PREGNANCY REALNESS: WHAT TO EXPECT DURING THE THIRD TRIMESTER.

I’m not entirely sure where the time has gone, and I have to say, even writing this out seems crazy to me, but as of Sunday, I will be 36 weeks pregnant. 

36 weeks. 

Okay, let’s just allow this piece of information to settle in for a moment.

Honestly, when people say that the third trimester passes by in the blink of an eye, they really aren’t joking. I physically can’t explain how fast this final segment of my pregnancy is passing by - it’s just crazy! But of course, it’s incredibly exciting. 

Unfortunately, whilst what’s to come is exciting, some of the issues I have experienced/am experiencing right now aren’t so fabulous... 

For this blog post, I thought I’d talk about what to expect during the third trimester and share some pregnancy realness with you all. The end prize will no doubt be well worth it, but I’ll be honest, the struggle right now is very real. 

Anyway, let’s get to it. This is what you can expect from the third trimester... 

Baby boy Moses basket

1. Water Retention

I’ve averted this common pregnancy side effect for the entirety of my pregnancy. 

Well, until now. 

All of a sudden, the likes of swollen feet and puffy ankles are an everyday expectancy. And as you can imagine, this is simply delightful... 

This morning, I couldn’t even get my shoes on as my feet were so swollen, and I’m not even sure I have ankles anymore. They’ve completely vanished. Lovely! 

2. Back Ache

As I’ve got big boobs, I suffer a lot with back ache and tension at the best of times, but being pregnant has taken this gripe of mine to a whole new level. And the third trimester in particular has been pretty laborious (if you’ll pardon the pun.) 

If we weren’t still in lockdown, I would absolutely be visiting a masseuse regularly to help ease the tension in my back, but I obviously don’t have that option right now, so I’m trying to focus on maintaining a good posture and obviously Marc is helping out in this department, too. Thanks babe. 

3. Pregnancy Cramps 

Oh my oh my oh my. Where do I even begin with this one? Cramps, I can say with complete confidence that I absolutely will not miss you one bit. Not even a smidge. You are not enjoyable in the slightest. 

Let’s be real here - nobody ever said the third trimester would be a huge heap of fun, but honestly, the cramps I’ve experienced recently have been nothing short of horrendous. 

The worst of it? Feeling like I’m being prodded in the bum with something sharp. Something nobody warned me about but apparently is pretty normal. 

4. Braxton Hicks 

Also known as ‘false labour’, Braxton Hicks is a common third trimester symptom that isn’t altogether fun...

I’m preparation for delivering our babies, our bodies can begin to mimic signs of labour and contractions - which is what Braxton Hicks is. 

These contractions and cramps can be particularly uncomfortable and even painful at times - but perhaps not a bad thing. In experiencing this symptom, women often find that they are better prepared for actual labour, as they have already felt a degree of pain. 

My personal experience of Braxton Hicks has been fairly minor at this point, but I have a feeling i May struggle with this more over the coming weeks. 

5. Breathlessness

Apparently, as baby prepares to make his or her exit, this actually becomes less of an issue, but until then, gasping for air is completely normal and to be expected.

The reason for this in most cases is because baby is pressing down on the diaphragm, making breathing laboured and creating a tight, chesty sort of sensation.

This breathlessness is something that I've been experiencing a lot lately, and as you can imagine, it's pretty unpleasant! 

6. The Urge To 'Nest'

It's not all bad, though! The third trimester does have it's fun parts, and the sudden urge to 'nest' is of course, one of the nicer bits.

For those that are sat there thinking 'what does nesting mean?' or 'what is nesting?', nesting is basically the term used to describe a pregnant woman's natural instinct to make her home perfect ahead of baby's arrival.

Feeling the need to clean a little more obsessively than usual and to make everything super tidy (particularly in the baby nursery) are both to be expected.

7. Breast Changes

Changes to our boobs are to be expected throughout pregnancy, really, but in particular, the third trimester can initiate some notable adjustments...

At this point, boobs tend to become much heavier and denser, meanwhile the nipples continue to darken & become more pronounced.

Think your boobs can't possibly grow any more at this point?

2 words: they can.

The third trimester in particular evokes so many body changes and symptoms - some a little more testing than others - but ultimately, the end result is obviously so worth it.

I really hope that you all enjoyed this blog post & I can't wait to share more with you soon.

Until next time, lovelies!

Lots of love,
Grace x