1. The Honeymoon Is Over
Many women call the second trimester "the honeymoon period" because they enjoy the pregnancy without the hassle of pregnancy symptoms. That's all about to change in the third trimester, when your body grimaces at the idea of carrying around another little person. Backaches, swelling, shortness of breath, heartburn, hemorrhoids and stretch marks are a few of the travails of the third trimester. For most women, the excitement of becoming a new mom overshadows the discomfort felt in the third trimester.
2. Third Trimester Tests
Early in your third trimester, your doctor will test you for gestational diabetes, anemia and group B strep. Doctors treat gestational diabetes with a strict diet, anemia with medication and group B strep with antibiotics during labor. If left untreated, any of these issues can cause complications toward the end of your pregnancy and in labor.
3. Your Baby's Job: Get Fat
Most major development for your baby takes place during the first two trimesters, so now is the time for baby to fatten up. At the beginning of the third trimester, the average baby weighs about two pounds. At delivery, the average baby weighs between seven and eight pounds and some babies can be close to ten pounds. During your third trimester, your baby's kicks and movements become more pronounced. This is the time when your partner, too, can frequently feel kicks and even hiccups.
4. An Unexpected Delivery
Preterm labor, also known as premature labor, happens when you have regular contractions, forcing your cervix to thin out and dilate before 37 weeks. About 1 in 4 preterm births are medically necessary because of health conditions with the mother or baby. The rest happen spontaneously for a variety of reasons. Hospitals today have excellent care for babies born prematurely. In fact, the prognosis for babies born at 34 weeks is that they will live a full life with no complications.
5. Real Labor Versus False Labor
Your baby is considered full term at 37 weeks, meaning you could go into labor at any time over the next four weeks. It may be hard to tell the difference between real contractions and Braxton Hicks contractions, which are your body's way of warming up for labor. They come and go on an unpredictable schedule beginning in the second trimester and they're usually painless. If you have painful contractions at regular intervals, contact your health care provider immediately or head straight to the labor and delivery unit at your hospital.
