Third Trimester Of Pregnancy

The third trimester of pregnancy is a time of great excitement...and discomfort. Developmentally, the baby's skeleton finishes developing. Its eyes open and it can recognize light. It practices breathing, gains weight rapidly and prepares for delivery into the real world. Unfortunately, the rapid growth of the baby means a lot of pressure is being applied to all of the areas surrounding the uterus.

According to staff at the Mayo Clinic, what a woman can expect from her body during the third trimester of pregnancy include weight gain, Braxton Hicks contractions, backaches, a shortness of breath, more breast growth, heartburn from the uterus applying pressure to the stomach, a swelling in the lower limbs and feet, veins and hemorrhoids, frequent urination and vaginal discharge.

It's also no small secret that pregnancy is emotionally demanding. The third trimester may have the woman and her family on their last nerve with excitement as well as anxiety to be done with it. Prenatal care visits will become a weekly thing as the date approaches and this is a great way for a woman to alleviate any anxieties over the upcoming delivery. These anxieties can be even further elevated by a passing due date, which is surprisingly common. In fact, a good percentage of healthy babies are born up to two weeks past their estimated due date. The Mayo Clinic suggests keeping busy by keeping a journal or decorating the baby's room instead of trying to induce labor with home remedies.