The third trimester

Weeks 28 to 40 are months seven, eight and nine of your pregnancy and are known collectively as the third trimester. This means that you’re on the home straight. As such it is inevitable that all of your worry, fatigue, expectations and excitement should be coming together in anticipation of the big day and your new arrival. But baby is not ready yet. That said, now that you are in the third trimester your little one has a much better chance of survival if does arrive pre-term. But as long as it remains in your womb, it is still growing, still getting into position and still waiting for that important confluence of signals that will result in your waters breaking, your cervix softening and dilating and – oh miracle of miracles – the birth.

Final preparations for the new arrival

Depending on how you’re feeling, there is still plenty you can do in these final few weeks to plan and prepare, both for the birth itself and for the first weeks of baby’s life. You will want to be sure of your birth plan, to have considered your pain relief options, to have a bag packed and ready for hospital (if that’s where you’re planning to give birth) and to have plenty of contingency plans in place to ensure that you get to the hospital or maternity unit on time when the big moment arrives. But you can still be active through this period, both physically and socially. In fact, keeping your spirits up and your focus spread across non-pregnancy concerns can be a great way to keep your physical and emotional health buoyant. Regular swimming, walking and socialising with friends and family can help ensure this. You may even wish to try pregnancy yoga, Pilates or aquanatal classes. Read on to discover more about the third trimester and all it entails.