Prenatal care: Second and third trimesters. Frequently asked questions: Pregnancy FAQ169.

Your due date is simply a calculated estimate of when your pregnancy will be 40 weeks. Office on Women's Health. Accessed Oct. 22, 2019.

This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here. You might be tired of pregnancy and eager to move on to the next stage. Frequently asked questions: Pregnancy FAQ 156: Prenatal development: How your baby grows during pregnancy. The layer of soft, downy hair that has covered your baby's skin for the past few months (lanugo) starts to fall off this week. Here's a weekly calendar of events for fetal development during the third trimester.

This is when the doctor makes a cut in the mother’s belly and uterus in order to deliver the baby. By now your baby might be nearly 10 inches (250 millimeters) long from crown to rump and weigh nearly 2 1/4 pounds (1,000 grams). Perinatal depression is depression during pregnancy, and it's a very real and serious illness many women experience — often alone. Around week 36, your doctor may perform a Group B strep test to test for a bacterium that can be very harmful to a baby.

Have a crib ready for your baby and double-check that it’s up to date and safe. Lockwood CJ, et al. Try to remain positive as you look forward to the end of your pregnancy. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic School of Continuous Professional Development, Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education, Book: Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy, FREE book offer – Mayo Clinic Health Letter.
Talk with others who've had positive birth experiences, and ask your health care provider about options for pain relief. Here's what to expect in the meantime. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists; 2015. If you haven't done so already, consider taking childbirth classes. This may include deciding who you want in your labor room for support, concerns you have about hospital procedures, and pre-registering with your insurance information. Mayo Clinic offers appointments in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota and at Mayo Clinic Health System locations.

These last-minute preparations can help make delivery go more smoothly: Last medically reviewed on November 10, 2017, Your baby dropping is one of the first signs that your body is getting ready for labor. By the end of the 40th week of pregnancy — 38 weeks after conception — your baby is considered full term. The baby’s body will begin to store minerals like iron and calcium. Fetal development continues during the third trimester. Your body will also go through significant changes to support your…, Just 20 minutes a day of low- to moderate-intensity activity can help improve pregnancy symptoms and strengthen your body for delivery.

For boys, the testes continue to descend into the scrotum. Keep your teeth and gums healthy. © 1998-2020 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission.

Thirty-seven weeks into your pregnancy, or 35 weeks after conception, your baby has a firm grasp.

You can still…. strenuous exercise or strength training that could cause an injury to your stomach, caffeine (no more than one cup of coffee or tea per day), shark, swordfish, mackerel, or white snapper fish (they have high levels of mercury), cat litter, which can carry a parasite that causes toxoplasmosis, unpasteurized milk or other dairy products, the following prescription drugs: isotretinoin (Accutane) for acne, acitretin (Soriatane) for psoriasis, thalidomide (Thalomid), and ACE inhibitors for high blood pressure, long car trips and airplane flights, if possible (after 34 weeks, airlines may not let you board the plane because of the possibility of an unexpected delivery on the plane). The third trimester of pregnancy can be tiring and uncomfortable. Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The Third Trimester of Pregnancy: Weight Gain and Other Changes, How to Safely Exercise in the Third Trimester of Pregnancy, Debra Rose Wilson, PhD, MSN, RN, IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT. 6th ed.

Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic School of Continuous Professional Development, Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education, Book: Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy, FREE book offer – Mayo Clinic Health Letter. Frequently asked questions: Pregnancy FAQ115. How will I cope? Pregnancy: Stages of pregnancy.

Accessed Feb. 25, 2020. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

Frequently asked questions: Labor, delivery and postpartum care FAQ004. http://www.acog.org/Patients/FAQs/Prenatal-Development-How-Your-Baby-Grows-During-Pregnancy. Eat enough calories (about 300 more calories than normal per day).

This can help protect your baby from whooping cough before he or she can be vaccinated. If you'll be breast-feeding, you might get a nursing bra or a breast pump. What Do Different Types of Labor Contractions Feel Like? Thirty-three weeks into your pregnancy, or 31 weeks after conception, your baby's pupils can change size in response to a stimulus caused by light. In the meantime, your body goes through tremendous physical changes. Purchase a new car seat. Wear low-heeled, comfortable shoes with good arch support. You will also need screening tests for various conditions, including: Your health care provider will also check your baby's size and heart rate. The third trimester can be both physically and emotionally challenging for a pregnant woman.

His or her limbs have a chubby appearance. If you're expecting a boy — or you don't know your baby's sex — think about what's right for your family regarding circumcision.

Celebrate your pregnancy with friends and family. It's normal to give birth before or after your due date. By now, you're eager to meet your baby face to face. The third trimester includes weeks 28 through 40 of a pregnancy. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only.

All rights reserved. The reality of parenthood might begin to sink in as well. Find a family member or friend who can care for your pets or other children. The extra weight you've gained is putting added pressure on your back, making it feel achy and sore.

After week 37, your baby is considered full term and its organs are ready to function on their own. During the third trimester you may be feeling excited or impatient to finally meet your baby. To ease the pressure on your back, practice good posture.
Backache. How to tell when labor begins. All rights reserved. Thirty-one weeks into your pregnancy, or 29 weeks after conception, your baby has finished most of his or her major development. Stay active unless you’re experiencing swelling or pain. Here’s how to safely induce labor.

Check that your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors in your home are working properly. There are some natural ways to induce labor.

In the third trimester a woman may experience more aches, pain, and swelling as she carries around her baby. Like previous visits, your health care provider will check your weight and blood pressure and ask about any signs or symptoms you're experiencing.

You may also feel a bit anxious and tired. Thirty weeks into your pregnancy, or 28 weeks after conception, your baby's eyes can open wide.

"Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.org," "Mayo Clinic Healthy Living," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. If you’re a first-time mom, you might be wondering what contractions feel like. Accessed Oct. 22, 2019. If you’re pregnant and past your due date, you might wonder if exercising will help induce labor. To stay calm, write your thoughts in a journal.

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. You might also feel discomfort in your pelvis and hips as your ligaments loosen to prepare for labor.

Like previous visits, your health care provider will check your weight and blood pressure and ask about any signs or symptoms you're experiencing. If you haven’t done this already, make a decision on where you plan to give birth to your child.

You'll learn what to expect — and meet others who share your excitement and concerns. Other events that occur during the third trimester include: Call your doctor immediately if you experience: At around week 32, your baby’s bones are fully formed. Develop a birth plan with your doctor. The feet and ankles are … These exciting sensations are often accompanied by increasing discomfort and other signs and symptoms, including: As anticipation grows, fears about childbirth might become more persistent.

Review the plan with your health care provider but keep in mind that pregnancy problems might cause plans to change. This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here. Your doctor will check you progress with a vaginal exam. All rights reserved.

Thirty-six weeks into your pregnancy, or 34 weeks after conception, the crowded conditions inside your uterus might make it harder for your baby to give you a punch. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. However, you'll probably still feel lots of stretches, rolls and wiggles. Accessed Feb. 25, 2020. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Fetal development 31 weeks after conception.

Work out your pelvic floor by doing Kegel exercises. To relieveback pain, use a heating pad and ask your doctor … Your baby's toenails have reached the tips of his or her toes. Skin conditions during pregnancy. Regardless of your vaccination status, one dose of Tdap vaccine is recommended during each pregnancy ideally during the third trimester, between weeks 27 and 36 of pre… How much will it hurt?