Once you’ve reached the third trimester, you’re in the home stretch. The third trimester of pregnancy begins in the twenty-eighth week of pregnancy and ends when the baby is born. Although your doctor or midwife has given you a due date, this is really just an estimate. The baby can come any time from thirty-eight to forty-two weeks. This is a busy time for most expectant parents, as you are preparing for baby’s arrival. Some women have a baby shower, especially if it’s the first baby. Childbirth classes, breastfeeding classes, decorating the baby’s room and shopping take up more time … Continue reading →

The second trimester of pregnancy includes weeks thirteen through twenty-four. You will begin to show during this time and most women start wearing maternity clothes at some time during the second trimester. You will become more aware of the baby’s presence and feel movement at some time during these weeks. This varies widely among women, so don’t get stuck on an exact week to feel the movement. Many women find the symptoms of pregnancy subside somewhat in the second trimester. Some report this trimester is the most comfortable, since morning sickness has generally ended. Also, while the stomach is expanding, … Continue reading →

One of the most common complaints during pregnancy is frequent urination. Whether you are sprinting to the bathroom every half hour because of hormones (first trimester) or because of bladder pressure (third trimester), there are practical things you can do to manage the inconvenience of frequent urination. 1. Try to spread your water intake throughout the day, rather than drinking large amounts of water all at once, especially at night. This will prevent you from getting those sudden urges to run to the bathroom, since your bladder will fill slowly and gradually. 2. Avoid drinking a few hours before bed … Continue reading →

Some women will experience night sweats at some point during pregnancy. The degree of sweating can vary from very mild and occasional sweating to more severe sweats. Night sweats are similar to hot flashes that are experienced later as menopause approaches. The cause is the same as well, hormonal changes. Specifically changes in estrogen levels can interfere with the normal heating and cooling of the body. The heat and temperature of the body is regulated by the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus releases body heat when it is hot and keeps in heat when it is cold outside. This explains why people … Continue reading →

Pelvic pain is common in pregnancy, as the baby grows. The pelvis joint expands throughout the third trimester as the body prepares for child birth. This expansion combined with the weight of the baby is responsible for pelvic pain during pregnancy. This is one of the discomforts in pregnancy that won’t completely go away until after the baby is born. In the meantime, there are some things you can do to deal with the pain and get some relief. Try one or a combination of these methods to relieve pelvic pain. Pregnant women often find pelvic pain increases when they … Continue reading →