By about the twenty-seventh week of pregnancy you are considered to be in your third trimester, but there’s something extra special about reaching the 30 week mark.
At this point, the countdown to your due date starts into the single digits and the whole idea of impending motherhood begins to feel much more real.
You will probably find yourself ‘nesting’ in the extreme; cleaning and renovating the house, packing and re-packing your hospital bag, counting for the umpteenth time how many baby vests and outfits you have ready-to-go and arguing over baby names that you thought you had already agreed on.
Here are some of the symptoms you may experience during these final stages of pregnancy;
Physical problems
High heels and wedges are the enemy. If you will be going through your third trimester during the summer, opt for ballet pumps and sandals (not flip flops), or flat knee-high boots or smart brogues in the winter. Your body is already having to cope with an ever changing centre of gravity, so heels will only aggravate this problem and worsen any back or pelvic pain.
At this stage of pregnancy there is increased pressure on the pelvic girdle and some women are unlucky enough to experience a condition known as symphysis pubis dysfunction (SPD). This is caused by the pressure of your expanding baby bump and increasing levels of hormone relaxin, which encourages the pelvic bones to separate at the front, without an actual fracture occurring.
It is quite painful, affecting the lower back, pelvic girdle or hip area. The nerve pain sensation can even spread down the legs and is aggravated by walking up stairs or parting your legs to get out of bed or a car.
One of the most effective treatments for SPD, apart from physiotherapy or osteopathy, is acupuncture. It can work very well to relieve the pain, as it is not advisable to take painkillers or ant-inflammatories at this stage of pregnancy. A pelvic support belt is also a good idea as it takes the pressure off the front of the pelvis and spreads the weight of your baby bump more evenly around the back and sides of your body. Most women recover quite quickly after labour, using physiotherapy exercises to help the pelvis back to its correct position.
Insomnia
You would be forgiven for thinking that nature had imposed night-time restlessness on pregnant women to prepare them for the inevitable sleepless nights that a new baby brings.There may be some truth to that, as research has shown that the hormonal changes during pregnancy are likely to cause interrupted sleep patterns. My advice is to do whatever you have to in order to get some proper rest. If that means sleeping with 20 pillows (between the knees, under the belly, behind the back etc. etc.) sitting up, on the couch, in a rocking chair or even on the floor, then go right ahead. If you are able to get comfortable but just can’t get to sleep, catch up on podcasts or get up and do a bit of yoga to relax before trying to get back to sleep again 20 minutes later.
Perineal massage
I think it’s fair to say that perineal massage is not a very appealing idea. I still remember the look on my husband’s face when he first heard about it at the ante-natal classes we attended. I was very quick to point out that he wouldn’t have to take any part in the process. No woman wants to be watched as she hangs on for dear life to the edge of her bathroom sink, trying to contort herself into a position that allows her to work on stretching that special area down below. That said, while it does require a high level of commitment (twice daily for five minutes if you really want to see results), if you want to minimise the chances of an episiotomy, many women swear by this technique.
Heartburn
This is one of the most common, yet infuriating symptoms of the last trimester of pregnancy. You may have an increased tendency towards it if you suffered with heartburn before you became pregnant.
The size of your bump, your height and how high you are carrying your baby may affect the severity of your symptoms. If you are a bit taller, there is more space for your bump to expand, so you might be lucky enough to avoid the dreaded burning feeling. A handy tip is to avoid drinking water or any other liquid while eating, as this dilutes the acidity of the stomach making heartburn more likely.
In the final couple of weeks before your due date you may experience some relief from heartburn as the baby’s head moves downwards and starts to ‘engage’, but don’t be surprised if you are downing bottles of Gaviscon right up until you go into labour. The good news, is that as soon as you have given birth the heartburn should disappear.
Jessica Bourke is a Natural Fertility Specialist, who deals with all aspects of reproductive health. Her clinical approach is based on evidence-based nutrition protocols, acupuncture treatment, and she also offers functional lab tests to support you on your journey to parenthood. She's a regular contributor to Irish media and co-author of the 'Guilt Free Gourmet' cook-book. As a Mum of two, Jessica understands the challenges of pregnancy and parenting. For more, visit jessicabourke.com.
