Pregnancy is probably one of the most special times in a woman’s life; 9 months full of anticipation, excitement, surprises and wonder. You may think you know what to expect, especially if this is not your first pregnancy, but just maybe there are things you might not know about your last trimester.
So, let’s go back to basics. Pregnancy typically lasts just over nine months and is divided into three trimesters. Each trimester lasts approximately three months. The third trimester is months 7-9, or weeks 28-40, of your pregnancy (or until your baby is born). However, at 37 weeks your baby is considered full-term and ready for the outside world. This last trimester is the most exciting one of your pregnancy and these last few months can feel emotionally as well as physically intense, as your baby’s arrival gets closer. So let’s look at some of the things you might not know about your last trimester.
Only 4% of babies are born on their predicted due date
♥ Due Date? More like Estimated Arrival Guideline. Every baby has their own schedule and there is no telling when they will be born until that day arrives. So for the remaining 96%, it is anyone’s guess, unless you have a booked c-section that is. Have a go with the NHS Due Date calculator, to see if your dates are in sync.
♥ At the start of the third trimester your baby is approximately the size of a pineapple and weighs the same as a big bag of sugar. Your baby can open and close their eyes and even sense changes in light. During the last trimester, your baby will gain half its birth weight but the growth slows in the last few weeks. So by the end, there’s not a lot of room for your baby to move! Although you should still feel fetal movements at the same rate.
Baby may be even be dreaming during their short sleep cycles
♥ As long as you are feeling well and comfortable and are having a pregnancy without complications you are safe to keep taking gentle exercise throughout your third trimester. We are all aware of the benefits of exercise to both our physical and mental health. And just 20 minutes each day of a low to moderate intensity activity can help improve pregnancy symptoms. It will also help to strengthen your body in preparation for birth. So it’s a great idea to keep active as long as you listen to your body. Pregnancy yoga, Pilates, aqua natal, and even good old walking are all fantastic activities while pregnant.
It’s just as important to rest. Rest while you can. Take naps if given the opportunity as sleep can be difficult during your last trimester.
Exercise in Pregnancy
♥ Eat dates. Dates are the fruit for mums-to-be in their third trimester. Snack away straight from the bag. Or add them to a tagine or stew. Studies have shown that eating just a handful a day in the last four weeks of pregnancy can reduce the length of labour and may help reduce the need to be induced. Dried or fresh, dates are delicious and nutritious. High in fibre and minerals, but also sugar. So do be careful if you have gestational diabetes.
♥ You need to be thinking about writing your birth plan, and towards the end of this trimester make sure you pack your hospital bag. They’re just a couple of the things you need to prepare before your baby arrives. Have a read of what else you need to do before your baby arrives.
12 Things To Do Before Your Baby Arrives
♥ Although far less likely after your first trimester, food cravings and aversions may continue throughout your pregnancy. Up to 90% of pregnant women may experience food cravings. So what are they all about?
♥ Your heart literally grows! Not just with love for this new life inside you but actually and physically. Your blood volume increases and so your heart grows larger as it beats faster and stronger – to keep up with supporting your baby. That’s just one of the amazing things your body does but you might not know about your last trimester
♥ So we know baby will gain half their birth weight. As your baby gets bigger so does your uterus and as it grows higher it will press on your diaphragm. This can make breathing difficult and you may experience shortness of breath. Even a flight of stairs can be a challenge towards the end of this trimester. You might find it can help to make sure you sit and stand up straight, simply to give your lungs more room to expand.
However, if your breathing changes dramatically or you have a cough or chest pain, do not ignore it. Contact your healthcare provider straight away.
♥ If you haven’t already made them part of your daily routine, now is a really good time to start doing your pelvic floor exercises to tone up those all-important muscles. Hormonal changes during your pregnancy will loosen your pelvic floor muscles. Combined with your baby pressing down on your bladder, accidents can easily happen. Doing exercises specifically for your pelvic floor will strengthen these muscles which can help to prevent leakages when you laugh, sneeze, cough or exercise. It will also help with labour and your recovery after the birth.
Have you found out anything new yet? Keep reading, let’s try to find some things you might not know about your last trimester.
♥ Those wonderful pregnancy hormones can cause your ligaments to relax, and that might include the ones that hold your teeth in place. So you may find your gums are sore and sensitive, they may even bleed a little when you brush. Your teeth might even feel loose! Luckily, this usually goes away after you’ve had your baby. But make sure you keep up to date with dental visits as well as brushing and flossing daily.
♥ Your baby bump might make lying down tricky but try to sleep on your side. Evidence shows that it’s best for the baby, as it helps the blood flow to the placenta. You’re also less likely to get backache.
♥ Are you getting nosebleeds? Or a bit of heartburn and indigestion? That’s down to your growing baby growing and your uterus getting bigger. This can crowd your stomach and push stomach acids upward, into your oesophagus. The nosebleeds… they’re due to the increased blood volume, which may cause vessels in the nose to rupture
♥ Braxton Hicks. I’m sure you’ve heard this term already but what exactly are they? Usually during your last trimester, but sometimes in the second trimester, your body may experience a few false contractions. They can be mild, they can be more painful. They’re more likely to happen if you’re dehydrated so make sure you keep your water intake up. Named after the doctor who first identified them, these practice contractions help your muscles prepare for labour. But how do you know they’re Braxton Hicks contractions and not actual labour contractions? Braxton Hicks won’t be regular and often go away if you move or change positions. True contractions become more regular and do not go away.
Great *Free* Pregnancy Apps for Parents-to-be
♥ Be prepared to find yourself wanting to sort your kitchen cupboards as your nesting instinct may well kick in. It’s a strong urge to clean and decorate your home before your baby comes home. While this is great for ticking things off your to-do list, just be mindful not to overdo it.
♥ Your feet may ‘grow’. All that extra fluid in your body can result in swollen feet and those good old looser ligaments can make your feet wider. Resulting in you needing shoes in a larger size. You should find they go back to their pre-pregnancy size after you’ve given birth, but that’s not always the case.
Across the UK, approximately 2% of women give birth at home
♥ Your partner may experience a sympathetic pregnancy. Some expectant fathers can experience weight gain, disturbed sleep and nausea along with their pregnant partners. This is known as Couvade syndrome. So they might want also to find out about some of the things you might not know about your last trimester.
Your body is amazing and will go through so many wonderful changes during your pregnancy. You are at the beginning of an amazing journey and I encourage every pregnant woman to consider maternity photography and celebrate the gift of new life. Our maternity portraiture captures stunning intimate images of you during your pregnancy!
SAMPHIRE PHOTOGRAPHY | HORSHAM PHOTOGRAPHER | SPECIALISING IN NEWBORN, BABY AND MATERNITY PHOTOGRAPHY
Things You Might Not Know About Your Last Trimester
