(From week 28 until birth)
The third and final trimester lasts from day 1 of week 28 and continues until the baby is born.
Now the child is almost completely developed and for the remainder of the pregnancy, the child will continue to grow and gain weight. If the baby were to be born now, it would have a good chance of survival outside of the womb, but would likely need care and assistance with feeding and breathing. A child born before 37 weeks is considered premature. Even if the baby could survive birth at this early stage, every day and week the baby remains in the womb will contribute to the steadier development of their lungs, cognitive functions and maturity. The rate of development goes much faster in the womb than outside, so the days in the womb are valuable for the baby. This is good to keep in mind when the pregnancy feels infinitely long.
During the third trimester, many people can again experience pregnancy symptoms that had previously passed and some symptoms become more pronounced. Many people find they become tired or lethargic as well as nauseous and struggle with sleeping. This can be a strenuous part of pregnancy - but it means that you will soon meet your baby.
It is important that you feel your baby's movements regularly. In the third trimester, it is good to have identified some kind of pattern where you can recognize how your baby is moving. The baby's movements should not decrease at the end of the pregnancy, but they can change character when the baby is given less space to move.
The third trimester is also a time of preparation for many, for both the birth and parenthood. There are several great courses accessible for expectant parents. Practical preparations could be a comfort to check off your list, but they can also aid mental preparation of what is to come. Visualizing and creating goal images is a strategy that many expectant parents consider an effective way to gauge an understanding of what parenthood and the next steps will look like.
