The third trimester is the final period of bearing a child. There is very little time left before the mother meets the baby. Usually women from the very beginning of the third trimester begin to count down to childbirth. And the closer to them, the more patience and courage is required from the expectant mother - this trimester is not at all as easy as the previous one.
When does it start and end?
The final trimester begins at 28 weeks of gestation. But the exact timing of its completion is rather difficult to name: childbirth does not always occur on the day scheduled by obstetricians. The Estimated Day of Birth (PDD) is used as a guideline only. Most of the births occur at 39-40 weeks, a third of births at 38 weeks, about 15% of women continue to carry babies and after the PDD passes - up to 42 weeks of pregnancy. According to existing medical standards, it is not considered post-term, it is called prolonged. When exactly your childbirth will take place - not a single doctor will answer.
The third trimester ends with the onset of regular labor. A woman ceases to be pregnant and becomes a parturient woman, and after childbirth becomes a postpartum woman and a new mother.
The third trimester includes the seventh, eighth and ninth calendar months of the gestation period.
Fetal development
The kid is no longer as defenseless as before. In this trimester, he will no longer form anything new, with the exception of neural connections and new skills. The last third of pregnancy is very important - the baby learns to compensate for threats and adapt to new environments, because after birth he will meet with a new world, in which everything is not at all the same as in a cozy and sterile mother's womb. It grows, the organs and systems of the child's body mature. Now, unfavorable factors that could cripple or kill him at an earlier date meet with a decent immune response - the baby is less susceptible to their influence.
If suddenly now the child finds himself in unfavorable conditions of existence, his compensatory mechanisms help him to survive and try to minimize possible consequences. This is due to the fact that in the last three months, new malformations in children, as a rule, do not arise.
The baby has a strong effect on the mother's body - he creates a lot of inconvenience and discomfort for her, but he also helps her prepare for childbirth - it produces a small amount of oxytocin, which is necessary for the contractility of the uterus during childbirth, presses the head on the cervix from the inside, promoting maturation and cervical opening. The aging placenta in the last weeks begins to protect the mother - she does not allow the child to gain even more weight in order to facilitate the birth process.
The critical stage, at which preterm birth was extremely dangerous, was left behind in the second trimester. Now the predictions in case of a baby's birth ahead of schedule will be more and more positive every week. Until week 37, they will continue to be called premature, but from 37 weeks they will become urgent, and the baby will be considered fully mature and full-term.
Throughout the trimester, the child will continue to gain weight - sometimes more intensely, sometimes less, but the set will be inevitable. Compare: at the beginning of the trimester, the weight of the crumbs barely exceeds a kilogram, and by 37-38 weeks it significantly exceeds 3 kilograms. There are also toddlers whose weight will exceed 4 kilograms by the end of the trimester.
During the entire last third of the gestation period, the baby will actively form the brain, and the nervous system will hone the functions. This process will continue later, after childbirth. You need to understand that the baby does not yet possess arbitrary skills, but is already ready to learn them, and he will do this literally from the first hours after birth.
In the final third of pregnancy, the work of the sensory organs is debugged - they will help the baby to adapt in a new world for him, because immediately with the first breath, a huge amount of sounds, light, smells will fall on him, the ambient temperature will change, he will be applied to the breast of the mother, and he will begin to perceive new tastes. To analyze all this information, the brain must be well prepared.
Lung tissue continues to mature throughout the trimester - a phospholipid substance called "surfactant" continues to accumulate in the alveoli, so that the baby can breathe on its own after birth.
We offer interesting information about what's new in the baby by the weeks of pregnancy.
28 week
This week opens a new stage for the baby in his intrauterine development - perinatal or late fetal. It means that your baby is fully formed, it has everything for independent survival, it remains only for the organs to mature a little, to increase in size. The child accumulates subcutaneous fat very actively, and there are differences in body weight in boys and girls. It is small - about 150 grams, but it is already there.
This week, the baby already has quite chubby cheeks, another part of his body that touches his parents is beginning to recover - the butt. The kid is actively getting rid of lanugo, and about a tenth of this thin hair has already fallen from the skin. Babies in the womb at this time show a clear reaction to light., which gives reason to believe that the processes of formation of the optic nerve are coming to an end - if you shine a light on the stomach, the baby begins to squint and turn away. You should not be afraid of giving birth this week - up to 90% of babies survive.
