The Third Trimester - Weeks 28-40 - Part 1

Weeks 28-40 - The Third Trimester

Weeks 28- 32 

I am now feeling strong baby movements that are at times really quite painful! My first child was a booter and kicker, this baby seems to be doing acrobatics and rolling around in my tummy and pushing itself into my ribs and hips! However it is fun to watch the baby moving around and my stomach changing shape as it does so :)

Pretty sure I am also getting Braxton Hicks (didn't get these in the first pregnancy, or if I did I have them I didn't notice)

What are Braxton Hicks? 

When you have a contraction, your womb (uterus) tightens and then relaxes, like a stronger version of period pains. You may have had contractions throughout your pregnancy, particularly towards the end. During pregnancy, these painless tightenings are called Braxton Hicks contractions.

How Braxton Hicks contractions differ from labour...

1. Are infrequent, and usually happen no more than once or twice an hour, a few times a day.
2. Often stop if you change activity. So walk about if you've been sitting, and sit down if you've been on your feet for a while.
3. Are usually irregular, or if they are regular, only stay that way for a short spell.
4. Don't last long, usually less than a minute.
5. Continue to be unpredictable and non-rhythmic.
6. Don't increase in intensity.

.. I am still getting odd days of SPD where walking is painful and also baby is definitely kicking my bladder at intervals which is weird and uncomfortable and what feels like it is pushing against my bladder particularly if I stand up.

I still feel like gagging when brushing and flossing my teeth so I have to do all I can to avoid actually being sick (at times it has been close!)

Heartburn is ever present particularly at night.

Toilet visits are far more frequent now too - both day and night.

My sleep is quite often disturbed either from waking up needing the toilet or just being too uncomfortable to sleep and so I have taken to using Vichy Idealia Skin Sleep to help moisturise my face and to fake a good night's sleep, it give me a cheats glow in the morning! It smells so nice and does the job so I am happy!

Iron levels are low so I am taking Floradix as a supplement.

My baby bump is visible and my clothes are feeling tighter (I have just gone up a dress size) but I am still getting comments like I don't seem very big for how far gone in pregnancy I am... This can be quite hurtful to be honest.

Part two to follow....

Bettina x