The third trimester starts from when you are 28 weeks, to the arrival of your baby. You may have more antenatal checks during this time, as your midwife will want to monitor you and your baby’s health more closely. Your baby will not be fully grown until 37 weeks or after, but some babies do of course come early. If your baby comes early, they are likely to need support in a neonatal unit. However, a premature baby of 28 weeks or more has a good chance of full health with the right care.
With the baby growing rapidly, you are now having to share your body. Your lungs have less space, and you may get breathless from relatively small amounts of exercise. You may also be using the toilet more often, but this time it is from pressure on the bladder rather than hormones alone. Everyday tasks will become more of a challenge, it's important to rest. If you experience breathlessness when you are sitting down, then it’s important to contact your maternity team to be assessed.
In addition to regular check-ups, your midwife will review your birth preferences with you. You may have a list of things to get ready for the birth, or jobs to get done. It’s a good time to learn about feeding and looking after your baby so you can feel confident when your baby arrives. It’s much harder to do this in the early days when you are likely to be recovering from birth.
You may also feel more tired again, so make time for activity and rest, and ask friends and family to help where they can.
Everyone has worries from time-to-time in pregnancy and many find it a challenge. You might feel:
- worried about caring for your baby
- numb about the pregnancy
- unhappy or not as excited as you expected
- scared of the changes happening to your body or the physical symptoms of pregnancy
- out of control
- worried about how your relationship with your partner will change
- resentful about the way your life is going to change
- afraid of giving birth.
You should be asked about your mental health at every appointment. Please use the time to share any worries and concerns with your midwife. You can find more information on Emotional Health in Pregnancy here