Week 29
The kid is busy honing reflexes. He already "knows" several dozen skills that will help him survive in a new world for himself. Swallows, spits, the chest makes frequent breathing movements, the same as it will do when the child switches to pulmonary breathing. Baby weight gain reaches record rates - up to 40 grams per day... In general, children grow and "get fat" according to the genetic program embedded in them by their parental DNA.
Survival, if childbirth occurs, WHO estimates at 97%, the risk of disability is minimal.
30 week
The long-awaited maternity leave has come. At exactly 30 weeks, a woman carrying one child is given a sick leave for 140 days. If a mother has twins in her stomach, then she goes on maternity leave at 28 weeks.
The baby felt cramped in the womb. Most fetuses already occupy the position that will persist until the very birth.... If now your baby is not in cephalic presentation, then the likelihood of self-reversal, alas, is low. There is no room for such maneuvers in the uterus.
The average weight of the fetus at this time is about one and a half kilograms with a growth of more than 40 centimeters... Coloring pigment appears and the hair becomes darker. They remain light only for those who are destined to be born blond.
31 week
The skin was red and wrinkled. From this week it becomes soft pink, wrinkles are smoothed out. In just a week, the baby adds about 300 grams due to the growth of a layer of subcutaneous fatty tissue. The auricles, which protrude to the sides, begin to adhere to the head. If the baby is now born, doctors will judge the degree of prematurity by the degree of hardening of the cartilaginous tissue of the ears.
32 week
From this week, the motor activity of the fetus is declining. The movements will be less frequent and more painful for the mother., since there is no space left in the uterus - up to 90% of the space is occupied by the child, 5% is allocated to the placenta, the rest is the membranes and amniotic fluid. The amount of water also begins to decrease. The weight of the baby is on average one and a half to two kilograms.
The placenta begins to produce hormones that are important for preparing the female body for childbirth.
33 week
Many at this time undergo the final third ultrasound, but they will be disappointed - it is no longer possible to look at the baby in full growth. The baby has grown so much that the ultrasonic sensor cannot get its full image, the child is examined in parts - the head and face, legs, arms, abdomen and chest.
The genitals can be reliably hidden behind the umbilical cord or thigh of the child, since he has long been in a bent position - otherwise he will no longer fit in the uterus.
34 week
The uterus reaches maximum distension. The placenta begins to age and artificially restrain the further growth of the fetus... This does not mean that the baby will no longer gain weight, but simply the rate of gain will slow down somewhat. In most fetuses, the weight has exceeded 2.3 kilograms, and this gives reason to believe that a baby born at such a time will have enough stay in a special heated bed, more serious resuscitation measures may no longer be required.
As the placenta ages, the baby begins to use compensatory mechanisms and adaptation mechanisms, because now both oxygen and nutrition can be reduced.
35 week
For the first time in the entire period of gestation the baby starts to look like a newborn... But this should not be misleading. He looks ready for birth only externally, inside the process of maturation of the kidneys and lung tissue continues, the load on the right and left parts of the heart changes due to the aging of the placenta. It will be better if the baby remains in the womb for a few more weeks.... The ongoing processes are very important to him.
Lanugo and cheese-like lubricant have almost disappeared, the skin has a delicate pink color, not only the cheeks and butt, but also the limbs of the fetus look plump. The iris of the eyes acquires at this time the color that the child should be given according to the genetic program.
The nerve endings were myelinated. The mass of the brain has grown noticeably, the convolutions and grooves on it have deepened.
Week 36
At this time, babies for the first time reach a weight of 3 kilograms or so with an average height of 47-49 centimeters. For pregnant women, for the first time this week, abdominal ptosis most often occurs. - the baby descends into the lower part of the uterus and begins to press the head against the internal pharynx, contributing to the maturation of the cervix. The kid is grouped and folds his arms over his chest, he is actually in a runner's pose at the start.
The nail plates grow and at this time they first go beyond the phalanges of the fingers. The bones have hardened sufficiently, as long as only the cranial bones remain mobile and relatively soft. Childbirth this week, although it is premature, is not dangerous for either the mother or the fetus.
37 week
The baby's weight has exceeded 3 kilograms. From this week onward, childbirth can be expected on any day, and it will be urgent, that is, occurring on time. There is enough surfactant in the lung tissue, the intensity of its production decreases. The baby's movements slow down, he feels cramped.
