What you need to know: Third Trimester

You are on the home stretch. For me the third trimester was interesting. As I progressed from the second trimester, in that two week window, I experienced the most severe headaches I had ever had, which made sleeping even harder. On top of this, my iron levels took a sharp dive down and for those two weeks felt extremely tired than I already was.

The third trimester is hard, I kid you not. But, having a strong and peaceful mind really helps you to get through the last stages of pregnancy. It is a time where you begin to feel a 'nesting' feeling and a hormone called 'relaxin' starts to release making your joints softer. It is a time to take things easy. You may even start leaking 'colosterum', it's all okay to experience this, the third trimester is about getting ready for the big event, labor.

At this stage you will also have a Group B Streptococcus swab test to check for the bacteria. It is nothing to worry about, other that if it comes up positive you need to have treatment (antibotics) as the baby can contract the bacteria (which can lead to pneumonia or meningitis) upon delivery, if the baby delivers via the birth canal.

A few things you may want to do...

• Go on a tour of the place were you want to deliver.
• Think about stopping work, if you haven't already.
• Start buying a few things for the nursery
• Start writing down your wishes for a birthing plan
• Start reading about 'sleep and breast feeding techniques'
• Start putting together your labor bag for hospital
• Have a pregnancy massage
• Attend aquanatal swimming classes

Little projects and activities like this for me really helped.

A bit more on writing your birthing plan.
For me, that's just it, it was only a plan! I was lucky I didn't have my heart set out to have my birthing plan followed to the letter or I would have been emotional about lack of achievement. From my experience, and trust me my was an experience, my birthing plan could have easily been shredded and binned. I think it was just a reassuring this to have for 'just in case'.

My labor was only 2 hrs and 30mins!!! I had no time for an epidural, music, massage of ANYTHING. In my birthing plan I had written, if possible not to have the gas as I really get affected by anything that makes you nauseas. Well that is ALL I had. So go figure!

Other baby moments
In my third trimester, I had a joyus moment of feeling one mighty kick, then the subsequent kicks are just a constant reminders that you both want 'out, out , out'. One thing I really experienced was constant 'hiccups', at footy games, whilst sleeping, eating out, EVERYWHERE. It was amazing and annoying at the same time.

Music and sudden noises
I really could feel Codi jump in my belly if I had the classical music too loud and the orchestra changed to a fast tempo. It was a very funny experience. Or a time when I was in a business meeting and a friend of mine who speaks quite strong and loud. Raised his voice suddenly, I received a huge jolt from inside that I found hard not to laugh out loud and at the same sit try and sit down again, from the jolt.

Due for labor
I also experienced the head engaging, but none of the 'braxton hicks' contractions at all (practice contractions), a week before Codi was due. I made sure we had in our minds that Codi will come later, so we didn't think about it all the time. Until, our Obstetrician mentioned he would be coming soon, maybe even before the due date. We were then very impatient that week. My advice is to think it's later than sooner, so you don't get disappointed.

Codi arrived on the date he was due at 9:05am on the 30th of August 04.

Good luck!