Once you hit 27 weeks of pregnancy – the beginning of the third trimester – there is still a lot of growing left for baby. You may also experience more discomfort.
“You’re in the final stretch. All that hard work through the pregnancy, all the exams, tests and body changes, are about to pay off,” said family medicine/OB physician Alisa Reindl, MD, Avera Medical Group McGreevy 7th Avenue.
"As the due date gets closer, excitement and worry both tend to increase,” said Trevor Watson, MD, an OB specialist with Avera Medical Group Obstetrics & Gynecology in Aberdeen.
Prenatal Visits and Tests During the Third Trimester
As the final trimester starts, you can expect prenatal visits to increase in frequency. They’ll focus on things like:
- Any current symptoms or discomforts
- Your weight and blood pressure; high blood pressure can signal a serious condition known as preeclampsia
- If your blood pressure is high, you may have a urine test
- A listen to baby’s heartbeat
- A pelvic exam to check for dilation and shortening or thinning of the cervix, known as effacement
- Routine gestational diabetes tests and TdaP vaccination at 28 weeks
- Group B Strep test at 36 weeks
Baby's Development During the Third Trimester
The baby will gain size and weight during this time, and his or her lungs will keep maturing. The baby starts to move to a head-down position. By the end of the third trimester, the baby is about 19 to 21 inches long and weighs 6 to 9 pounds.
What Moms-to-Be Can Expect
Some of the most common issues that come during this part of pregnancy include:
- Aches and pains: A hormone called relaxin begins to loosen ligaments in your pelvis to make childbirth easie. It can lead to muscle soreness and discomfort in your back, pelvis and legs.
- Sleeping problems and heartburn: You may not sleep comfortably as hormones can affect your stomach valve. Skip fatty and spicy foods, citrus, caffeine and carbonated drinks to cut heartburn, and try eating smaller, more frequent meals. If needed, ask your provider about safe anti-heartburn medications.
- Frequent urination, swelling and incontinence: Your bladder will feel the pressure of the growing baby. Expect more trips to the bathroom, and leaks when you laugh, cough, bend over or lift. Strengthening pelvic floor muscles can help. Mild swelling is pretty normal, yet sudden swelling in your hands or face can mean preeclampsia; call your doctor if swelling happens fast.
- Skin and vein changes: You may notice stretch marks, and they may itch. Pronounced color patches are also common, as well as swollen veins. They may show as blue or purple colors or appear twisted and raised around the legs, genitals and rectum. Within a few months after childbirth, they usually decline.
- Braxton-Hicks contractions: These false labor contractions are more common in your third trimester. Some women never have them, while others have ones that feel like true labor. They come at irregular intervals, stay relatively consistent in strength and subside over time. Move around and drink water to help relieve discomfort.
- True labor contractions, which become stronger and more frequent as they progress. Always call your care provider when you're not sure; be prepared to go to a hospital if needed.
Ways to Get Ready for Birth Day
Sign up for childbirth classes; they can help you get ready for the big day. Talk to your doctor about breastfeeding and the benefits of breast milk during this time, too.
“You can talk to us about what you seek in terms of pain relief for labor,” Watson said. “You can review a birth plan that works best for you.”
Watson stressed each birth plan is unique.
“Choosing a provider for baby, be it pediatric or family medicine, is a good item for the third trimester to-do list,” Reindl said. “You should also plan ahead for older siblings’ care and your what-to-bring list for the trip to the hospital.”
