Mind The Bump Newsletter
May 06
Our news letter this month is particularly
for all my clients who are in their third trimester,
and judging by the orders that I have had for XL I would
say thats most of you.
Pregnancy - Your Third Trimester
The third trimester of pregnancy spans from week 28
to the birth. Although your due date marks the end of
your 40th week, a full-term pregnancy can deliver between
the 38th and 42nd weeks of pregnancy. During this final
trimester, your fetus grows larger and the body organs
mature. The fetus moves frequently, especially between
the 27th and 32nd weeks.
In the final 2 months of pregnancy, a fetus becomes
too big to move around easily inside the uterus and
may seem to move less. At the end of the third trimester,
a fetus usually settles into a head-down position in
the uterus. You will likely feel some discomfort as
you get close to delivery.
See illustrations of the fetus at 32 and 40 weeks of
development.
Normal symptoms you may experience during the third
trimester of pregnancy include:
- Braxton Hicks contractions, which are "warm-up"
contractions that don't thin and open the cervix and
lead to labor.
- Fatigue
- Back pain
- Pelvic ache and hip pain
- Hemorrhoids and constipation
- Heartburn (a symptom of gastroesophageal reflux
disease, or GERD)
- Breathing difficulty, since your uterus is now just
below your rib cage, and your lungs have less room
to expand
- Mild swelling of your feet and ankles (edema). Pregnancy
causes more fluid to build up in your body. This,
plus the extra pressure that your uterus places on
your legs, can lead to swelling in your feet and ankles
- Difficulty sleeping and finding a comfortable position.
Lying on your back interferes with blood circulation,
and lying on your stomach isn't possible. Sleep on
your side, using pillows to support your belly and
between your knees
- Frequent urination, caused by your enlarged uterus
and the pressure of the fetus's head on your bladder.
Signs that labor is not far off include the following:
- The fetus settles into your pelvis. Although this
is called dropping, or lightening, you may not feel
it
- Your cervix begins to thin and open (cervical effacement
and dilatation). Your health professional checks for
this during your prenatal examinations
- Braxton Hicks contractions become more frequent
and stronger, perhaps a little painful. You may also
feel cramping in the groin or rectum or a persistent
ache low in your back
- Your "water" may break (rupture of the
membranes). In most cases, rupture of the membranes
occursonce labor has already started. In some women,
this happens before labor starts. Call your health
professional immediately or go to the hospital if
you think your membranes have ruptured.
I hope you are all healthy and prepared for this beautiful
new being. Dont forget we have baby clothes on our website
too. please visit us at www.mind-thebump.com
Thank you for subscribing to our news letter, please
pass on to your friends and relatives who are pregnant
or have babies and todlers.
Anita D |