38 week
It's a week of waiting. Women listen carefully to changes in their bodies, looking for signs that predict an imminent birth. The kid also calms down a little. Due to the tightness, he spends most of his time in a dream.
In male fetuses, the testicles descended into the scrotum. Only about 2% of children cannot yet boast of the correct location of the sex glands, but they still have time.
39 week
All organs and systems of the child are ready for birth. Intensive processes continue only in one - in the nervous one. Young neurons continue to form, which build more and more neural connections.
The presentation of the fetus at this time is final, is not subject to appeal. And therefore, with a transverse or pelvic at 39 full weeks, a caesarean section is performed to reduce the likelihood of birth injuries.
40 week
If women think that they are tired and nervous at week 40, they are mistaken, because they simply do not know what the child is going through much more at this time. The tightness in the womb causes him severe stress, the body of the fetus begins to produce adrenaline - the stress hormone. It begins to accelerate the formation of a generic dominant in the mother's body. The child thus rushes the mother's body.
If a woman goes to 41 and 42 weeks, she should know that every day the situation for the child is becoming more stressful, the degenerating placenta can no longer provide him with normal nutrition and oxygen supply, but there is no need to worry about the baby - his body can already compensate some trouble.
If labor does not begin before 42 weeks, then doctors, according to the order of the Ministry of Health, will take measures to induce labor, that is, stimulate labor in order to prevent true overdue - a condition in which the baby can no longer compensate for the lack of oxygen and nutrition.
Woman's well-being
The woman's condition worsens as the term increases. If the beginning of the third trimester is accompanied by slight discomfort, then by the end of the period even very seasoned women begin to dream that childbirth will take place as soon as possible. You can understand them: walking, doing everyday things becomes more and more difficult every day. Before lowering the abdomen, a woman suffers from heartburn - the uterus presses on the stomach and leads to the reflux of gastric juice into the esophagus, constipation and diarrhea - a consequence of pressure on the intestinal loops, shortness of breath and pain in the ribs - a consequence of squeezing the diaphragm. With diarrhea, pregnant women are shown drugs - adsorbents, but not everyone is suitable for the expectant mother.
Smecta, which until recently was recommended to have in the first-aid kit for expectant mothers, is no longer prescribed for pregnant women, since lead was found in the raw materials for this drug (official letter from ANSM, France). Lead in Smecta could have a toxic effect on the child, in particular on his brain.
For this reason, the Russian Society of Obstetricians - Gynecologists (ROAG) has issued a recommendation to discontinue the appointment of Smecta to pregnant women, lactating women, and children under 2. ROAG believes that in the Russian Federation there are many domestic drugs that have been successfully used for more than a decade in pregnant and lactating mothers - Enterosgel or similar drugs.
Entersogel is isolated as the first choice drug due to the high efficiency of the gel form, adsorption selectivity and safety (it works only in the lumen of the gastrointestinal tract). The gel-like form saturated with water, unlike fine sorbents, minimizes the risks of constipation, which is very important when prescribing Enterosgel for pregnant women. In addition to removing toxic substances, pathogenic bacteria and rotaviruses, Enterosgel helps to correct the intestinal microflora and restore the epithelium of the mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract, enhances the antioxidant defense of the body, and has a positive effect on the body's immune system.
As soon as the stomach drops lower, it becomes easier to breathe, the costal arches hurt less, but visits to the toilet become more frequent - now the pressure of the baby's head is felt not only by the cervix, but also by the bladder. The tailbone and pubic bone begin to hurt more severely - the pelvic bones are intensely softened before childbirth.
Nasal congestion that was present in the first trimester and was caused by the action of progesterone on the mucous membranes may return. If physiological rhinitis of pregnant women returns, it usually persists until the very birth and goes away after the baby is born, and the woman's hormonal background will return to its original state.
Headache at this time can be caused by high or low blood pressure, it can be the result of sleep disturbance, which is also common in the last weeks of gestation, it can be psychogenic - a woman is worried, nervous, worried about the outcome of childbirth.
Among other pains, there are pains in the knees and feet that are completely normal for this period (caused by an increased body weight of a woman), back pain due to a displaced center of gravity (the stomach and chest are already very large). There are complaints of lumbago in the pelvis - this is a consequence of pinched nerve endings, that the navel hurts - the skin tension is now maximum.
