Third trimester

As you get closer to your baby's birth, here are some things you may notice:

• Your skin and ligaments continue to stretch to make room for your growing baby.
• You get tired more easily, and sleeping becomes more difficult.
• You might get heartburn or feel short of breath as your baby grows larger and puts more pressure on your lungs and other organs.

These are all normal during pregnancy, but there are things you can do to feel better. Talk to your midwife or doctor for suggestions, especially if you're in pain.

You may also experience Braxton-Hicks contractions. These are a tightening of the muscles in the uterus that last around 30 seconds. They happen at different times and are not painful but may be uncomfortable. They are not labour contractions and do not mean that labour has started.

If this is your first baby, you may notice around 36 weeks that your baby has moved lower into your pelvis. This is often called the baby 'engaging' or 'dropping' in the pelvis. You may notice more room near your ribs, which makes it easier to breath. But this adds more pressure on your bladder (meaning more trips to the toilet).

In the last few weeks of this trimester, your body will begin getting ready for labour. Your cervix will start to soften, and you may notice the mucous plug come out.

Your mucous plug blocks the opening of your cervix during pregnancy. Sometimes the mucous plug has blood in it. This is an early sign that labour is about to start.

During this last stage of pregnancy, you may be worried or anxious about labour and birth, or about how you will manage as a parent.

It can be hard to get comfortable in bed, and you might need to go to the bathroom more often. This can mean poor sleep, which can make you feel cranky and sad.

While it's common to see the third trimester as an exciting time and feel positive about the next stage, 1 in 5 people will experience antenatal anxiety or depression. Seek help early if you (or your partner) feel this way.

During the third trimester, you will have more frequent antenatal check-ups. You will see your midwife or doctor about every 4 weeks until 36 weeks. After that, you will go every 2 weeks. Your midwife or doctor will help you plan your appointments. If you are using midwife continuity of care, you should see the same midwife or team of midwives every time.

You may also have:

• blood tests to check for anaemia
• blood test to check for gestational diabetes
• a test for group B strep (streptococcal)

You may also be offered vaccinations for:

• flu (influenza) — at any time
• whooping cough (pertussis) — after 20 weeks of pregnancy
• RSV — between 28 and 36 weeks of pregnancy

To give your baby a healthy start, it's important to eat healthy foods during your pregnancy. Make sure your diet includes a variety of fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as sources of:

• protein
• iron
• calcium

Don't forget to drink plenty of water too.

Weight gain is a normal part of pregnancy. Most people can expect to gain between 11 and 16kg.

A pregnancy weight gain calculator can be a handy tool to track your weight gain through the third trimester.

Try to stay active throughout pregnancy in your third trimester. While it's important to stick with safe, gentle exercise as you get closer to your due date, it's a good idea to continue to participate in regular exercise as part of a healthy lifestyle.

Contact your midwife, doctor or hospital immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms:

• vaginal bleeding or constant, clear watery vaginal discharge
• severe nausea, vomiting or abdominal pain
• sudden blurry vision or a severe headache
• sudden swelling of the face, fingers or ankles
• fever
• regular, painful contractions before 37 weeks of pregnancy
• a change in your baby's movements

Every labour is different and can start in different ways. Here are some signs you may notice:

• Your waters break.
• You are having regular, painful contractions.
• You may have nausea, vomiting, soft stools or diarrhoea.
• Your mucous plug may come away.
• You may have a bloody show.

If you think your labour has started, call your hospital, midwife or doctor to let them know.

As you enter the third trimester it's a good idea to:

• Arrange to go to antenatal classes
• Pack a hospital bag.
• Book a hospital/birthing centre tour.
• Arrange a properly fitted car seat to bring your baby home.
• Consider what you will need when you bring your baby home what will you buy and what you can borrow from family or friends.
• If you have other children (or pets), plan for their care while you are in hospital.
• Consider shopping ahead especially for non-perishable staples (such as tinned food and bathroom products).
• Consider cooking double portions through your third trimester and loading your freezer for when things get busy after your baby is born.

Follow your pregnancy week-by-week to find out how your baby is growing and what is happening to your body.

The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) has factsheets and resources such as common questions in pregnancy.

Look at pregnancy factsheets on the Royal Women's Hospital website

Queensland Government also have an online resource What to expect during pregnancy.