The third trimester is the home stretch of your pregnancy. It begins with week 28 of your pregnancy. As your baby grows, your body will feel even more uncomfortable and heavy.
During the third trimester you may be feeling excited or impatient to finally meet your baby. However, your body goes through a lot of physical changes. You will continue to gain weight and begin to have false labour contractions.
Below is 10 body changes in the third trimester.
Stretch marks: As the baby grows, your skin will get stretched more and more. This often leads to stretch marks. These are small lines on your skin. They often appear on your stomach, breasts, and thighs.
Abdominal pain: The muscles and ligaments that support the uterus will continue to stretch as your baby grows. They may be uncomfortable and painful.
Read Also: 10 Body Changes In Pregnancy During The First Trimester
Shortness of breath: It is common to feel short of breath late in pregnancy, especially in the heat. Chest pain and severe shortness of breath, may signal a more serious problem.
Itchy Skin: Pregnancy hormones accompanied by growing, stretching skin can lead to skin irritations and itchiness. Dry skin and eczema are also common.
Leg and Back pain: Some people experience intense calf cramps during pregnancy. The cramps usually last only a few minutes. Back pain is common all throughout the pregnancy. These are related to the pressure your growing baby puts on the nerves and blood vessels that go to your legs and back.
Swelling: Most people experience some swelling late in pregnancy because of increase in weight and fluid retention.
Bladder leakage: The urge to urinate becomes stronger because of pressure on the bladder. Bladder leakage is common due to changes in the pelvic floor muscles.
Heartburn: The growing uterus pushes up on the stomach. This can cause acid to travel back up the oesophagus, causing intense heartburn.
Read Also: 10 Body Changes In Pregnancy During The Second Trimester
Breast pain: Growing breasts, hormonal changes, and similar shifts can cause breast pain and pressure. Your breasts will also gradually continue to increase in size. These changes prepare you for breastfeeding.
Increased fatigue: You start to feel tiredness similar to the first trimester. It’s a normal response to the increased weight you are carrying, and your body hard at work supporting an extra life.
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