Getting closer to delivery: Week-by-week guide to third trimester

Pregnancy lasts about 40 weeks, and doctors split it into three parts: weeks 1 to 13, weeks 14 to 27, and the third trimester, which begins at week 28 and carries you to the day your baby arrives. The sweet spot of the middle months is behind you now. Many women feel tired, heavy and ready to meet their little one.

This stretch has its own surprises, from practice contractions to the moment your baby settles low in your pelvis. Here is what many women notice, week by week, from week 28 all the way to the finish.

Note: Every pregnancy is different, so don’t worry if your journey doesn’t match every line.

Also Read: What happens in the first trimester? Week-by-week symptoms and changes to expect 

The heavy weeks

Week 28: The aches move in
Aches and pains are part of the package as your pregnancy advances. Some women develop symphysis pubis dysfunction (SPD). It happens when the ligaments around the pubic bone soften and become unstable, and the bone stretches further apart than usual.

Week 29: A first taste of milk
Your body is getting ready to feed your baby. Over the next few weeks, you may notice a yellowish fluid called colostrum leaking from your breasts. It’s the forerunner of mature breast milk and helps your baby’s body adjust to life outside the womb. Blood pressure also starts to creep up somewhere between weeks 28 and 32.

Week 30: Same complaints, plus stripes
If you’ve been dealing with itching, swelling, aches and heartburn, they probably haven’t gone away. Most pregnant women also get stretch marks, and they may become more noticeable now. They can show up as red, pink, purple or even dark brown streaks. You can’t prevent them, because they’re mostly down to your genes, but they fade a great deal with time.

Also Read: Baby kicks, pregnancy brain and skin changes: Your second trimester guide, week by week 

Week 31: The first trimester returns
Remember the early symptoms you were happy to leave behind? Some may make a comeback, and for some women they never left. Your breasts can turn tender again as they start to make colostrum. You’ll likely be dashing to the bathroom often, as your womb presses on your bladder. Even small tasks can leave you worn out.

Week 32: practice runs
After week 20, your body may start rehearsing with “practice” contractions known as Braxton Hicks. They feel like an occasional hardening or tightening of the womb, usually last from half a minute to two minutes, and tend to come irregularly. They get more frequent as pregnancy goes on. They’re expected, but call your provider if contractions grow stronger and more frequent, since that can be a sign of premature labor.

The countdown quickens

Week 33: Crowded quarters
Your baby is getting bigger and pressing against your organs. That can mean a leaky bladder, breathlessness, heartburn and a general feeling of discomfort. Many women also feel pain in the upper belly, near the top of the womb.

Also Read: Gas or labour contractions? 7 signs that can help you tell the difference 

It’s a normal result of the abdominal wall stretching, and it tends to feel tender to the touch and worse when the baby kicks. If you’re worried it might be something else, speak to your provider.

Week 34: Every day counts
Delivery is getting closer, but each of these last weeks matters for your baby’s development, so the goal is to let them keep growing for as long as it’s medically safe. Their movements may feel different as they grow and turn into position. But if you ever feel significantly less movement than usual, or have any concerns, contact a health care provider.

Week 35: Sleepless nights
As labor draws near, Braxton Hicks contractions become more regular. Learn how to tell these practice pains apart from real labor contractions. Insomnia often arrives in full force around now too.

Week 36: The big drop
Around two to four weeks before delivery, your baby begins to move down into your lower pelvis. This is called lightening, or engagement. It can take pressure off your organs and help you breathe more easily.

The final stretch

Week 37: A new position, new pressure
Your baby’s lower position may bring pelvic discomfort and more pressure in your belly. You might notice a little spotting after sex, which is usually due to a sensitive, enlarged cervix and nothing to worry about. But call your provider if the bleeding is as heavy as a period, since this can signal a problem with the placenta.

Week 38: Losing the plug
Around week 37 or 38, some women lose their mucus plug. It’s a seal that sits in the opening of the cervix to guard your baby from germs. It can come away anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks before labor, and it looks like a thick, pink or blood-tinged glob of discharge.

Week 39: Is this it?
If your water breaks, you may notice a gush of fluid or a slow trickle. Other early signs of labor include regular contractions, pelvic pressure, dull back pain and restlessness.

Also Read: Dear Postpartum body, thank you for everything you did 

Early labor can last for hours. Many providers advise first-time parents to ride out this phase at home and leave for the hospital when contractions come every four or five minutes, last a minute each, and keep that pattern for an hour. This is known as the 4-1-1 or 5-1-1 rule. Your own provider may suggest something different, so ask them.

Week 40: Due date at last
Insomnia, swelling, frequent urination and pelvic discomfort will probably stay with you until your baby arrives. If you’ve scheduled an induction or a C-section, it may happen within days or weeks. After week 40, your doctor may suggest an ultrasound to check your baby’s position, size and the fluid around them.

If your baby is taking their time

Week 41: Overdue, but usually fine
Passing your due date can bring anxiety and restlessness, but in most cases it’s perfectly fine and quite common. Keep watching for signs of labor. Gentle movement such as walking, dancing or squatting may help your baby settle into your pelvis and improve your chances of labor starting.

Week 42: Almost there
Most babies arrive within two weeks either side of their due date, and reaching week 42 is fairly uncommon. If labor hasn’t begun on its own, most providers recommend an induction before this point. Keep looking after yourself. Your baby will be in your arms before you know it.

When to pick up the phone

In these final weeks, call your doctor or midwife without delay if you notice:

• Contractions that get stronger and more frequent
• Noticeably less movement from your baby than usual
• Bleeding as heavy as a period
• A gush or steady trickle of fluid
• Any concern that something isn’t right

Also Read: 10 things you probably didn’t know about breasts and breastfeeding 

If you’re unsure whether something counts, call anyway. Your care team would much rather hear from you.

(Disclaimer: This article is for general information and isn’t a substitute for medical advice)