The training contractions get worse as the due date approaches, more frequent... They are manifested by short tensions of the uterus, followed by relaxation of the muscles. They are not systematic; they appear and disappear completely spontaneously. If they are not there, this is also the norm., and you shouldn't worry about it.
Allocations in the last third of the gestation period require a particularly careful attitude.... Their character changes as they approach childbirth: the discharge becomes more abundant. This calls for increased hygiene measures. Watery liquid discharge, which intensifies when getting up from a lying position, may indicate leakage of amniotic fluid, and mucous, jelly-like discharge with impurities of blood or blood streaks is a mucous plug that leaves its place in the cervical canal of the cervix shortly before the onset of labor.
Normal discharge can be considered light and odorless, homogeneous in consistency.
Any deviations in the color, quantity, smell and nature of the discharge, especially if it is accompanied by unpleasant sensations, pain, should be a reason for an immediate visit to a doctor.
The psychological state of a pregnant woman in the third trimester deserves special attention. Most are afraid of childbirth. It is important to know that this fear has a huge impact on the preparation of the cervix for labor and the course of labor. In a state of fear, a woman produces a large number of stress hormones, which cause clamps at the muscle level., this becomes the reason for weak disclosure of the cervix, lack of disclosure, ruptures, birth trauma.
In the third trimester, it is important to get the right psychological help and support aimed at reducing stress, the right positive attitude largely determines the nature of the upcoming birth.
The level of progesterone begins to decrease, the level of estrogen, oxytocin, adrenaline increases. The uterus occupies almost the entire space of the abdominal cavity. Closer to childbirth, the number of nerve fibers begins to decrease in it - this is also a mechanism for natural pain relief of childbirth, thought out to the smallest detail by nature itself. The cervix matures, shortens, softens. Her condition is assessed after 38 weeks of pregnancy.
The mammary glands enlarge even more. The aging placenta begins to produce the hormone prolactin, which actively prepares the woman's breasts for the upcoming breastfeeding. The nipples become coarser, colostrum is excreted. If it is not there, you should not think that there will be problems with the appearance of breast milk. - these facts are not connected with each other. After 36 weeks, the colostrum becomes thinner and lighter.
Women who suffered from anemia in the second trimester begin to feel much better by the middle of the third - hemoglobin is growing. Hair and nails grow more actively, because their increased growth is a manifestation of the effect of estrogen.
A woman's immunity is at the limit, and therefore it is now that allergic reactions, colds often start, and chronic diseases are aggravated. Sweating increases.
Possible complications
The most dangerous complications of the third trimester are conditions that, in one way or another, affect the state of the child's brain, it is in it during this period that a variety of changes occur, and the negative effect of pathologies can affect the functioning of the central nervous system of the fetus. ABOUTpasen gestosis with external and especially internal edema, polyhydramnios is dangerous, fetal hypoxia is dangerous, because, first of all, it is the children's brain that experiences the lack of oxygen especially acutely.
Not less intrauterine infection is dangerous, which may become possible due to a violation of the integrity of the fetal bladder, and due to the early discharge of the mucous plug, especially if a woman has untreated genital tract infections, even a banal and widespread thrush.
The task of doctors and the expectant mother in the last weeks is to vigilantly monitor the condition of the fetus. When the circumstances of intrauterine suffering are discovered, a decision is often made about early delivery, if it is not possible to establish or eliminate the factor of influence.
We list the most common pathologies and complications of the third trimester.
Anemia
It is associated with the increased needs of the child and the placenta in the gland, as well as with an increase in blood volume (while the plasma volume increases by almost 40%, that is, the blood becomes more diluted). A violation is indicated by a decrease in hemoglobin less than 100 g / l, the number of erythrocytes becomes smaller, the hematocrit number decreases.
Anemia in the third trimester threatens with multiple pregnancies, with a pregnancy that came too early after the previous one (less than two years), with insufficient nutrition and the presence of a chronic infection in the pregnant woman. It is manifested by pallor, a woman wants to sleep all the time, there are signs of low blood pressure, a woman is more susceptible to colds and viral diseases.
A woman is recommended to eat a diet rich in iron, as well as medicines - vitamin C, iron supplements (Sorbifer and others).
