Healthy pregnancy (16)
- Childbirth education: Get ready for labor and delivery
- Pregnancy nutrition: Foods to avoid during pregnancy
- Pregnancy weight gain: What's healthy?
- see all in Healthy pregnancy
First trimester (6)
- Fetal development: The first trimester
- First trimester pregnancy: What to expect
- Prenatal care: What to expect during the first trimester
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Second trimester (7)
- Second trimester pregnancy: What to expect
- Prenatal care: What to expect during the second trimester
- Fetal development: The second trimester
- see all in Second trimester
Third trimester (9)
- Overdue pregnancy: What to do when baby's overdue
- Fetal development: The third trimester
- Third trimester pregnancy: What to expect
- see all in Third trimester
Pregnancy problems (14)
- Pregnancy and diabetes: From conception to birth
- Antidepressants: Are they safe during pregnancy?
- Coping with pregnancy loss
- see all in Pregnancy problems
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Third trimester pregnancy: What to expect
Your emotions
As anticipation grows, fears about childbirth may become more persistent. How much will it hurt? How long will it last? How will I cope?
If you haven't done so already, you may want to take childbirth classes. You'll learn what to expect — and meet other moms-to-be who share your excitement and concerns. Talk with women who've had positive birth experiences, and ask your health care provider about options for pain relief. Tell yourself that you'll simply do the best you can. There's no right or wrong way to have a baby.
The reality of parenthood may start to sink in as well. You may feel anxious and overwhelmed, especially if this is your first baby. To stay calm, revel in the experience of being pregnant and think about the joy that will come from loving a new human being.
- Write your thoughts in a journal.
- Talk to your baby.
- Take photos of your pregnant belly to share with your child one day.
It also may help to plan ahead. If you're going to breast-feed, consider what supplies you might need, such as a breast pump. Think about what's right for your family regarding circumcision if your baby is a boy. Consider who will be your baby's principal care provider. Make plans for your first weeks together.
Appointments with your health care provider
During the third trimester, your health care provider may ask you to come in for more frequent checkups — perhaps every other week beginning at week 32 and every week beginning at week 36.
Like previous visits, your health care provider will check your weight and blood pressure and ask about any signs or symptoms you may be experiencing. You may need screening tests for various conditions, including:
- Gestational diabetes. This is a temporary type of diabetes that sometimes develops during pregnancy. Prompt treatment and healthy lifestyle choices can help you manage your blood sugar level and deliver a healthy baby.
- Anemia. Anemia is an abnormally low level of red blood cells or hemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells that contains iron. Severe anemia may slow your baby's growth or trigger preterm labor. To treat anemia, you may need to take iron supplements.
- Group B strep. Group B strep is a type of bacteria that may live in your vagina or rectum. It won't make you sick, but it may cause a serious infection for your baby after birth. If you test positive for group B strep, your health care provider may recommend antibiotics while you're in labor.
Your health care provider will also check your baby's size and heart rate. Near the end of your pregnancy, vaginal exams may help your health care provider determine your baby's position inside your uterus. He or she may also check your cervix to see whether it's begun to soften or dilate in preparation for birth. Cervical exams, however, can't predict exactly when you'll have your baby.
If you have specific desires or preferences for labor and birth — such as laboring in water or avoiding medication — you might want to define your wishes in a birth plan. Review the plan with your health care provider ahead of time to prevent any misunderstandings.
As your due date approaches, keep asking questions. How can I tell the difference between false labor and the real thing? When do I need to go to the hospital? Could I be too late for an epidural? Remember, there's no silly question. Understanding what's happening can help you have the most positive birth experience.
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- Gestational diabetes. American Diabetes Association. http://www.diabetes.org/gestational-diabetes.jsp. Accessed March 9, 2009.
- Healthy pregnancy. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. http://www.womenshealth.gov/pregnancy/you-are-pregnant/stages-of-pregnancy.cfm#c. Accessed March 9, 2009.
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- Breast changes. March of Dimes. http://www.marchofdimes.com/pnhec/159_15243.asp. Accessed March 9, 2009.
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- Easing back pain during pregnancy. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp115.cfm. Accessed March 9, 2009.
- You and your baby: Prenatal care, labor and delivery, and postpartum care. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/ab005.cfm. Accessed March 9, 2009.
- Prenatal care. March of Dimes. http://search.marchofdimes.com/cgi-bin/MsmGo.exe?grab_id=6&page_id=11010048&query=prenatal&hiword=PRENATALLY+prenatal+. Accessed March 10, 2009.
- Swelling. March of Dimes. Accessed March 10, 2009.
- Shortness of breath. March of Dimes. Accessed March 10, 2009.
- How to tell when labor begins. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp004.cfm. Accessed March 10, 2009.
- Urinary tract infections. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp050.cfm. Accessed March 11, 2009.
- Anemia. March of Dimes. http://search.marchofdimes.com/cgi-bin/MsmGo.exe?grab_id=6&page_id=11403520&query=anemia&hiword=ANEMIAS+ANEMIC+anemia+. Accessed March 11, 2009.
- Harm RW (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. March 12, 2009.
- Murry MM (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. March 17, 2009.
