The third and last trimester of pregnancy

Some common signs associated with the third trimester of pregnancy

During the third trimester, there are a few disturbing signs that the mother have to struggle with. Other than the mild pains that may be felt in parts like the legs, thighs and the loser back, a normal pregnancy is more comfortable at this stage.

Some women may experience breathing difficulties as a result of the extra fullness due to the increasing pressure from the baby’s added weight. The growing baby gains a lot as time progresses. This may make the mother a bit uncomfortable but it is very normal to have those numb limbs and stiff hips.

The third trimester is associated with more advanced movements of the baby in the womb. The baby’s physical body features are already fully developed. The baby is capable to give pushes and tugs with the arms and legs more frequently than earlier felt.

In the third trimester, the baby is almost ready to be born. The mother should start preparing herself psychologically for thee coming birth. At this point, the mother also needs adequate rest so as not to get over exhausted when delivery time comes.

It is however also important for thee pregnant mother to engage herself in slight exercises. This can greatly help the baby’s movement into the pelvis and can also reduce the pains of labor.

What brings about the birth of premature babies and those with breathing problems

There are many factors that may make a baby to be born before the due date. These may be as a result of the mothers’ health condition both physically and psychologically. Other pregnancy related problems may also cause the mother to get into labor way ahead of the due date or may have to go for a caesarian section to save both or either lives.

Regardless of the reason as to which led to the baby’s birth before time, most preterm babies usually develop cases of breathing difficulties. This may be due to the in ability of the bay’s lungs to produce adequate surfactant. The in ability to breath may lead the pre term baby to develop respiratory distress (RDS). This is because the surfactant is what prevents the inner surfaces of air sacs from collapsing in on each other as the baby breaths out.

Premature babies may be provided with surfactant to help them top up for the ones the lungs can not provide through normal production. At other times, the baby’s breathing may be supported by a ventilator.

Experiences of high blood pressure by the mother during the third trimester

Pressure differences in pregnancy may at time be referred to as pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH.). Most women who had high blood pressure even before the pregnancy develops pre-eclampsia. This may bring about elimination of protein in the urine and swelling in some parts of the body. Some other parts of the body may also be affected. These are the liver, lungs and brain. It may also lead to a more serious effect like interfering with the body’s blood clotting system.

Mothers who are having their first babies are the once who mostly suffer from pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH). Its resultant effect which is pre-eclampcia can have very adverse effects on the efficiency of the placenta about 5 to 15 per cent of pregnant women risk developing pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH).

With the main hope of reducing the risk of the mother developing pre-eclampcia, a pregnant mother with this condition can have some drugs prescribed to bring down pressure. Having a relaxing time or a bed rest can also help to give the mother some peace and have pressure levels brought down.

The relationship between size and shape of the pelvis

There are occasions in which the baby fails to fit into the mother’s pelvis. This condition is technically known as 'cephalo-pelvic disproportion'. It is a case which may be noticed during the third trimester by having the baby’s head failing to engage itself. It is sometime not easy to use this form of determination as in some cases the baby’s do not engage until the last hours of labor

As much as most women have children who match their features, some cases have women delivering babies who are far much too big for them. Such disproportions always differ with every pregnancy that a woman carries. Normal births can be had even after having a caesarean section in a former delivery.

What happens to the perineum in the third trimester

The perineum is the skin between the anus and the vagina.  It should be very flexible due to the pressure which the baby puts on it at delivery. Failure of this would lead a woman into suffering serious tears while giving birth. The hormonal releases in a pregnant woman’s body sees to it that the perineum gets soft enough to stretch at the third trimester. This saves the woman from numerous stitches after the birth of her baby.

When the perineum does not give enough stretch to provide room for the baby to come out, the midwife may be forced to make a slight cut (episiotomy) on it to allow for ease of the baby’s coming. The enlarged exit gets stitched after the mother has given birth. Small tars or episiotomy cuts may be left to heal on their own; however, larger cuts and tears are best stitched before leaving to heal.

It might be dangerous to have a very large but done by the midwife as they are hard to stitch. They would also take too long to heal and this may give the woman a lot of worries. Large cuts are better avoided whenever possible.

Baby engagement in the mothers pelvis getting ready to be born

Engagement basically means that the baby’s position completely shifts and it gets ready to be delivered. The head is the first down into the pelvis. For first moms, this may occur a little earlier than it would for those who have delivered before. This may be as early as two weeks ahead of the due date for delivery.

The baby stops putting a lot of pressure in the diaphragm. This allows the mother to be able to breath with much ease. Engagement may however cause a little discomfort to the mothers’ lower ends. This is mostly brought about by the possibility to feel every movement that the baby’s head makes. An electrifying or lightening sensation is felt by the mother every time the baby turns its head.

The few weeks to delivery may be with no much movement for some babies while others may be extremely active during the time. Both cases are normal and the baby just keeps getting ready for the eventual visit to the world.

Going for long journey travels during the third trimester

Going on a long journey is not bad; however, there may be numerous discomforts that come with it. This may prompt the mother to take some extra care of her in order to remain as comfortable as possible.

In the case of going on a flight, the mother in her third trimester may need some time to take a few rounds of walk. The mother can also do some ankle exercises as well as leg stretches so that her blood circulation is not interfered with.

It is also advisable to make sure that one does not get dehydrated during the journey. Make sure that before taking off for a long journey a doctor is seen to ensure that one is in good condition to manage the coming journey.