Now that you are on the homestretch of your pregnancy, you may wonder how many more changes your body will experience before your baby arrives. Perhaps you are curious about what the baby is doing during the third trimester to get ready to come into the world. The third trimester of pregnancy is filled with changes for both you and your soon-to-arrive bundle of joy.
Baby Tricks
At the beginning of your third trimester, your baby weighs approximately 2 lbs. and is almost 10 inches long. During this trimester, he will triple in weight and grow almost double his current length. If he were born today, your baby now has a 90 percent chance of survival and his bones are completely formed. Your baby begins to practice breathing during the third trimester and has now opened his eyes.
Mommy’s Body
Your discomfort level may increase during the third trimester, according to the Lucile Packard Hospital at Stanford. Your baby is now crowding your stomach, lungs and other organs, which can make your breathing more difficult. In addition, you may become more intolerant of heat. This is due to the fact you are heating from the inside out because of the body heat your baby is emitting in your uterus. You will probably be using the restroom more as the baby continues to press against your bladder. Swollen ankles and hands will also continue to occur during the last three months of pregnancy because your body is continuing to retain water. Hemorrhoids intensify as do your stretch marks as your baby triples in weight and your body works to accommodate her.
Medical Care
You should be seeing your doctor every two to three weeks, according to the Palo Alto Medical Foundation. At about 36 weeks, your doctor will ask you to start coming in once a week until you deliver your baby. If your doctor feels he needs to see you more often than once a week, he will let you know. At about 35 weeks, your doctor will also perform a test for Group B Strep. If you do not receive a call about the results, they are most likely negative, according to the Palo Alto Medical Foundation.
Nesting
Nesting causes you to clean your house–not just a normal cleaning, but a complete, deep, bottom-to-top cleaning. The Mayo Clinic reports this urge to clean may be caused by primal instincts and is actually trying to get your environment safe for the baby to live in. The nesting instinct increases during the third trimester and is at its peak shortly before you go into labor and give birth.
Emotions
Depression and mood swings are most prevalent during the first trimester due to raging hormones. Your third trimester, however, may be your most anxious pregnancy period, according to the Labor of Love website. You may find yourself worrying about labor and delivery. In addition, you may be concerned with what it will be like to have a baby in the house and what kind of mom you will be. These are normal pregnancy emotions that can be exacerbated by lack of sleep. Taking walks to exercise will help maintain your brain’s chemical levels and may improve the way you feel. In addition, sound nutritional choices can also keep your moods even and calm.
Photo Credit
- pregnant image by Andrii Oleksiienko from Fotolia.com
