The third trimester of pregnancy is the last phase which begins in week 28 and lasts until you give birth, may be around week 40. In terms of month, it is from 7 to month 9 of pregnancy.
The rapid growth of you and your baby will be noticed in third trimester. Hang in there! You’re almost to the finish line.
What happens in you? Week by Week
You and your baby may be two thirds of the way there to pregnancy. Still your baby is to do plenty of growing. Here’s more on what to expect in third trimester of pregnancy.
Week 28
Baby is getting more skilled by the day or month 7, can now blink and even dream. Yes, you may be dreaming about your baby, your baby may be dreaming about you too. The brain wave activity shows different sleep cycles which include the rapid eye movement when dream occurs.
Your baby is settling into the position for birth, which is head-down towards your body’s exit. The impressive repertoire tricks like blinking, coughing, intense sucking, hiccupping and perhaps breathing is what your baby works on.
Now, your baby’s kicking keeps you up at night and worried during the day, your feet may be swollen, all over again you’re getting tired and those back ache stays.
As the baby settles down into a birth position, baby’s head and your growing uterus may rest on sciatic nerve in the lower part of your spine. If it happens, you may feel sharp shooting pain. This pain goes away if your baby shifts position.
Week 29
You should start doing daily kick counts once or twice by week 29 of pregnancy. Baby has no enough space, actually running out of room, but you would still feel baby squirming and moving. The fat is deposited under the skin of the baby. As it is classified, brown fat is necessary for regulating body temperature while white fat serves as an energy source. Your little one will be more vigorous and less erratic responding strongly to all sorts of movements, sounds, light and that candy bar which you’ve eaten an hour ago. So, this is the right time to do daily kick counts. Count all the swishes and rolls, until you hit 10 within an hour. If not reached 10, you’re little rockette may be taking a break right now, so wait for some time, have light snack or drink water and then try again. The blood sugar rushes your baby back to move.
Week 30
Your baby is filling out fast at week 30. Your baby bump pops out big now. Baby’s brain is taking on those characteristic grooves and indentations. The lanugo (soft, downy hair) starts to disappear. Furry coat is no more required. The big change at 30 weeks pregnancy is that your baby’s bone marrow has completely taken over the production of red blood cells.
Early pregnancy symptoms are now back. Baby’s ahead is now pressing on your bladder which prompts frequent urination, tender breast that gears for milk production, fatigue and heartburn is felt or you may the luck one who still feels good.
Week 31
Baby is sleeping more, putting in longer stretches of sleep; you’ll probably notice more defined patterns of wakefulness, movements and rest. Now baby is able to process information, tracking light and perceiving signals from all five senses. Your baby may not be able to smell too much right now, though likely can smell and taste different foods you eat through amniotic fluid.
Week 32
By week 32, you’re entering into month 8. Only one month left to go! Baby is prepping for birth, tipping the scales to 15 to 17 inches. It’ all about practice as the baby hones the skills needs to thrive outside the womb. In anticipation of momentous transition to mouth feeding, the digestive system of our baby is ready, all set to go. As, the fat stats t accumulate under the baby’s skin, it’s no longer transparent and now is opaque. Between 32 and 38 weeks, your baby will probably set into the head-down bottom up position in your pelvis in preparation for birth. Fewer percent of babies set into bottom-down or breach position. But still there is a good chance to flip to the right position before birth.
Week 33
By 33 weeks along, you’re reaching middle of third trimester. Now baby is busy putting on about half a pound a week. Now-a-days, you might feel baby’s kicks sharper. Though amniotic fluid level has maxed, likely you have more baby than fluid and that is the reason why some of the baby’s pokes and kicks feel pretty sharp these days. As your uterine walls are becoming thinner, more light penetrates the womb. This week is an important milestone as the antibodies are being passed from you to your little one so that baby continues to develop the fetal immune system.
Week 34
With 34 weeks down, you’re cruising through 8th month of pregnancy. Baby sex differences are made. If your baby is a boy, the testicles are making their way down from abdomen to the scrotum. Some baby boys with full term are born with undescended testicles, but usually make the trip down after birth or sometimes before a year. The tiny fingernails are probably reached the top of the fingers.
Week 35
By week 35, your baby is standing tall at about 18 inches. The baby’s skinny arms and legs are quite plump now and irresistibly squeezably soft. The skull that surrounds the amazing brain remains soft too. The reason behind this is the soft skull will allow your baby to squeeze more early through the birth canal. You may feel lots of Braxton Hicks Contractions as your uterine muscles practice for the delivery of the baby.
Week 36
Week 36 is the start of 9th month of pregnancy. Your baby’s skull bones are not fused together yet. So the head can easily manoeuvres through the birth canal. Most of the bones and cartilage in your baby are quite soft as well. Possibly, baby will drop lower into your pelvis. Hence you may experience pelvic pain. To relieve this discomfort, do some pelvic exercises, take warm baths, and apply warm compresses.
Week 37
At 37 weeks, you baby is still packing half-a pound a week. As the baby is filled fully in your uterus, you may not experience kicking as much. Instead you ay feel baby’s stretching, rolling a bit and wiggling. Baby starts to simulate breathing by inhaling and exhaling before entering into the world. For the next prenatal appointment, your doctor may examine dilation (how far your cervix has opened) and this doesn’t stop them to guess when the labour will begin approximately the consistency and the thinness of the cervix is also checked.
Week 38
By week 38, your little one isn’t quite small anymore, baby’s height measures 20 inches. As you are getting prepared for baby’s arrival, baby is getting ready too. Your baby swallows amniotic fluid, some of which winds up in her intestines where it sheds waste products. This will later turn into your baby’s first bowel movement (meconium). Baby is continuing to add fat and fine-tune her brain and nervous system. Your body is tending to its own final touches before the big day of your life. Sleepless nights, a little anxiety and leaky breasts (colostrums – precursor to breast milk) are the changes in this week.
Week 39
Month 9 is drawing to close! Your baby is considered full term now. Your baby’s brain is growing at an astonishing rate. There’s definitely truth to the rumour that babies cry a lot but they don’t produce tiny tears when they cry, since tear ducts aren’t fully open for its process. Do watch out for labour signs. These includes the rupture of the membranes that contain amniotic fluid which is commonly known as water breaking, the nesting instinct, the loss of mucus plug and bloody show which arrives when capillaries rupture from the dilation and effacement of your cervix.
Week 40
Your little one is fully prepped for their life outside the womb with all systems performing its functions. About 1 in 3 pregnancies last more than 40 weeks. Actually week 40 is considered as the official end of the pregnancy. The major mystery whether your little baby is a boy or a girl is solve once in for all.
Meet your baby and just be sure to say hello to your new little cherry’s arrival, since your baby will very likely recognize the sound of your voice.
You’ll notice that your little one is curled in the fetal position, it will take a while before your baby realises they have room to spread out. Babies are swaddled when they are born which remains them your Uterus and makes them feel comfortable. You will be able to still provide antibodies to your baby. Yes! Its through breast feeding – especially colostrums is super rich in antibodies and feeds your baby for first few days postpartum.
The Takeaway
Hooray! Congratulations on your baby’s arrival. Though pregnancy is a long journey, getting to know about a life growing inside you makes your journey an adventurous exploration and fun altogether. Enjoy those precious moments now, having your little you in your hand.
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