The Third Trimester in Your Pregnancy

You should know that every pregnancy is different. Your experiences may not be like those described here, but may still be perfectly normal. Talk to your doctor or midwife about any questions or concerns you have.

I'm not a doctor or midwife, so I can't tell if your pregnancy is developing normally or not. I hope the things I discuss here will help you know what to expect during your pregnancy, but don't consider this to be medical advice. Get your medical advice from a qualified doctor or midwife.

Increased urination

Your baby will be putting a lot of pressure on your bladder, so you'll have to pee even more often.

Backache

You're carrying around a heavy baby now, so your back might ache sometimes. Try to stand, walk, and sit with your back straight, not arched backwards with your belly sticking way out. Good posture will go a long way toward easing backaches. Changing position often can help, too.

Your bellybutton

It's weird, but as your baby grows, your bellybutton may begin to stick out. It'll probably go back to normal after your baby's born.

The mucous plug

When you are pregnant, there is a plug of mucous that blocks the cervix or opening to the womb. When the cervix begins to open or dilate a bit, which can happen several days before you actually go into labor, the mucous plug comes out. You may or may not notice it when it does.

The bloody show

At the beginning of labor or just before labor begins, you'll have some vaginal bleeding. This is because as the cervix opens, small blood vessels are broken. If it is more than a few days before your due date, if the bleeding is heavy enough that you soak a maxi-pad in one hour or less, or if anything about the bleeding concerns you, call your doctor or midwife.

Contractions

As your due date approaches, your uterus will start practicing for labor. You'll experience occasional contractions, which will probably feel similar to menstrual cramps. These practice contractions are called Braxton-Hicks contractions. Some people call it false labor. You might have just one, or you might have several in a row.