The third trimester is about preparing and nesting for your new addition. Most women are in denial about labour in the first and second trimester, not giving it much thought. Now by the third, you are realizing that you will be soon experiencing labour. At first you may feel anxious and fearful, but for most the anxiety transforms into surrendering the closer you get to you due date. You will soon be joining the 300,000 women who will give birth on any given day.
It is important to get the baby’s room prepared about 3 months in advance. It takes paint 3 months to off gas, as does new furniture, flooring etc. If you are ordering new furniture, strollers or other gear, it is not uncommon for it to take much longer to arrive than initially thought.
Sleep, well the lack of sleep, is a very common complaint. You must shift the many pillows required to support your body, your hips get sore from lying on your side, then you have to get up to urinate, only to have to start the whole process over again. For some the body pillows seem to be helpful. Every one will tell you to get use to the lack of sleep, and this your body’s way of preparing for things to come. This may be true, but it can be very frustrating. If you find your self not able to sleep, get up stretch, go the the washroom, read a book, have a snack, eventually you will be able to fall back asleep. Take naps during the day to catch up on your sleep. You will need your energy for a strong immune system, for labor and to take care of your new baby.
As the third trimester winds down your energy levels decrease as well. Many women get there iron levels checked again to make sure they are not anemic. If you do find your iron levels to be low take floradex or hemoplex supplement as directed by your care provider. It is also a good idea to start taking probiotics in this last trimester. The probiotics can prevent Strep B infections which requires you to go the hospital for IV antibiotics at the the time you go into labour. In addition, recent studies show that the use of probiotics in the last trimester can prevent eczema and allergies in your baby.
It is important to stop working 3 weeks prior to your due date. It takes a good week to unwind and relax, gives you time to wrap up any lose ends and make final preparations for your baby, and gives you the opportunity to rest and take care of your self.
