show: This stringy mucus tinged pink or brown with blood is a sure sign labour is well on its way. You also may or may not notice the discharge of your mucus plug.

  • Labour Contractions: Compared to Braxton Hicks contractions, these intensify, rather than diminish, the more you move around.

  • Your Water Breaking: This may not even happen, however, until you’re already at the hospital.

  • Brain: In the third trimester, your baby’s brain will grow faster than ever, test-driving some nifty skills including blinking, dreaming and regulating their own body temperature.

Third Trimester To-Do’s

  • Keep Track of Foetal Movement: from about week 28 onwards. You’ll want to cout baby’s kicks regularly and note any changes in activity especially during month 9.

  • Watch Your Weight: Your pregnancy weight gain will pick up speed at the beginning of the third trimester and taper down as your due date nears.

  • Keep Moving: As long as you have your practitioners OK and follow a few fitness safety precautions, it’s safe to continue pregnancy-safe exercises up until your due date.

  • Take a Hospital Tour: If you haven’t already, month 7 is a great time to take a tour of the hospital or birthing centre where you plan to give birth.

  • Buy Baby Gear: Make sure you have the essentials – a crib, pram, car seat, changing may and baby monitor.

  • Learn About the Stages of Labour: Get prepared for baby’s birthday by learning what to expect during early, active and transitional labour, as well as pushing baby out and delivering the placenta.

  • Consider How You’d Like to Manage Labour Pain: Want an epidural or other medication to manage labour pain? Thinking about having a natural birth, possibly a water birth?

  • Check Your Birth Plan: From whether or not you want an epidural to when and who cuts baby’s umbilical cord, make or finalise your birth plan. If you need help with this, check our previous blog!

  • Set Up the Nursery: Get all of the essentials you’ll need and don’t forget baby basics like bottles, baby clothes, diapers, wipes, dummies and formula (if you’re not planning to breastfeed).

  • Stock Your Fridge: Whip up a few meals to keep in your freezer for the first few weeks, when you’ll be busy with a new baby and recovering from birth.

  • Pack Your Hospital Bag: Pack light – but don’t forget any home comforts from home that you’ll want to have with you. If you need help with this, read our previous blog!

  • Learn What Happens After Birth: Read up on what happens in the first 24 hours after birth as your body repairs and you begin to adjust to your new role. Learn more about all the exciting milestones that happen in baby’s first year of life – there’s so much to look forward to!

Getting excited? You should be – it won’t be long now until you meet your baby!

If you can’t wait or really want to know what your baby looks like, Window to the Womb offer 4D baby scans between 24-34 weeks at any of our nationwide studios. For more information, please visit our Packages & Prices page on the website.