The final stage of pregnancy, the third trimester, begins at week 28 and ends with your baby’s birth (or delivery). This can be the shortest or longest part of pregnancy depending on when your due date arrives, but you’ll still have plenty to look forward to as your baby develops. From preparing your body for delivery to learning how to care for your new baby once he or she arrives, you’ll be busier than ever during this time. Let’s take a look at what exactly happens to your body during the third trimester of pregnancy.
First Trimester
This period, which lasts from Week 1 through 12, begins with a negative result on a pregnancy test and ends with a missed period. If you’re pregnant, you’ll experience early symptoms of pregnancy and your body will undergo major changes, though they’re still relatively mild compared to what’s coming in subsequent months. For example, in your first trimester, you may experience fatigue or tender breasts. However, nausea isn’t very common at first. Most women notice no physical symptoms during their first trimester—and that includes women who have previously been pregnant—though that doesn’t mean it won’t happen to you! Keep an eye out for signs of pregnancy over the next several weeks.
Second Trimester
Weeks 14–27 of your pregnancy The second trimester—from week 14 until week 27—is sometimes called the honeymoon period. It’s when you are really starting to feel pregnant and are more comfortable. There are still some early signs of pregnancy, such as sore breasts and nausea, but you’re also starting to get used to them. And by now, most women will be showing a bit in their stomach area too! Some may even be feeling movement from a baby! On top of that, your energy levels should be improved over the last month so that you can do more around the home. Just remember to pace yourself; those early pregnancy symptoms can catch up with you at any time if you push yourself too hard. Read on for a full list of what’s happening with you during these next weeks. Nausea You might start to notice that your morning sickness has started to settle down a little bit in these later weeks—and you might not want to know why: because it could indicate that there is less amniotic fluid surrounding the baby, which makes it harder for him or her to move about and wake mommy up early!
Third Trimester
From 28 weeks, your baby’s body will be completely formed and ready for birth. Though he or she still can’t move about freely inside you, a lot of things are changing every day. Your uterus has shifted from its low-lying position on your abdomen toward your pelvis. This position will allow delivery of your baby from below rather than above, which decreases pressure on both you and him or her during labor. As your due date approaches, you might notice that morning sickness subsides. In fact, many women say they start feeling better in their second trimester—but that doesn’t mean pregnancy is over yet! Here are some common (and less common) symptoms at 28 weeks pregnant:
Your breasts get bigger and heavier as fluid collects in them; they may leak colostrum, a yellowish liquid that contains antibodies against germs and diseases.