Third Trimester Tips - 7 Things You Need to Know

Third trimester tips, welcome to your third trimester! From weeks 27-40 your pregnancy will be at its peak of its wonder.

Yes, it's true that some of the symptoms from your second trimester such as back pain and weight gain will continue and some of the symptoms from your first trimester such as nausea and heartburn may return.

On the bright side, you are closer than ever to meeting your baby and starting your new life as a family. Here are 7 third trimester tips you need to know.

Pesky Varicose Vains

Some women will experience these annoying little veins popping up on their legs. Varicose veins during pregnancy occur when the uterus applies pressure to the large vein (the inferior vena cava) that carries blood back to the heart from your feet and legs.

These harmless little veins do eventually go away and are often not painful. Be sure to elevate your legs when you are sitting or lying down to give your legs some relief from these pesky little veins.

Some Shortness of Breath

Imagine just how tight everything inside your abdomen is now that your baby has grown over 5 Lb.! Organs are pushed up and your lungs are being squeezed more than you'd gotten used to.

This tremendous change can cause a pregnant woman in the third trimester to have frequent shortness of breath, especially after a meal. To avoid having to deal with this too much, keep your meals small and frequent. Stretching and taking short walks can also help with this uncomfortable issue.

Spontaneous Abdominal Pain & Braxton Hicks

Abdominal pain can be onset during the third trimester and almost feels like an annoying stretching sensation on your belly. In addition, Braxton Hicks can begin to happen as well, these unavoidable pre-contractions can be quite uncomfortable for women.

In fact, many women are unsure if they are in labor since Braxton Hicks can be quite strong at times, thankfully Braxton Hicks are simply one of the many ways in which your body prepares for the real deal.

Swelling

As you go through your third trimester your body can easily retain water, which causes different parts of your body to swell. Most commonly women experience swelling in their hands and feet, but this can happen throughout their bodies and can be uncomfortable to deal with.
To help keep the swelling at bay or to reduce it once it happens:

• Drink plenty of fluids throughout the day
• Elevate your legs when sitting or lying down.

Frequent Urination

As we mentioned previously, your insides are shifting to make room for your growing baby and your bladder is now in close quarters. Add to that the fact that your baby is now larger and tends to move into your bladder more often than not causing you to feel the urge to urinate frequently. This is a good time to start wearing your panty liners once again to prevent accidents as you are headed to the restroom. Wearing panty liners will also keep your natural discharges under control.

Nausea Returns

Some women will move past the first trimester morning sickness to never have to deal with it again, but some others begin to experience nausea in the third trimester all over again. Although this is very normal, now that you have more weight, and are dealing with so much more, nausea can be extremely uncomfortable for a woman in their third trimester. Take precaution by:

• Carrying a sickness bag with you
• Avoid eating greasy foods
• Eat small meals throughout the day

You can also arm yourself with things that help your nausea subside such as:

• Tums
• Watermelon
• Almond milk

Fun Fetal Movement

The best part of the third trimester is just how noticeable the felt movement of your baby can be. You can now literally feel:

• Every single movement
• Hiccup
• Elbow Jab
• Kick

Your little one is almost fully developed and can hear everything that's happening outside the womb.

Check back for other things to know about pregnancy as you enjoy these intimate moments with your baby as you both prepare through the final stretch before you finally meet face to face.