Gestational pyelonephritis
The inflammatory process in the tissues of the kidneys occurs due to squeezing of the ureters by the uterus, if the outflow of urine is disturbed. If there is a pathogenic microflora in the genital tract of a woman, then the likelihood of complications is very high. The bacteria multiply rapidly and invade the calyces and pelvis.
It manifests itself as a feeling of chills, fever above 37.0 degrees, signs of intoxication, back pain, difficulty urinating. Urinalysis shows a high white blood cell count. The kidneys of a woman cope worse with their filtration tasks. The condition is dangerously high with the likelihood of developing severe gestosis.
For treatment, antibiotics, diuretics are prescribed.
Aorto-caval compression
Such a complex medical term refers to the compression of the inferior genital vein and the lower part of the aorta by a large and heavy uterus, if a woman is lying on her back. All pregnant women have heard that it is dangerous, but not everyone knows what it is. When squeezed, the venous return to the heart is disturbed, it begins to beat less frequently, and collapse occurs. The blood pressure in the vessels decreases to critical levels, the skin turns pale, a bluish tint appears.
This can happen during the third trimester, and even during the birth itself. The result is usually quite deplorable: the placenta exfoliates ahead of time, blood flow is disturbed, the baby experiences acute uncompensated hypoxia, and the fetus often dies. Now you know why it is especially dangerous to lie on your back during the last weeks of pregnancy.
Examinations, analyzes
In the middle of the third trimester of pregnancy, the woman will undergo a control ultrasound scan with color Doppler - this method, which some call the third screening, will assess the work of the placenta, and also give an idea of how well the baby is supplied with oxygen and blood, how well he feels.
From the 30th week in the consultation they do CTG - a cardiotocographic study allows you to obtain data on the baby's heartbeat and motor activity, as well as on the development of his autonomic nervous system.
The woman will now come to the doctor's appointment once a week. Each time she will have to pass urine for a general analysis, so that the doctor can see in dynamics whether the kidneys of the expectant mother are normal, whether there are signs of pyelonephritis and gestosis. Each appointment will be weighed, assessing the presence or absence of edema, measuring blood pressure on two hands.
Before giving birth, a woman will have to pass almost all the same tests that she took during registration - blood for syphilis and HIV, to do a coagulogram with the determination of fibrinogen and D-dimer.
According to the indications, tests for TSH hormones will be made, as well as hemoglobin, ESR will be assessed as part of a general blood test.
Common questions
The questions for women in the third trimester, according to reviews, are quite similar, we have combined them into groups.
Antibiotics
Antibacterial drugs, which could significantly harm in the first trimester and pose a certain danger in the second, are no longer so contraindicated. If necessary, the doctor may well prescribe such treatment to a woman, because a bacterial infection for a baby in late pregnancy is more dangerous than using antibiotic therapy.
There are almost no restrictions on topical application - nose drops, antibiotic ointment, eye drops for some pathologies, wounds and burns may well be used... For systemic use, there must always be compelling circumstances - the presence of an infection, the harm from which will be higher than the potential harm from the use of antibacterial drugs. Antibiotics can no longer cause malformations in a child in the third trimester.
It is recommended to avoid drugs from the group of quinolones, as well as ototoxic agents ("Gentamicin", "Neomycin"), as they can lead to hearing impairment in the child.
Insomnia
Insomnia in the later stages is caused by the inconvenience of sleeping, because it becomes more difficult to roll over from side to side, the pressure of the uterus on the bladder and frequent urge to go to the toilet, as well as excitement, anxiety and fears of the expectant mother. For the baby, mother's insomnia is not a big danger, but for the expectant mother herself, a long-term state of insomnia can be dangerous - the likelihood of developing gestosis increases, the risk of developing anxiety syndrome and depression increases, and the likelihood of cardiovascular diseases increases.
Pregnant women suffering from insomnia quickly gain excess weight and suffer from metabolic disorders.
All effective hypnotics (based on benzodiazepines, barbiturates, thalidomide, bromine and others) are prohibited during the period of gestation.
In agreement with the doctor, a woman can only be recommended herbal sedatives that will help calm down and fall asleep better - motherwort, valerian, and so on. But even in relation to such funds, many doctors are strongly opposed.
