What Happens in the Third Trimester?
What Happens in the Third Trimester?
3rd Trimester (Week 27 to the end of the pregnancy)
Changes in Your Body:
Expect the same discomforts you had in your second trimester as well as you may find breathing to be even more difficult as well as more trips to the bathroom even more often. Don't worry, these problems are occurring because your baby is getting bigger. Your baby is fine and these problems will lessen once you give birth. However, if you feel something is wrong, call your doctor immediately.
Aches and Pains in the Third Trimester:
* Heartburn
* Swelling of the ankles, fingers, and face. If you notice any sudden or extreme swelling or if you gain a lot of weight really quickly, call your doctor right away. This could be a sign of preeclampsia or toxemia.
* Hemorrhoids
* Tender Breasts
* Trouble Sleeping
Your cervix becomes thinner and softer as you approach your due date, which is a normal and natural process that helps the birth canal to open during the birthing process.
Weight Gain:
On average, you should gain about one pound a week, or three to four pounds per month, during the third trimester. Keep in mind that about 7 1/2 pounds of that weight is your baby.
Changes in Your Baby:
You will feel the kicks and movements as much as you did in the second trimester. During this final stage of your pregnancy, your baby is continuing to grow.
As your body prepares for birth, the baby will start to move into its birth position, and as a result, you might notice the baby "dropping," or moving down lower in your abdomen. This can reduce the pressure on your lungs and rib cage, making it easier to breathe.
At birth, the average baby is 20 to 22 inches long and weighs 7 1/2 pounds. A healthy range is considered to be between 5 pounds, 11 1/2 ounces and 8 pounds, 5 3/4 ounces.
Sleeping in the 3rd Trimester:
Expect your energy levels to decrease as you enter the ninth month. Make sure you get plenty of rest. The baby's movements, bathroom runs and an increase in your body's metabolism can make sleeping difficult.
Try these tips for sleeping in the last three months of pregnancy:
* avoid eating large meals three hours before going to bed
* do mild exercise like walking
* avoid taking long naps during the day
* talk with your partner, friends, doctor or midwife to relieve stress
Doctors Visits:
See your doctor or midwife regularly. From 30 weeks to 38 weeks of pregnancy, most doctors and midwives recommend one office visit every two weeks. After 38 weeks, women normally see their doctor or midwife every week until delivery.
If you plan on a non-surgical, vaginal birth, you should talk to your doctor about the pros and cons of pain relief. Some women opt for pain medicines and others want to deliver naturally, without medicine.
Inducing Labor:
Five percent of babies are born on their due dates. If you are late a few days, this is normal. However, once you become late one to two weeks, your doctor might consider inducing labour.
Some reasons why doctors induce labor include:
* The mother has a chronic illness like high blood pressure or diabetes that threatens the health of the baby.
* The baby is not growing normally.
* A woman's "water breaks" which means the membranes that surround the fetus rupture but contractions don't start within a safe amount of time.
Most doctors induce labor in the hospital to ensure the health of the mother and baby. There are many ways to start contractions. Doctors can rupture the membranes (break the water) surrounding the fetus. They can also insert a suppository containing a hormone into the vagina. Most often, doctors use a medicine called Pitocin to induce labor. Pitocin is a hormone that causes contractions. Women in the hospital receive Pitocin through a vein in the arm or hand.
Deciding to Breastfeed or Bottle-Feed:
Breast-feeding is much better than formula-feeding for your baby's health and your own. Find out all the facts about breast-feeding and then make the decision that is right for you.
When to Call Your Doctor:
Before your due date, make sure to talk with your doctor about how to reach him or her if you go into labor. It's also helpful to be familiar with the hospital or birthing center, where you should park, and where to check in ahead of time. Know that sometimes you can think you're in labor, but really are not (called false labor). This happens to many women, so don't feel embarrassed if you go to the hospital certain that you are in labor, only to be sent home!
It's always better to be seen by a doctor as soon as possible once labor has begun. Here are the signs of true labor:
* Contractions at regular and increasingly shorter intervals that also become stronger in intensity.
* Lower back pain that doesn't go away. You might also feel premenstrual and crampy.
* Your water breaks (can be a large gush or a continuous trickle) and you have contractions.
* A bloody (brownish or blood-tinged) mucous discharge. This is the mucous plug that blocks the cervix. Labor could be at any time, or days away.
* Your cervix is dilating (opening up) and becoming thinner and softer (also called effacement). During a pelvic exam, your doctor will be able to tell if these things are happening.
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