And here you are! You have made it through the first two trimesters of your pregnancy. With a challenging first trimester and a honeymoon period the second trimester, you have now walked into the phase with most visible changes, a lot of kicks in your belly, a little nervousness, and loads of excitement!. The time when you would feel the most pregnant and finally deliver the baby at the end of the third trimester.
What happens during the third trimester?
The beginning of week 28 is the start of the third trimester. It lasts till the time the baby is born. This could be week 40 of pregnancy or post that. This is the time when your belly actually becomes a lot bigger. As you see it on the outside there is a lot of development that has happened inside as well.
- The baby’s cartilage transforms into the bone during the seventh and eighth months. The baby fulfills its calcium requirements through the foods that you consume.
- The baby begins to sense, hear, and taste by week 30 or week 31. Stay happy! Your baby is feeling a lot of things that you are feeling during this time.
- The baby also starts to dream and blink by this time. Its brain grows at a rapid pace during this trimester. It can even regulate its own body temperature.
Issues that you might face during the third trimester :
- Swelling of face, hands or ankles
- Colostrum – breast fluid might begin to leak
- Weight gain, continued breast growth, and sore nipples
- Backaches
- Inability to balance the body
- Difficulty getting up or lying down
It would have been a task to keep the baby safe during the last six months and you are ready to take this up yet again for your last trimester. You are brave to bear everything for your lovely baby who is on its way to come outside. This quick checklist will keep you on track with whether you are keeping that little one secure inside :
- Eat Right
This is the most important time to feed yourself with all the right foods – fruits, vegetables, whole grains. Your body needs all essential nutrients, proteins, calcium, fibers that reach the baby for its wholesome development. This is a crucial time when the baby visibly grows the most. Intaking too much food might lead to gestational diabetes. Make sure you have a balanced diet plan which is sufficient to feed you and the baby. Consult your doctor or dietician for a detailed plan.
While every expecting mother takes the utmost care when it comes to having nutritious food for the baby. There, however, might come a point where the weight gain concerns you so much that you reduce your calorie intake. Please note that this would not be safe for the baby and might cause deficiencies and hamper its growth. Eating right is the key, avoid too less or extra food.
- Sleep Well
Schedule: It’s tough to strike a balance between your work and taking care of the baby. During your third trimester, you would think of numerous things to do before the baby arrives home. And if you are working during the last three months of pregnancy, it will become a complex task to take out time for proper rest. Having so many things to do at the same time might impact your sleep schedule. But it’s imperative to sleep for at least 7 – 8 hours a day.
Posture: It’s the third trimester and your belly has become significantly big. You would feel discomfort in handling your body. It is recommended that you sleep on the left side of your body in these months. Avoid sleeping on your back as it is unsafe for the baby and might increase the chances of stillbirth.
- Travel only when required
Refraining from traveling throughout the pregnancy is good for baby safety. During the third trimester, travel only when it’s urgent, for example, a vital check-up at your doctor’s place. This will help prevent unnecessary pressure on you and the baby and save both of you from unprecedented risk. If you are going by car, make sure you are carefully wearing a seatbelt.
- Do not smoke
We know that you have read this countless times. Consider this one as yet another reminder to not smoke or consume alcohol. It is extremely unsafe for the baby
- Workout
Low impact 20 to a 30-minute workout on a daily basis is healthy and safe for you and the baby. It keeps your body sufficiently active for the upcoming time. Jogging, Walking or pelvic floor exercises will keep you fit and provide a healthy environment for baby’s development. Unless recommended otherwise by your doctor, you can go ahead with light physical activities.
- Wear the right footwear
Wearing the right footwear is extremely important for the last trimester. Your body has by now become quite bulky for you to balance it. Avoid wearing any sort of footwear which makes you uncomfortable. Heels should be avoided as much as possible. Any footwear that hinders your body’s balance is unsafe for the baby and might result in unforeseen circumstances.
- Follow your doctor’s advice
Everyone around you is feeding you with a lot of advice. While you listen to the doable ones and act on the safer ones, the one thing that you should not miss is your doctor’s advice. Doing anything against the gynec’s direction could prove to be a huge mistake. Every expecting mother’s pregnancy journey is different, their bodies and the way their baby is growing is different. Following any hearsay could be completely unsubstantial and would result in something unfortunate. Follow the medical practitioners for your baby’s complete safety.
- Do not Google too much
There are a number of websites, like ours, which aim to answer your queries. There is too much information on the internet and a lot of it is helpful. But before following anything which has a direct impact on something as delicate as your baby’s wellbeing, consult with an experienced medical professional.
The third trimester will pass as happily as your last two trimesters. Keep the hopes high and enjoy this period.
You are doing all you should for your baby’s safety and your little one is to arrive soon. To know more about infant safety outside you can also check out guidelines for bathing and sleeping safety