All About Pregnancy In The Third Trimester

Saturday, August 20, 2011, 11:16

The third trimester of pregnancy begins in your seventh month of pregnancy. So you would be about 28 weeks pregnant by the time you start showing symptoms of third trimester pregnancy. That is a long time for you to have been acquainted with your baby! This is the last leg of your pregnancy and has its unique conditions. Prenatal care takes on a even more vital role because your baby will soon be due.

Symptoms Of Third Trimester Pregnancy:

Weight gain: Weight gain in the third trimester happens for obvious reasons. The baby is almost fully grown and taking its own sweet space. Moreover, to support the weight of the baby you will put on a few pounds. There is also what we refer to as 'water weight'. There is a lot of water retention in the body during this time and that makes you fluffy.

Fatigue: You are probably in the highest of spirits because your baby is due in a very short period of time but your body will be tired all the time. You will feel totally exhausted from doing just about nothing. This a side effect of all the weight you have put on. You may even be short of breath in the third trimester of pregnancy. The every effort to move will be too much for you. These last few weeks are the toughest to pull through at work, especially if you have saved your maternity leave for later.

Frequent visits to the loo: You will feel thirsty all the time because your body craves water at this time and you will have to take a leak every now and then. What happens in the third trimester of pregnancy is that the uterus expands to the greatest extent it can and thus pushes against the walls of the bladder. That is why you have this frequent urge to urinate.

Indigestion: During these weeks of your pregnancy you will be the most gassy and uncomfortable. Watch what you eat because you will get those nasty smelling 'baby' burps. There may be some amount of vomiting too.

Prenatal Care In the Third Trimester of Pregnancy:

As you are prone to digestive pregnancy problems at this stage eat small portions many times with short intervals. Don't stop eating like you were in the second trimester because your baby is still growing.

You don't need to be bed ridden but avoid strenuous activity during this time. It not due to anything else but your sheer bulk.

If you are still going to work then make sure you take frequent breaks and sit with your feet up. Keep your body hydrated by taking small drinks of water frequently.

You can still carry on with your prenatal care exercises like swimming and yoga. In fact it is advisable for you to because it will keep you in good shape for a normal birth.

Enjoy the third trimester of your pregnancy as you prepare for your bundle of joy.