Pregnancy - Your Third Trimester

By the time your third trimester rolls around, you might be thinking this pregnancy is never going to end! Some things you'll experience include having to urinate frequently due to the baby pressing into your bladder (not fun!). Other symptoms that may be predominant are excessive gas, increasing fatigue, constipation and digestive problems, headaches and back pain. Sounds pretty crazy, doesn't it?! Well, don't let this overwhelm you, because not every women experiences all of these symptoms all of the time. Basically, firm massage of these areas and warm baths were the only things that helped alleviate the cramps.
As the time of birth approaches, your baby is completing development. Now is the time to prepare yourself for the birth process. If you can't attend one of these courses, don't worry - there are still plenty of great books and material to be found. This means no lifting heavy items or participating in excessive exercise and sports.
• Get off those feet, and get plenty of rest.
• Continue eating a healthy diet, and that means healthy food choices, NOT limiting your food intake. Your baby needs nourishment, so now is not the time to worry excessively about your weight gain.
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The Third Trimester of Pregnancy

With 4D ultrasound and inner uterine photography a lot is being discovered about the fetus' experience of the various stages of pregnancy. By the beginning of the third trimester of pregnancy baby's eyes are open and he opens and closes them regularly. Since the bones are fully developed now mom can really feel the movements. At the beginning of this stage of pregnancy the movements are frequent and quick; however, by the end of the trimester little room is left for the soccer star kicking and instead stretching and pushing is felt. Feet under the rib cage and head twisting in the pelvis will often stop mom in her tracks, send her running for the bathroom as the bladder is squeezed or possibly even require helping hands to be able to get up from a sitting or laying down position.
Baby really is packing on the pounds in the third trimester of pregnancy but with exception of water retention weight, mom will gain little as baby is now pressing into the stomach making it difficult to eat. Baby is drinking the amniotic fluid and voiding it as well; he is practicing breathing and will often get hiccoughs which mom can feel too. The lungs while developed fully continue to mature and will continue until birth; steroids are often administered if pre-mature labor is imminent that speeds up this maturing.
About four weeks before the baby's due date he begins to descend into the head down position, much later than this and it will be difficult to turn into proper position for birth and assistance in turning him may be needed. By the end of the thirty seventh week of pregnancy the baby is considered full term if delivered, however some babies really need the extra time and may be in no hurry to come out right yet, even though mom is more than ready.
By the end of this the final stages of pregnancy the baby is usually between 18 to 22 inches long and weighs anywhere from 6 to 9 pounds and everything is normally ready to work on its own. Many books and articles and web-sites offer helpful hints, tips and guides for the mom to be that can offer the information and support that is welcomed at this stage of pregnancy. Sharing this time with others who are going through the same things can help give the peace of mind and wonderful experience every woman desires with pregnancy and ease concerns about delivery.


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