Stages of pregnancy

On this page we will look week by week the different stages of pregancy. The advances in the baby development and the different symptoms shown in the mother.

Stages of pregnancy : The third trimester:

You feel heavy and your stomach can't take much food at all. You can't sleep proparly and feel breathless most of the time. At this stage of pregnancy your body is growing and growing and preparing for the big moment.

Here are some tips to make things easier for both of you this third stage of pregnancy:

The big day is coming and you're feeling more and more nervous, stressed and tired. Your baby remainds you it is there all day long and you spend all day thinking about the moment you'll see the babie's face.

Just hold on for a bit more, the big day will soon be here.

Feeling more sensitive than ever:
The tiredness possibly makes you stop exercising regularily, like you used to in the second trimester. But, at this stage of pregnancy it is important to stretch and exercise softly to avoid the excess of tiredness and pressure in legs, back and joints.

Yoga classes for pregnant women are now more popular than ever. Those who practice it tell us about the beneficial flexibility adquired, the breathing control and the relaxation. It's important that yoga teacher shows you how to control your breathing while giving birth.

Swimming:
Swimming and aquaerobics increases blood circulation and strengthens muscles. In the water you won't feel so heavy so exercising under water is easier.

Walking:
Fast walks is an easy exercise that stimulates your blood circulation and your heart.
Start walking slowly and gradually increase the walk rhythm. At this stage of preganancy fast walks helps joints and ligaments to get more flexible and doesn't overwork knees and ankles.

If you do your walking a few times a week, you'll benefit from the exercise with no danger of hurting yourself or the baby. (Always check with your doctor before starting any exercise).
Remember exercising the pelvis muscles, it will help you pushing during labor.

Eating for two:
It's possible that you've had the temptation to eat everything you want during pregnancy. Well, now you might be happy to know you should increase the amount of calories daily.The problem would be that your stomach is squashed by the baby and if you eat too much you'll feel too full. So, the best thing to do is eat little but often.

The forbidden food during this stage of pregnancy is seafood, unpasterized cheese, liver and pate, the same as all the stages of pregnancy.
It's reccommended at this stage of pregnancy not to eat any fried or spicy food, because it might give you acid and heartburn. Eat less salt because it makes you retain liquids. If you experience any swollen limbs, visit your doctor inmediately, because it could be a sign of pre-eclampsia.

Recommended food:
Foods rich in calcium like milk, cheese and dry fruits (not peanuts because it has been connected with some nutritional allergies).
And also green leaf vegetables are rich in folic acid. Fresh fruits and vegetables are rich in fibre and drink at least 2 litres of water daily.

At the begining of the third stage of pregnancy you might want to join maternity classes. They'll help you a lot, especially to recognize the symptoms of the begining of labor and how to organize yourself the first two weeks with your baby at home.
Your gynecologist should tell you where to go for these maternity classes around week 28, but if not, ask for them.
Now, your doctor appoinments are more frequent, every two weeks from week 32 and for the last 4 weeks, every week.
In each session the doctor will check on the blood pressure and the baby's heart beat and growth. They will also will ask you about the baby's movement.

If you notice that the baby doesn't move as normal tell your doctor, but it could be normal because of the size of the baby and the fact that the closer the moment of birth, the less space the baby has to move.

Try to get as much information as possible , so you'll know how giving birth is going to be. See your options: in the water, epidural, giving birth at home. At this last stage of pregnancy it is recommended to plan everything, but don't forget that many things are out of your control like when you're going to be in labor.

- Prepare everything you and the baby will need; clothes, bathing stuff (browse our prepare bag of things you and the baby will need to have in the bag you are taking to the hospital).

- Make a list of phone numbers you'll need: like the gynecologist, matron, hospital, taxi, friends, family ...
- You might feel an unexpected increase of energy in the last two weeks; don't over do it, you need to rest. Remember that when you come back from the hospital with the baby you will probably lose a lot of sleep.