Are you pregnant with your first child? If so, you have to come to the right place as this article will give you some information on what to expect in the third trimester of pregnancy. This will help you know more about your baby’s development and the changes in your body.
Your third trimester of pregnancy will start at 28 weeks. This is the stage when you will be more overwhelmed by the feelings of giving birth and be frightened by the labor pains at the same time. You would also start to fantasize about the baby developing or growing inside of you until your delivery arrives. Moreover, you can experience more than the soft kicks of your baby legs and sudden movements inside the womb at this time.
What to Expect In the Third Trimester of Pregnancy
You can prepare to experience some strange feelings during the last trimester, but you don’t have to worry if you are observing a few of the symptoms below:
Riveting cramps and pain: It is extremely common for women to have cramps during this time. In fact, cramping symptoms are normal unless you are feeling intolerable pain. You might feel restless and tired if you have cramps in the abdomen and back.
Increased urination: You might start to urinate more often because of the increase size of your uterus. This enlargement will put a lot stress on your urinary bladder and the symptoms are normally felt in the beginning of the third trimester. Aside from that, the increase pressure on your bladder will cause leaking urine. This problem usually go away on its own after a woman gives birth, but you could do kegel exercises regularly to strengthen the bladder muscles.
Heaviness and weight gain: At this time, your baby will be in the final development stage so your uterus will expand to accommodate him/her. This will cause you to gain weight and feel heavier than normal.
Bleeding gums: During pregnancy, the rate of your blood flow will increase and cause you to experience certain symptoms. Bleeding gums can be observed throughout this entire time. You might also notice sporadic nose bleeding.
Difficulty having sex: When you are getting close to the end of your pregnancy, it will become more difficult for you to have sex because it can trigger Braxton Hicks contractions. You are likely to feel very uncomfortable because of the added pressure or stress on your swollen belly. It will be even more uncomfortable for you to have sex in some familiar positions.
Sleeplessness: You might find that is extremely difficult for you to sleep in the third trimester because of your growing stomach and the increasing kicks of your baby. Shortness of breath could also cause you to have sleeping problems. If you find that you are sleeping very badly at night, you should try to get some rest during the daytime. In the event that there are other children at home, you could get someone to keep an eye on them during the day.
What You Should Know About Your Baby Development in the Third Trimester
At this stage, the baby will start to gain weight as his/her eyelids open. The bones will develop fully by the 29th week. By the 30th week, most babies have a full head of hair, while some
lose the hair that is covering their body. The sexual organs will start to develop fully around the 31st week. If it’s a boy, his testicles will move to the groin area to get ready for decent into the scrotum. If it’s a girl, her clitoris will be visible.
Over the next few weeks, your baby’s growth will continue with the formation of the toe and finger nails, rapid weight gain and the white film that protects the baby from the amniotic fluid in the birthing process will start to form.
Here are some tips to help you have a productive third trimester:
When you are in your third trimester of pregnancy, you should try to use the time wisely to prepare for the upcoming deliver. If you are not doing this as yet, you could attend birthing classes. This will help you to be prepared as well as to know exactly what to expect at the hospital.
This is also a good time to prepare your labor bag. Create a list with all the essential items and ensure that you pack them in the bag a few weeks before the actual due date.
Conclusion
Now that you know some of what to expect in the third trimester of pregnancy, you can prepare better for the physically demanding experiences. Bear in mind though that every women has different experiences and this time could be very exciting despite your discomfort. Good luck with your pregnancy and the birth of your baby.
