It’s almost baby time! This is a period of nesting and preparing for your newborn. The third trimester can also be super uncomfortable! As you move closer to labor and delivery, it’s important to take care of your body to get it ready for the big event. Taking the time now to prepare for birth and your newborn is definitely something that you’ll be grateful for in the fourth trimester.
How Can I Stay Active In My Third Trimester?
As long as you don’t have any pregnancy complications, you can exercise in the last stage of pregnancy.
Healthline highlights low-impact exercises such as yoga, walking, swimming, and bodyweight exercises as healthy choices. Squats are a great way to help prepare your body for birth as this exercise targets and strengthens the muscles used in labor.
To support yourself while exercising, you can use a maternity belt or belly band. This can stabilize your pelvis and improve balance, making exercise easier.
Of course, you’re dealing with more weight which can make bodyweight exercises tough. For more support and stability, you can bring an exercise ball into your routine.
What Is The Best Position To Sleep While Pregnant?
Sleep is an essential aspect of a healthy pregnancy, especially during the third trimester. Johns Hopkins Medicine lists preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, longer labors, and higher rates of cesarean section as possible complications that can arise from lack of sleep.
But, how are you meant to get good quality sleep with an almost full-term baby in your belly? “At this stage, high levels of estrogen can also cause some women to develop rhinitis (swelling of the nasal tissue), which can be associated with snoring and obstructive sleep apnea.”
Because of this, sleeping on your side becomes imperative! “This position allows for maximum blood flow and nutrients to the placenta (which means less pressure on the vena cava) and enhances kidney function, which means better elimination of waste products and less swelling in your feet, ankles, and hands,” adds What To Expect.
To help you sleep on your side and enjoy more comfortable nights, a pregnancy pillow is a must! They’re specifically made to help reduce the pain associated with sleeping on your side and to support your belly. We love the Pharmedoc Pregnancy Pillow as it’s designed to relieve third trimester aches and pains.
What Do I Do About Labor Anxiety?
As you approach your due date, you may experience some anxiety around childbirth. To overcome this, it’s important to pinpoint exactly what’s causing your fear, whether it’s pain, worrying about being a parent, or the intended location of your delivery. The best thing you can do to ease fear is to educate yourself.
The third trimester is a great time to take our Birth Made Simple Course. Skip the hospital class, and take ours in bed on your own time. This course will go through what you need to know about labor, birth, and the immediate postpartum period.
The more you know about the options available to you in the delivery room, the more your fear will dissipate and the more prepared you’ll feel.
How Do I Deal With Hemorrhoids?
Dealing with hemorrhoids? You’re not alone, Mama! According to Cleveland Clinic, up to 40% of pregnant women experience hemorrhoids. “The added weight of a growing fetus and the hormone changes that support pregnancy both increase your chances of having hemorrhoids.”
Luckily, there are at-home ways to deal with this. Witch hazel can reduce pain and itching, and coconut oil can ease discomfort.
We recommend the Frida Mom Hospital Packing Kit as it contains Witch Hazel Pad Liners as well as a Peri bottle, padsicles, and healing foam. This pack is designed for women healing from labor, perineal tears, stitches, or hemorrhoids. So, it will be extremely helpful after delivery, too.
How Do I Ease Leg Pain?
Leg pain and restless leg syndrome can develop or worsen in the third trimester. Drinking plenty of water, stretching your legs, and taking a magnesium supplement can all help relieve this soreness.
Wearing compression socks can also provide relief. According to WebMD, “They improve circulation by allowing the muscles and arteries in your lower limbs to relax, and encouraging the blood to flow back to your heart.”
Taking care of yourself now can not only make you more comfortable and healthier in the present but can also facilitate a better birth experience and fourth trimester. Here’s to an incredible home stretch, Mama – you’re almost there!