To improve sleep, which is very important on the eve of childbirth, a woman must:
- fall asleep in a ventilated area, on a comfortable mattress, use special pillows for pregnant women to support the stomach and back;
- maintain a good mood, a positive attitude before childbirth, perceive all the difficulties of the period as temporary, which will definitely end with a happy meeting with the baby;
- walking in the fresh air, especially before bed;
- sleep less during the day, make your routine saturated, move, do current things.
It is better to sleep in complete darkness and silence. If this is not possible, be sure to buy earplugs and dark blackout curtains.
Sex
Do not think that sex for women with a big belly does not exist. Many, on the contrary, despite the physiological malaise, experience increased sexual desire. If there are no contraindications and complications of pregnancy, intimate life in the third trimester is not prohibited, but very specific restrictions are imposed on it... The positions chosen by the partners must completely eliminate pressure on the abdomen and uterus, and therefore the missionary position is excluded. Positions with deep penetration ("rider", for example) should also be excluded. Optimal for both sleep and sex is a position lying on its side.
A woman needs to stop intimate contacts in case of the beginning of the discharge of the mucous plug or its complete exit - the cervical canal from this moment becomes open, the uterine cavity from the vagina is no longer separated by reliable protection, it is possible that pathogens that can cause intrauterine infection enter the uterine cavity. For the same reason, it is recommended to stop sexual intercourse when the amniotic fluid leaks.
Sex in the late stages also has a pronounced therapeutic effect: the semen contains natural prostaglandins, which allow the cervix to mature, soften and shorten better.
The pleasure of intimacy with her husband raises a woman's mood, and positive emotions now are exactly what she needs.
The ability to fly by plane
Traveling by air in the final third of the gestation period is not prohibited, but not recommended. Pressure drops, change of time and climatic zones may not have the best effect on the well-being of a pregnant woman. Some airlines require a medical certificate when boarding an aircraft. After 36 weeks boarding may be denied. Before flying somewhere, if you really need to, check with the airline representatives for their rules for transporting pregnant women.
Can teeth be treated?
Toothaches in the third trimester are not uncommon. The reserves of calcium in the woman's body were severely depleted while the baby was taking this substance to harden his own bones of the skeleton, and therefore small problems with the teeth that were at the beginning of pregnancy, but were not cured due to toxicosis, nausea, fear of anesthesia, can now have more global scale.
You can treat your teeth. But experts do not recommend doing this right now.
If the problem does not require an immediate solution (there is no acute pain, flux), then it is better to postpone the treatment to the postpartum period, because the expectant mother does not need extra stress now.
If the problem is acute, there is no need to endure pain - you should contact your dentist and solve it without fear for the condition of the fetus. Modern pain relievers used in dentistry do not have a pronounced negative effect on such a large fetus as your baby is in the third trimester of pregnancy.
Recommendations
It is easier to survive the final trimester of pregnancy with some helpful recommendations made by specialists taking into account the characteristics of this gestational period.
Nutrition and vitamins
A woman's diet in the final trimester is very important for her and her baby. The child needs nutrients no less, and sometimes even more than in previous periods, but here it is better to refuse multivitamins in the last month of pregnancyso that the child does not "go over" the weight. Of course, each baby in the mother's womb has its own potential for growth and weight, and if by the beginning of the trimester doctors say that the birth of a large child is possible, you should not "feed" him with shock doses of vitamins.
If there is a lack of a certain vitamin or mineral, which can be shown by a biochemical blood test, a woman may be prescribed a vitamin monopreparation, for example, an iron preparation for anemia or an oil solution of tocopherol with a lack of vitamin E. Complex vitamin supplementation will not be necessary. If the baby, on the contrary, is small and grows slowly, vitamins are shown and needed.
In the last weeks of pregnancy, it is undesirable to include a large amount of dairy products and cottage cheese in the menu. It is better to eliminate these products so as not to lead to excessive mineralization of the baby's skull bones - this will significantly complicate the process of giving birth to a baby.
You shouldn't eat a lot of animal protein either. Try to eat more fiber-rich vegetables to eliminate constipation, fruits (with low allergenicity), it is better to replace a piece of beef with a lighter dietary chicken breast or boiled low-fat fish.
Alcoholic drinks, soda, coffee, everything smoked, fried and spicy are still contraindicated. You shouldn't eat factory sweets. If the weight gain is in excess of the norm, you can arrange fasting days, but this can only be done in agreement with the attending physician.
