The third trimester pregnancy can be physically and emotionally challenging, especially after a rather pleasant second trimester experience. Your baby will be getting pretty large and you may find it hard for you to get comfortable sleeping or while trying to move around during the day. You may be tired of being pregnant at this point and may just wish to get it over with already. However, an important thing to remember during the third trimester is that you must try to remain positive as the end of your pregnancy nears. Soon you’ll hold your new little baby in your arms and every bit of pain or stress you went through for the past 30-some weeks will seem well worth it. Plus, when you’re awake all night trying to make your little one stop crying, who knows, maybe you’ll think fondly of all of those nights you had to sleep upright in a chair and run to the bathroom on swollen ankles every 30 minutes. Congratulations on making it to the final stretch, soon-to-be mom!
Below are some frequent physical symptoms that accompany the third trimester as well as some tips on how to alleviate some of their discomforts.
Backaches
While backaches probably started in the second trimester, they will now be more pronounced and painful. Try to rest and remain seated as much as you can. Sit in chairs that have very good back support and elevate your feet if possible. If you must stand, place one foot on a box or stool or any sort of elevated surface. You can apply a heating pad or ice pack to the painful area. Just don’t let it get too cold or too hot. Ask your partner to give you a massage, or splurge and spend some money on a professional one for yourself. Even though you might be tempted to throw on a pair of heels and strut your sexy pregnant self around, this will really give you a backache. Get used to wearing low-heeled — but not flat — shoes with good arch support for the next few weeks.
While backaches probably started in the second trimester, they will now be more pronounced and painful. Try to rest and remain seated as much as you can. Sit in chairs that have very good back support and elevate your feet if possible. If you must stand, place one foot on a box or stool or any sort of elevated surface. You can apply a heating pad or ice pack to the painful area. Just don’t let it get too cold or too hot. Ask your partner to give you a massage, or splurge and spend some money on a professional one for yourself. Even though you might be tempted to throw on a pair of heels and strut your sexy pregnant self around, this will really give you a backache. Get used to wearing low-heeled — but not flat — shoes with good arch support for the next few weeks.
Shortness of Breath
You may find yourself getting easily winded as your uterus expands beneath your diaphragm. To alleviate this, make an effort to always practice good posture. Try to sleep with your upper body propped up on pillows to relieve pressure on your lungs. Be aware of this and try not to over exert yourself unless necessary.
You may find yourself getting easily winded as your uterus expands beneath your diaphragm. To alleviate this, make an effort to always practice good posture. Try to sleep with your upper body propped up on pillows to relieve pressure on your lungs. Be aware of this and try not to over exert yourself unless necessary.
Heartburn
During the third trimester your uterus may push your stomach out of its normal position. This may cause you to experience frequent heartburn. To help avoid heartburn you should avoid eating very large meals, as hungry as you may feel. Also, you should be avoiding fried food, carbonated drinks, citrus fruits and juices, as well as spicy foods.
During the third trimester your uterus may push your stomach out of its normal position. This may cause you to experience frequent heartburn. To help avoid heartburn you should avoid eating very large meals, as hungry as you may feel. Also, you should be avoiding fried food, carbonated drinks, citrus fruits and juices, as well as spicy foods.
Spider Veins and Varicose Veins
Increased blood circulation may cause tiny blood vessels on your face, neck or arms to show visibly under your skin, especially if you have fair skin. Varicose veins may also appear, particularly in your legs. To help ease varicose vein pain, elevate your legs and wear support stockings.
Increased blood circulation may cause tiny blood vessels on your face, neck or arms to show visibly under your skin, especially if you have fair skin. Varicose veins may also appear, particularly in your legs. To help ease varicose vein pain, elevate your legs and wear support stockings.
Continued Breast Growth
By now, you may have an additional 2 pounds (nearly 1 kilogram) of breast tissue. As delivery approaches, your nipples may start leaking colostrums — the yellowish fluid that will nourish your baby during the first few days of life. Don’t get too excited about the breast growth. It will subside after you give birth and are beyond a timeframe for breastfeeding.
By now, you may have an additional 2 pounds (nearly 1 kilogram) of breast tissue. As delivery approaches, your nipples may start leaking colostrums — the yellowish fluid that will nourish your baby during the first few days of life. Don’t get too excited about the breast growth. It will subside after you give birth and are beyond a timeframe for breastfeeding.
