The third trimester of pregnancy lasts from the 28th to the 40th week. During this time, your baby is growing at a fast rate, and you are growing right along with her. There are some common discomforts during this time. Every woman is different; you may experience some of these, but not others.
Throughout the third trimester, you may find yourself becoming short of breath. This is due to the uterus pressing up on the diaphragm. This makes breathing more difficult and you may become winded easily. At the end of this trimester, the baby may drop into the pelvis, allowing you to breathe easier.
The uterus pressing upward can affect the stomach as well. You may find that your appetite diminishes and you can’t eat as much. The best thing to do is to eat smaller meals more frequently throughout the day. Eat smaller meals with healthy snacks in between to help ease the discomfort.
The baby is filling your entire abdomen now and will be pressing against the bladder more. You may find you need to go to the bathroom more frequently.
The fatigue you felt during the first trimester will return now. Some women have bursts of energy followed by fatigue. The best way to combat this is to get more rest. If possible, take a short nap during the day. If you are home with other children, take a nap with them. Plan on going to bed earlier at night to get the rest you need. Get as much rest as you can. Once the baby arrives, you will have plenty of sleepless nights.
Just as you find yourself becoming easily tired; you may also discover that it is more difficult to sleep at night. You may have trouble getting to sleep or wake frequently. When you finally find that comfortable position, you may need to get up to use the bathroom. A body pillow can help you get comfortable. Three smaller pillows can also be used: one for your head, under your stomach and between your knees.
Swelling is another common discomfort of the third trimester. You may find that your hands, feet and legs swell. Your wedding ring may not fit during this trimester. If this happens, you will need to take it off. Put it on a chain around your neck until the baby is born.