Easy Third Trimester Pregnancy Experience

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My third trimester of pregnancy was a rollercoaster. There weren’t many symptoms that stayed consistent throughout. It was a time of constant change in my body, yet the easiest trimester for me. I enjoyed knowing that the end was near

Eating

My appetite was all over the place during the third trimester. Month 7, I had my normal, pre-pregnancy appetite. Month 8, I was starving at all times. Come month 9, I didn’t want to eat anything anymore. I was so over food that I vowed that I would never eat again once the pregnancy was over. That ended up being a big lie once I reached postpartum.

I was very thirsty the whole time, but wouldn’t want to drink anything, because that meant I would have to go to the bathroom more. However, I am not sure dehydration would have had any affect on my bathroom frequency so I drank anyway and peed often. This included increasing my midnight potty breaks to twice a night.

Sleep

I had been sleeping so well with the help of magnesium, but in week 37, the insomnia came back and could not be helped. I would not be able to fall asleep till 2200 or 2300 and then wake up at 0200 and not be able to drift back off.

As previously mentioned, for most of pregnancy, magnesium worked wonders. The last week, it did not. I took a nap at 0900 every day that week, and that was how I made it through. If you have any other ideas, please share in a comment. I would love to know.

Restless Legs

I have had the occasional restless legs while trying to go to sleep throughout my life. The third trimester increased the frequency of their spasms. It would always be when I was about to fall asleep that my legs would jerk me awake again. My husband would always ask what was wrong.

Pain

My lower back and hips caused me a lot of problems, as is common. If I were standing, working in the kitchen too much, I wouldn’t be able to move later in the day. I would only be able to walk a short distance before my hips hurt too bad to continue. I did something one day and couldn’t roll over or get out of bed.

Even though you are supposed to keep active during pregnancy, I found in the last couple of weeks that I hurt less if I didn’t try to go on a walk or do an exercise video. Letting my belly hang either on my hands and knees or bending over, leaning on the counter or table really helped to take some pressure off my back. Sinking down into a deep yogi squat was nice to stretch out my hips.

Never before had I been a bath gal, but I found so much comfort in a nice soak in the tub with some Epsom salt. I would go in, not sure if I would be able to get myself out again, and emerge feeling like a whole new woman. Of course, I am forever grateful and will recommend to every pregnant woman I meet that they need to find themselves a Webster-certified chiropractor. They are magicians.

Carpal Tunnel

It started as my hands constantly feeling like they were losing circulation while I slept. But starting around week 32, I got carpal tunnel really bad in my right hand and wrist. There were mornings when I almost made my husband brush my hair and teeth for me because it hurt so bad. Luckily, my left never got as bad, so I could make do. It was also only really bad for a few weeks before starting to loosen back up.

To help with this, I started to sleep with a wrist brace on, but after a while, I felt like it was worse with the brace than without. I did a lot of wrist stretches and moving exercises, and did my best to continue with my usual tasks to keep it moving. I discovered that if I slept with a pillow under one half of me so I was at an angle and put my hands on my stomach, the pins and needles feeling would go away.

Nesting

The last week of pregnancy, my subconscious seemed to know it was almost time and made me feel the panicky need to do things that I would have otherwise put off doing. Things such as putting together a little basket with postpartum supplies that could sit on the back of the toilet. Getting all the Christmas decorations put up. Getting hospital snacks.

I felt kind of dramatic and didn’t know why I was going to have this basket just sitting on the back of the toilet for the next three weeks, but I am so thankful that I listened to my instincts. There were things I ignored my urge to do, and I regret not doing. Things such as having diaper changing supplies and extra outfits ready to go in our room. Getting the sound machine set up and used to hearing it at night.

Emotions

Emotions were running high at the end of pregnancy. Not only would I cry at random, but I felt like I was in a constant battle between panic and excitement.

I found that having someone I could text for reassurance was helpful. As well as having someone to hug when necessary.

Drooling

Before reaching my third trimester, I had never drooled much in my sleep. Maybe for a really good nap, but almost as soon as 28 weeks hit, I started drooling like crazy in my sleep.

Unfortunately, I found no good solution to this problem other than turning my pillow over. If you have any ideas, please leave them in a comment below.

Skin

I am going to lump two things into one category. If you have read my first and second trimester posts, then you know my eczema has been a journey. It got very irritated in the third trimester. As soon as the 28 weeks hit, it flared up. Unfortunately, I still have no good solutions other than to keep moisturizing as much as possible. I find using tallow lotion and soap helps, but doesn’t solve the problem entirely.

I hope you enjoyed reading about my third-trimester pregnancy experience. If you want to see how it ends, you can read my birth story here. If you have any other tips for combating third-trimester symptoms, please leave them in a comment below!