Pregnancy - Third trimester

The baby continues to grow, adding fat cells and filling out. The eyes, ears, and mouth are all functioning. The lungs are beginning to expand and contract, taking in amniotic fluid in preparation for breathing air. During the eighth or early ninth month, the baby will rotate into a head down position to prepare for descent through the birth canal. By the ninth month the baby is too big in the womb to make large movements. The sensations the mother feels are the baby jabbing and poking with arms and legs.

Depending on the status of lung development and on the emergency care available, a baby born during the third trimester can survive. The lungs are ill-equipped to deal with the intake of oxygen, but new treatments are available to help the child survive.

Contractions

Some women experience mild uterine contractions throughout the second and third trimester of pregnancy; others only experience contractions toward the end of the third trimester. These contractions can be thirty seconds to several minutes in duration. They usually start at the top of the uterus and the woman experiences a tightening sensation that moves down the uterus to the pelvic floor. The contractions should not be extremely painful, and if they become uncomfortable, changing position or lying down may relieve them. The contractions, known as Braxton Hicks contractions , are preparing the uterine muscles for delivery. The contractions may be difficult to distinguish from true labor toward the end of the pregnancy. False alarms, where the expectant mother thinks labor has begun, are caused by this. Lying down should alleviate Braxton Hicks contractions, but not true labor.

Fatigue

As in the first trimester, fatigue can become a daily obstacle. The pregnant woman's body is carrying a large weight and large drain on her energy system. As the baby gets closer to delivery, the amount of energy required increases, increasing the likelihood that the mother will tire easier.

Awkwardness

Falling, tripping, dropping things, and general inability to get into and out of chairs and cars is a normal part of pregnancy. The shift in a woman's center of gravity can occur rapidly during the last trimester, giving her little time to adjust. Moving and stepping over things becomes more difficult as the woman's line of vision with her feet and the ground becomes blocked. Her added weight can make some movements more difficult. And the swelling that comes from general edema can make handling small objects more cumbersome. All of these problems disappear after delivery.

Edema

General swelling of the extremities, the hands and feet particularly, is a normal aspect of pregnancy. About 75 percent of pregnant women experience some swelling from retention of fluids. It is usually helpful to increase water intake to alleviate some of the swelling. Increased fluids help the body flush out excess liquids. Talk to your doctor if swelling becomes a problem. Pre-eclampsia and toxemia occur in a small percentage of women, where swelling is extreme and life threatening if not treated. Your doctor will monitor for pre-eclampsia by checking your blood pressure, weight gain, and degree of swelling.

Breathing Difficulties

As the size of the baby grows, the baby and the uterus will push on the diaphragm muscle that controls breathing. This added pressure keeps the woman from deep breathing and can be painful. Also the baby may temporarily lodge a foot against her ribs or diaphragm, causing sharp pains. During the last two weeks or so, the baby will drop into the pelvic girdle and the pressure will be relieved on the diaphragm. This is called lightening . (Note: Shortness of breath, rapid and shallow breathing and/or rapid pulse should be reported immediately to a doctor.)