The third trimester felt like the fastest one by far but it was also my favorite. It lasts 12 weeks but they are so easy to wish away. During my last trimester, I found myself to be very emotional. You’re buying cribs, diapers, going on maternity leave, etc. which is quite the roller coaster. I started to realize as the days went by, that it would no longer just be Lee and I. We wouldn’t be able to go get a late night dinner or lay in bed and binge watch Netflix on Sundays. You prepare 9 months for the biggest life change yet have no idea what to expect. This is why making the best of your last days as 2 is so important.
Health
I passed the Gestational Diabetes screening, WOO! The sugary drink was not as bad as I expected…just tasted like flat Sprite. But I did hear eating 37 jelly beans has the same amount of sugar and some OBs will let you do that instead (worth an ask!). My swelling continued and seemed more so 37 to 40 weeks. They did find that my protein count was close to high at my 39 week appointment which is why they induced me.
Body
Swelling all day everyday!! I gained about 25 pounds in my third trimester (60 lbs total, but that’s a story for another day) which definitely was due to the nightly cookies and cake LOL. Grocery shopping was enough walking for me as my feet started to kill me. I didn’t feel much pressure until Week 38, which mainly was my lower back if I sat in a chair too long. Lee had learned back compression exercises in our birth class that helped me so much!
Cravings
My craving for sweets came back full force in the Second Trimester. Cookies, cakes, brownies, you name it! I tried to keep breakfast, lunch, and dinner as healthy as I could with proteins and whole foods so I could have a treat each night. I continued to want deli sandwiches every single day. I know they say to avoid deli cuts due to listeria but I made sure to eat it fresh and never let it sit too long.
I felt overall pretty good during my Third Trimester and wish I could have those last days back. As 39 weeks pregnant approached, I was constantly crying. I was so worried for the unknown of labor, although I felt I was prepared as I could be. Those last 12 weeks were bittersweet and my favorite of our pregnancy journey.
TIP: Take a birthing class with your support partner. It will give you so much information about what to expect, way more than what you can read on Google!
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