Frequent Urination
As your baby moves deeper into your pelvis, you’ll feel more pressure on your bladder. This will not only make less room for your bladder, causing you to have to empty the smaller space more often, but the extra pressure will make it very uncomfortable for you to not keep running to the bathroom. Keep an eye out for signs of a urinary tract infection, such as burning during urination, a fever, or sharp abdominal pain or backache. Left untreated, a urinary tract infection may damage your kidneys and trigger preterm labor.
As your baby moves deeper into your pelvis, you’ll feel more pressure on your bladder. This will not only make less room for your bladder, causing you to have to empty the smaller space more often, but the extra pressure will make it very uncomfortable for you to not keep running to the bathroom. Keep an eye out for signs of a urinary tract infection, such as burning during urination, a fever, or sharp abdominal pain or backache. Left untreated, a urinary tract infection may damage your kidneys and trigger preterm labor.
Braxton Hicks Contractions
These random and slight contractions are a sign that your body is warming-up for the real thing. They’re usually weak and come and go unpredictably. You will be able to tell the difference between these and true labor contractions because a labor contraction gets longer, stronger and closer together.
These random and slight contractions are a sign that your body is warming-up for the real thing. They’re usually weak and come and go unpredictably. You will be able to tell the difference between these and true labor contractions because a labor contraction gets longer, stronger and closer together.
Weight Gain
Gaining weight is a natural and unavoidable part of being pregnant. By your due date, you may weigh 25 to 35 pounds (or more or less) more than you did before pregnancy. Your baby accounts for some of this extra weight, as does the placenta, amniotic fluid, larger breasts and uterus, extra fat stores, and the increased blood and fluid volume now present within your body.
Gaining weight is a natural and unavoidable part of being pregnant. By your due date, you may weigh 25 to 35 pounds (or more or less) more than you did before pregnancy. Your baby accounts for some of this extra weight, as does the placenta, amniotic fluid, larger breasts and uterus, extra fat stores, and the increased blood and fluid volume now present within your body.
Vaginal Discharge
Rather heavy vaginal discharge is very common at the end of a pregnancy.
Rather heavy vaginal discharge is very common at the end of a pregnancy.
Swelling
As your uterus grows it is going to put a ton of extra pressure on your veins. This will cause swollen legs, feet and ankles. This swelling may in turn put extra pressure on your nerves which may cause tingling or numbness in your legs, hands or arms. Higher than normal fluid retention and dilated blood vessels may leave your face and eyelids puffy and swollen, especially in the morning when you first wake up. To reduce this swelling, use cold compresses on the affected areas. Lying down frequently or using a footrest to prop your feet up when sitting will relieve ankle swelling. During the end of the third trimester you should start watching for signs that you may be soon going into labor.
As your uterus grows it is going to put a ton of extra pressure on your veins. This will cause swollen legs, feet and ankles. This swelling may in turn put extra pressure on your nerves which may cause tingling or numbness in your legs, hands or arms. Higher than normal fluid retention and dilated blood vessels may leave your face and eyelids puffy and swollen, especially in the morning when you first wake up. To reduce this swelling, use cold compresses on the affected areas. Lying down frequently or using a footrest to prop your feet up when sitting will relieve ankle swelling. During the end of the third trimester you should start watching for signs that you may be soon going into labor.
Some signs that labor is not far off:
Your cervix begins to thin and open up. Your doctor will tell you at check-ups when this starts to happen. Your Braxton Hicks contractions will become more frequent and stronger, perhaps a little painful as labor approaches. You may also feel cramping in your groin or rectum or possibly a persistent ache in your lower back. Your “water” may break. In most cases this occurs after labor has already officially started. However, in some women this will happen before labor starts. Call your health professional immediately or go to the hospital if you think your water has broke.
Your cervix begins to thin and open up. Your doctor will tell you at check-ups when this starts to happen. Your Braxton Hicks contractions will become more frequent and stronger, perhaps a little painful as labor approaches. You may also feel cramping in your groin or rectum or possibly a persistent ache in your lower back. Your “water” may break. In most cases this occurs after labor has already officially started. However, in some women this will happen before labor starts. Call your health professional immediately or go to the hospital if you think your water has broke.
After this trimester, you will be a new mom and all of the physical effects of your pregnancy will remind you that everything you went through was truly a labor of love and completely worth it. If you find yourself nervous or unsure about anything in any of these articles about stages of pregnancy, talk to your doctor for some peace of mind or speak with other women who are either currently pregnant or have been through this before. Look around at everyone you see and remember that at one point someone was pregnant with that person, and you are not alone in your pain and fears.
Best of luck with your new baby!
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