Physical activity, exercise
A woman should not greatly reduce her physical activity, although a certain decrease is inevitable. As the abdomen grows, the expectant mother becomes more and more awkward, she gets tired faster, and needs rest. That doesn't mean it's best to spend your third trimester on the couch.
Moderate and adequate physical activity will help a woman prepare for childbirth - yoga, outdoor walks, home exercises based on exercises to train the pelvic floor muscles, and exercises for the muscles of the back, legs and arms, including a combination of breathing exercises with classes on such a projectile as fitball.
A woman can perform a certain range of responsibilities around the house, but, of course, sharp squats, jumps, falls, intense running, lifting weights are contraindicated for her. With this in mind, you need to plan your day.
The movement allows not to gain extra pounds, accelerates the process of cervical maturation, improves the elasticity of muscle tissue.
Diseases, colds, SARS
Considering that a woman's immunity is reduced, getting sick for her now is not such an impossible situation. What to do is a difficult question. For a child, neither the flu, nor ARVI, nor even the more common cold now presents a great immediate danger, neither herpes on the lip, nor laryngitis are dangerous. But dangerous high temperature, which accompanies most acute respiratory viral infections. It can cause disturbances in the uteroplacental blood flow, lead to placental insufficiency.
It is important to consult your doctor about which antipyretic drugs are right for you in case of illness. All paracetamol-based products will not harm the baby, the doctor will tell you the specific.
Antiviral drugs are not needed for a pregnant woman. This is an extra burden on the liver., moreover, there are no effective antiviral agents, most of them are a commercially viable dummy for the pharmaceutical industry.
If the disease caught up in the last weeks of pregnancy, do not worry. Call a therapist at home, take an antipyretic agent, if the fever is high, ensure yourself a few days of rest while lying down, drink more warm liquid - dried fruit compote, green tea, homemade fruit drink, rosehip decoction. After 3-5 days, the virus will be defeated by your own body.
If childbirth begins before a woman is cured, then, of course, she will be admitted to the maternity hospital, but she will be placed in the observational department, where all patients with infections and unexamined women go. The prospect, although unpleasant, is not fatal - and there women give birth well and are discharged home on time.
Useful Tips
During the entire third trimester of pregnancy, a woman should very carefully count every day of fetal movement. Normally, there should be at least 10 of them in 12 hours (the baby's hiccups don't count). If the number of movements is insufficient, this may indicate severe hypoxia, which the baby can no longer compensate for. The increase in perturbations usually indicates a problem at the initial stage, when compensatory mechanisms are still coping with the situation.
Here are some tips to help you be more responsible in your final weeks.
- Listen carefully to changes in your body: the nature of the discharge, sensations, unpleasant symptoms must be noted by the expectant mother daily. If necessary, you need to report the changes to the doctor.
- Broaden your horizons: try to find out more reliable information about how your reproductive system works, how labor will take place, what are their stages. This will give you more confidence in your abilities, as well as reduce anxiety about certain symptoms.
- Take classes in a course for pregnant women in a antenatal clinic or sign up for such courses in any clinic that you like - they will help you master the correct breathing in different periods of childbirth, massage and self-massage techniques to facilitate labor pains. In such classes, they tell how to take care of the baby in the first days, how to establish breastfeeding.
- Approach the choice of a maternity hospital or a perinatal center with all responsibility: read reviews, visit this maternity hospital, talk to the staff, patients, find out what conditions the maternity hospital has, what the rules are, if it has everything you need to provide intensive care of any complexity to a woman in labor and a child. Having made a choice, visit the chief physician on the visiting day and sign the exchange card - the birth certificate gives any woman the right to choose absolutely any maternity hospital or perinatal center free of charge.
- Make sure that you have collected everything you need in the hospital in advance (the list can be obtained from the maternity hospital of your choice). Starting from 33-34 weeks, the collected bag and documents should be prepared - if labor begins, you will not have to worry.
- Even if the third trimester is clearly delayed, do not resort to folk remedies and medicines to stimulate labor on your own... Induction of labor at 42 weeks and later should be done exclusively in a hospital setting. Until 42 weeks, nothing needs to be stimulated, especially at home - the consequences can be tragic.
Learn more about the third trimester of pregnancy in the following video.
