Expect in 3rd Trimester of Pregnancy

The day your pregnancy test came back positive, you began a life-altering journey. As the baby grows and changes through each stage of pregnancy, you go through changes too: in your body, emotions, and lifestyle. You need the information to answer your questions and help you make good decisions for a healthy baby and a healthy you. Now that you've reached the third trimester, which starts from the 7th month till your delivery, you're in the home stretch of your pregnancy.

You've only got a few more weeks to go, but this part of your pregnancy can be the most challenging. So let us give you some highlights on what to expect now while you hang in there almost to the finish line. With that baby growing inside your belly, you probably feel a lot of fetal activity. This article will help you understand what happens in the third trimester of pregnancy, what not to do in your third trimester of pregnancy, what to do in the third trimester for normal delivery etc. and how to prepare for the big day.

So, prepare your hospital bag, throw a baby shower, buy the first set of cloth diapers and be ready for your little bundle of joy to arrive. When you reach the last leg of your pregnancy, the third trimester, you can expect changes to happen in your body as your bump gets more prominent than ever. This third trimester of pregnancy symptoms or pre-labor symptoms include:

1. Abdominal aches: You may feel cramps or sharp pain as your ligaments start to accommodate your growing bump. Just breathe in, & breathe out!

2. Fatigue: Staying active, following a diet & getting good sleep will solve this, pinky promise!

3. Heartburn: In the last few weeks of pregnancy, your uterus will push your stomach and its contents upward, causing that persistent burn. Talk to your doctor if it gets unbearable.

4. Braxton Hicks contractions: Your body's way of preparing for labor; you'll start to feel these irregular practice contractions now until actual labor starts.

5. Varicose veins: You may notice these bulging veins (including hemorrhoids) in your lower body due to all the extra blood you're pumping. The good news: If you didn't have them before pregnancy, they'd likely disappear after you deliver.

6. Stretch marks: Your skin is stretched to its limit. Moisturize to minimize their appearance.

7. Backache: One of the silent labor signs is severe backaches. Put your feet up & rest in good positions to say bye-bye to them!

8. Crazy dreams: You could blame your hormones for those vivid dreams as you near your due date. Take them with a grain of salt and have fun swapping stories with a loved one.

9. Lack of bladder control: Your daily Kegels regimen will be your best friend to get rid of frequent urination.

With all these pregnancy symptoms and more weighing on you, just try to keep your eye on the prize: your beautiful baby, whom you'll meet in just a few weeks!

NOTE FROM SUPERBOTTOMS: Your baby deserves nothing but the best. So, when it comes to the diapering decision, do not expose them to harmful chemicals and plastic in a disposable diaper. Instead, please give them the comfort of cloth and protection of the best and certified newborn cloth diapers only.

Preparing for delivery

Time is nearing! Get ready.

1. Prenatal Fitness - Prenatal yoga is a great way to train for labor and enhance the pregnancy experience. You can opt for online classes to practice yoga from the comfort of your home. Labor is one of the most physical things you'll ever do & asanas help build strength and stamina and improve circulation for the same. Keep track of your fetal movement while watching your weight. It's safe to continue pregnancy-safe exercises up until your due date.

2. Breathing exercises - Breathing exercises in the third trimester of pregnancy exercise like Pranayama help manage the pain of contractions. At the same time, meditation can improve the ability to relax and concentrate, which would come in handy at delivery. These help you to focus on the present moment and maintain calm, balance the body's energy flows & sleep becomes more effortless, and moodiness is less intense.

3. Pack your hospital bag – You might have active labor signs at 37 weeks, so it is better to be prepared in time. Depending on what your hospital provides for you and your baby, you must pack a hospital bag. Or a suitcase. Here is a reference list to keep ready for D-day!

A. Basic clothes including some socks & woolens.
B. A few multi-purpose blankets.
B. Infant car seat.

4. Cloth diapers and baby wipes - Try SuperBottoms Newborn UNO & SuperBottoms Organic Cloth Wipes that are made of GOTS-certified 100% organic cotton are soft & gentle on your baby's skin.

5. Nursing bra and nursing pads for yourself. For a discreet fit, turn to SuperBottoms Dry Feel Nursing Pads which are waterproof & come with a SuperDryFeel™ layer for uber comfort.

6. Cotton nappies - Try SuperBottoms Dry Feel Langot. It is breathable, semi-waterproof & mess-free!

7. Diaper liners - carry some SuperBottoms Easy Clean Top Sheets to place over the UNO Dry Feel Pad to keep the baby's bum dry after using creams/ lotions or any other medications on your baby.

8. A good hospital bag like SuperBottoms Ergo Diaper Backpack with 16 compartments for your essentials is super spacious & convenient to carry.

9. Cord blood banking - Did you know stem cells could be a lifesaver for a patient who needs it, including a member of your own family?

Parents these days bank or store their baby's umbilical cord blood because the stem cells are currently utilized or show promise in treating life-threatening and debilitating diseases. Luckily for expectant parents, cord blood can be easily collected at the baby's birth via the umbilical cord with no harm to the mother or baby & pregnancy is a great time to plan it.

Pro-tip: The healthcare provider and the cord blood bank do most of the work, so all you need to do is just plan! Few things to note:

1. The cord blood bank sends you a collection kit which you can carry to the delivery center.

2. Upon admission, your blood will be collected & tested for any infectious diseases as mandated.

3. The healthcare provider will clamp and cut the umbilical cord upon birth but before the placenta is delivered.

4. The collection bag with the baby's cord blood and the vials with your blood is placed back inside the collection kit.

5. You may call a toll-free number on the collection kit to have a medical courier—any time, 24 hours a day, seven days a week—arrange for its transportation to the cord blood bank.

6. Prepare to breastfeed - Read more about why and how to breastfeed before the baby arrives, and possibly even take a breastfeeding class. Read up on what happens in the first 24 hours after birth as your body repairs, and you begin to adjust to your new role. Learn about the stages of labor. Get prepared for the baby's birthday by learning what to expect during early, active and transitional labor, pushing the baby out, and delivering the placenta.

7. Commemorate your baby bump - Arrange a professional baby bump photo shoot or take some beautiful bump shots of your own — you can hang them in the nursery or add them to your baby's photo album later.

And you are done! Ohh, have you missed some essentials like the third trimester of pregnancy diet & tests? Here you go: We hope this article answers most of the questions you've been having in your mind! Have more? Ask us in the comments below.