Pregnancy is a lengthy period, especially when you are on your toes to meet your baby. It is a blissful process that helps you bond with your child as you both grow close to each other. 40 weeks is a long time which is divided into 3 parts known as the trimesters. The 3rd trimester is a time where your baby is about to arrive, and the excitement is out of this world.
The third trimester begins at around 28 weeks in the pregnancy and can last until you give birth to your baby. Commonly labour starts a few weeks after or later, almost 30 percent of babies are overdue in which case the doctor will induce labour if it doesn’t begin naturally.
What Changes Occur in Your Body?
Even if you think it seems impossible, your belly will grow, and it will become much larger. You will also start feeling tired, and sleeping will not be an easy job.
You might also experience frequent heartburns or breathlessness because of the growth of the baby. Even though these difficulties are normal, you can ask your doctor or midwife to suggest a few steps to minimize the pain. You might experience something known as the Braxton-Hicks contractions; this refers to the tightening of the muscular walls of the uterus. These contractions usually last for about 30 seconds and are not to be confused with labour contractions, and these by no means indicate that labour has begun.
If this your first time being a mom at around 36 weeks, you may notice that your baby has positioned itself farther down in your pelvis. This phenomenon is commonly referred to as “the baby has engaged” or “the baby has dropped. When this happens, you will notice that you have a lot more room under your ribs than earlier. This will also make breathing easier, but it will add pressure on your bladder.
A few weeks before labour, your body experiences more drastic changes like your cervix softens and a majority of women experience a ‘show”. A ‘show’ is the expulsion of the mucous plug, which is situated within the cervical canal, and this is one of the major signs that labour is starting.
Emotional Stability
Now that we have discussed about the physical changes in your body, it is also important that we take a look at your emotions as they too play a huge part along this entire journey. Most mothers feel anxious, and they are more worried about their labour and baby’s safety than actually enjoying the feeling of being so close to meet their child. A few mothers have obsessive thoughts about whether they will be good parents and contemplate their decision of becoming a mother. All of these emotions are natural and valid; you are not the only one. Having a life depend on you is a huge responsibility, and it is okay to feel pressured.
During the third trimester, the baby bump gets really big, which makes it uncomfortable to sleep and as mentioned before the extra pressure on your bladder forces to make numerous trips to the washroom. All of this affects your sleep pattern and can be the reason behind your cranky and irritated mood. This also tends to put some women in a low mood.
For most parents, the third trimester seems like the longest period because time tends to move slower as you cannot control the excitement of seeing your baby. But for some parents, the pressure can develop into antenatal anxiety, sometimes depression too. Therefore, in such cases, you should consider meeting a professional and seeking help as soon as possible.
How Does Your Baby Grow?
Your little baby grows a lot larger in the third trimester. From weighing in at about 2 1/2 pounds and approximately 16 inches in length at about week 28, your baby grows to weigh about 6 – 9 pounds and approximately 19 to 22 inches in length. As the baby grows, the cartilage turns into bones in about 7 months to 8 months. This means that you need to eat calcium-rich food because the baby will get all its calcium for you. Around the 32 weeks mark, the baby’s transparent skin starts becoming opaque. The fat that further continues to accumulate protects your baby from the amniotic fluid. The now fully developed digestive system, consists of the meconium (first poop) and other blood cells, vernix and lanugo.
All the senses are developed by now, and your baby can perceive light and dark, can taste what you eat, and can listen to your voice.
The third trimester is the time when the brain grows exceptionally fast and controls involuntary actions such as blinking, dreaming and regulating the body temperature.
Here Are A Few Tips!
To ensure a healthy delivery, you should consider following these few tips we have to offer.
- You should try to keep tracking the movement of your baby by counting the number of kickbacks and analyse the changes, especially in the ninth month.
- You should continue following safe pregnancy exercises as long as your doctor consents to it.
- You should keep a close look at your weight as it can tend to pick up faster at the beginning of the third trimester and recede when your due date is near.
- You should schedule regular checkups to make sure things are going smoothly all through your pregnancy.
- You should prepare for the baby by practising to breastfeed, buying baby gear and selecting an apt paediatrician for your child.
- You should also make sure that you have a stable financial plan and arrange for a cord blood banking if you consider it.
- Make sure you have a hospital bag ready, pack lightly.
Pregnancy can be both an intriguing and overwhelming time. The enthusiasm of meeting your baby can make you forget a few important things, therefore to make sure you don’t miss out on any. Be prepared for the welcome of your baby and ensure that you provide your child with a healthy and happy life. Consider taking parenting classes or educating yourself and prepare for any scenario that may occur. Happy Parenting!