It’s nearly time to meet your baby! But, what does the third trimester look like??
Your baby is really going for it now, putting on the pounds for those cute chubby features when they are born. They might be opening and closing their eyes and towards the end of this trimester their head will hopefully be making its way down ready for birth!
You might be feeling very tired but as baby moves down it may become slightly easier to breathe – trips to the toilet might increase though as baby starts to squish your bladder! Swollen feet and ankles are common and possibly itchy skin. Emotionally you might be feeling excited, nervous, and anxious – you’re nearly there!
The third trimester starts at around 28 weeks and lasts until your baby is born. It can feel like a long trimester compared to the other two as you don’t know for sure when baby will be born.
A few things you can do this trimester to help you prepare!
1. Start your antenatal courses – this includes any that are offered through the hospital, your hypnobirthing course (obvs!) and NCT or any others you are considering.
2. Pack your hospital bag – this is useful for home births too and then everything is in one place!
3. You’ll have quite a few appointments this trimester with your midwife so get those in your diary.
4. At work you’ll be starting the handover/ wind down. Make sure all the paperwork you need to do is in place for maternity pay (and maybe prod your other half to sort theirs out too!)
5. I hate the term “nesting” but it’s good to get food stocked up, cleaning and organising baby clothes can feel comforting and boost oxytocin levels as you imagine your baby in those cute outfits!
6. Your baby shower! If you are having one this is usually when they happen.
7. Finalising a few baby names – this is exciting! Obviously you might change your mind when your baby is born. I always had one or two that I liked the most, then I decided when I saw their face.
8. Rest is really important in trimester 3 – and your body will help you to slow down too! Resting doesn’t have to be lying down or sleeping, sometimes a nice walk, swim, a drive that can feel restful too. For me resting is as much about your mind as it is about your body.
9. Make a plan for your “due date”. Only 4% of babies are born on their guess date so make plans, this can always be cancelled so don’t worry, just make sure you’re not sat around clock watching on D-Day.
This link has lots more practical advice and tips for trimester 3: www.pampers.com/en-us/pregnancy/pregnancy-calendar/third-trimester
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