Pregnancy - Last Trimester

Pregnancy end is near and you begin counting the days to your due date. Again, fear does not go away since giving birth is another event to overcome on your way to motherhood. Like any other endings, the third trimester is a harbinger to a more exciting event in your life. You will likely feel anxious about labour and wish you could go ahead and have the baby now. This doesn't mean that there is anything wrong with your baby. The sense you have of urgency is due to metabolic changes in the brain. Subtle shifts have gone on in each trimester bringing about the fatigue of the first, the elation and vigour of the second, and now the nervousness of the third.

In the third month, the baby's body parts become fully formed. It can move its fists and mouth, and the teeth, fingernails, and toenails begin to form. The reproductive organs have developed by this time, although it is still to early to detect the baby's gender through an ultrasound. By the end of this month, the baby would have grown up to 4 inches long.

As far as your body is concerned, it's going to experience a whole lot of changes once again. And you are going to bear the brunt of it. Constipation, indigestion, gas, swelling of hands and face, cramps, headaches, and backache are going to disturb your peace of mind at the third trimester pregnancy stage. You will also feel extreme tiredness and shortness of breath. The best way to combat these nasty side effects is to take as much rest as you can. Avoid strenuous physical activity completely.

As your baby grows you will become more uncomfortable. Unfortunately, you cannot stop your baby from growing, nor would you really want to. For backaches, consider a warm heating pad or a massage from your partner. A warm shower beating down on your lower back will often help as well. Sitting frequently can also take the strain off your lower back. If it is not possible to get off your feet, stand with one foot up on something, like a box or a chair. This will help relieve some of the pressure on your lower back.

You may experience cramps in your feet or legs due to a lack of calcium. Be sure that you're taking your prenatal vitamins regularly. You may notice swelling in your hands and feet during the seventh month of pregnancy. Braxton Hicks contractions are one of the common symptoms this month.

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