Welcome to a series of posts that will take you through the journey of pregnancy.  We will explore the changes your body will make during each trimester and how your baby is developing and growing.  If you are here I guess it is likely that your pregnancy journey has started and you want to be prepared for what lies ahead.  I hope that these features will go some way to preparing you for the next 9 months.

The final stage of pregnacy, the pregnancy 3rd trimester starts around 28 weeks and lasts until baby is delivered around 40 weeks.   30% of mother’s labours go over 40 weeks, and doctors will look to induce labour around 42 weeks if it has not began naturally.

What happens to you during the pregnancy 3rd trimester

As your round ligaments (which support your lower abdomen) stretch to accommodate your growing bump, you may feel cramps or sharp pain. There’s not much you can do other than take it easy.

You’ll feel more tired this trimester because of the demands  that pregnancy is putting on your body. Eat well, little and often and stay active if you can.

In the last few weeks of pregnancy, your uterus will push your stomach and its contents upward, causing persistent Heartburn.

You will begin to experience Brazton Hicks contractions.  Your body’s way of preparing for labor, you’ll start to feel these irregular practice contractions now until real labor starts.

As the pregnancy hormone relaxin loosens your joints and your growing belly pulls your center of gravity forward, you may start to have an achy back, try to put your feet up when you can.

Thanks to pregnancy hormones, your dreams may be more vivid than ever as you near your due date.

Your hormones are on overdrive, your belly is throwing you off balance and you’re more forgetful than ever.

Your body’s warming up to feed your baby and you may begin to expeience leaky breasts.

Baby’s development during the 3rd trimester

Baby will get a whole lot larger in the third trimester, growing from about 2 1/2 pounds and 16 inches long in week 28 of pregnancy to between 6 and 9 pounds and 19 to 22 inches long in week 40. 

As your baby transforms cartilage to bone in months 7 and 8, he’ll be getting all of her calcium from you so make sure you consume plenty of calcium rich food and drinks. 

By week 32 of pregnancy, baby’s skin will become opaque. In week 36, fat continues to accumulate as your baby sheds his vernix (the waxy substance that protects his skin from your amniotic fluid) and lanugo (the hairy coat that keeps him warm in there).

In the final weeks of pregnancy, baby’s first poop (meconium) consisting mostly of blood cells, vernix and lanugo — starts to build up in baby’s intestines.

Your baby’s touch receptors will be fully developed around week 29. By week 31 of pregnancy, your baby will get signals from all five senses, he will be able to see light and dark, will taste what you eat and be able to hear the sound of your voice.  

In the third trimester your baby’s brain will grow faster than ever, test-driving some nifty skills including blinking, dreaming and regulating his own body temperature. 

Around week 34 baby’s body turns southward, settling into a heads-down, bottom-up position.  If your baby remains stubbornly in the breech positionyour doctor will likely attempt to manually turn baby around week 37.

Enjoy these last few weeks of pregnancy and treasure your beautiful bump.  Rest up and relax as baby will be here before you know it.

Details of additional Blog articles that may be of interest to you.

Pregnancy 2nd Trimester

Pregnancy 1st Trimester

Sophie’s Pregnancy story

Luciminda’s Pregnancy story

Joanne’s Pregnancy story

Naomi’s Pregnancy story

Why have a Pregnancy Photoshoot

If you would like details regarding a maternity photoshoot then please follow the link below, alternatively you can contact me via the contact me form.