Pregnancy is one of life's greatest adventures, and at Doylestown Women's Health Center, we're proud to help women navigate pregnancy by offering comprehensive obstetric services & care. But in addition to offering obstetric and other critical women's healthcare services, we strive to be a comprehensive resource to our patients for all kinds of information on women's health, and if you're wondering what to expect in the third trimester of pregnancy, we're here to shed some light on the subject.
What to Expect in the Third Trimester
The third trimester, lasting from roughly month 7 to month 9 of your pregnancy, will see some of the biggest changes yet for your baby and for you. Your little one will grow from just 2.5 lbs at the beginning of the third trimester to between 6 and 9 pounds by the end, so you're likely to feel a big increase in the strength and frequency of kicks at this point in the pregnancy. The formerly see-through skin will become opaque during this period, and your baby will also shed the vernix, which is a waxy coating that protects your baby from the acidity of amniotic fluid, and the lanugo, which is a furry coat that keeps your baby warm before the buildup of subcutaneous fat stores.
All these changes for your baby will be accompanied by changes to your body. The ballooning size of your little one will cause your stomach to swell in concert, and this rapid expansion can often cause cramps and sharp pains as your ligaments try to adjust. It's also common to experience heartburn, backaches, and of course, fatigue. Meanwhile, overactive hormones mean you may experience vivid, strange dreams, as well as an overall sense of clumsiness. Fear not: all of these phenomena are a normal part of pregnancy, and they mean that your baby is growing fast, which is just what you want.
Contact Your Doylestown, PA Obstetrician
The third trimester will see some of the most radical changes to your baby and your body, but with the right obstetrician, it's nothing you can't handle. And if you're still looking for high-quality pregnancy care, we can help! Give us a call at 215-340-2229 to find out how our world-class obstetricians can help make your pregnancy as smooth, comfortable, and safe as possible. We can't wait to hear from you!