Hooray, mamma! Did you make it to the third trimester? Like most expectant moms, you might be feeling a range of emotions. Most specifically, anticipation for welcoming your baby soon. The third trimester is the most exciting phase of pregnancy. It comes with little kicks, clearer features on ultrasounds, baby shopping, and the anticipation that you are about to meet your little one in just a few weeks. While you prepare emotionally for the third trimester, it is equally important for you to get everything in place for a smoother delivery and postpartum.
From the regular checkups to packing your hospital bag and planning for your baby’s future, here’s a practical third trimester checklist every expectant Indian mom must follow.
Never Miss Your Prenatal Appointments
Prenatal appointments in the third trimester are important to keep a check on the growth and development of the baby. These checkups also track the mother’s blood pressure and screen for any potential complications like preeclampsia.
Regular monitoring in the final weeks can help you:
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Prevent and monitor any complications like gestational diabetes or preeclampsia
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Track fetal growth and position for delivery
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Track fetal kicks and monitor heartbeats
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Keep track of changes in the delivery plan
Stay Updated with Recommended Tests
The third trimester comes with all the ways to ensure the mother and baby are both safe. Routine checkups and targeted fetal monitoring tests can help prepare you for any unforeseen circumstances. Some of the essential third- trimester tests include:
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GBS Screening (Group B Streptococcus): Performed between 35 and 37 weeks, this is a swab test that checks for the harmful GBS bacteria that may pass to the baby during a vaginal delivery. It is a precautionary test done to prevent the chances.
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CBC & Anaemia Check: A simple blood test that monitors the mother’s iron and red blood cell levels so that the mother can endure the blood loss that may happen during childbirth.
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Glucose Tolerance Test: As India has a high prevalence of gestational diabetes, the GTT checks for any blood sugar fluctuations.
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Fetal monitoring: Checks like the growth scans that track the baby’s size, amniotic fluid levels and placenta positioning, along with Doppler studies done to ensure the baby gets a continuous supply of oxygen and blood through the umbilical cord.
Eat a Balanced, Nutrient- Rich Diet
A nutritious diet in the third trimester can help with the baby’s rapid bone and brain growth. It also ensures a healthy birth weight for the baby and prevents complications like preeclampsia. A balanced diet also boosts the mom’s energy while helping manage some of the most common late-pregnancy symptoms like constipation.
Stay Active But Safely
There have been several studies that show how staying active in the third trimester eases pregnancy discomforts like back pain, swelling, etc. It also helps to build the stamina needed for delivery and lowers the risk of any interventions during delivery. In fact, gentle movement like yoga has been known to boost the mom’s energy, improve circulation and promote better sleep as your baby grows.
Learn the Signs of Labour
Learning about labour can help you stay prepared, know the signs it’s near and help reduce your anxiety. Understanding the stages of labour can also prevent panic at the last stages and allow you to have a happy time delivering your little one. The benefits of understanding everything about labour beforehand include:
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Learn to tell the difference between false alarms and actual contractions
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Learn to manage pain with the help of breathing techniques and massages
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Knowing how to spot the exact moment can help you have a safe and timely delivery
Pack Your Hospital Bag
While babies arrive on their own schedule, it is always better to be proactive and ready. Packing your hospital bag around 36 weeks can help you stay prepared for any unexpected early labour or premature birth. It also eliminates stress at the last moment and guarantees you have all the things that give you maximum comfort.
Finalise a Birth Plan That Suits
An essential step for all moms-to-be in the third trimester is finalising a birth plan along with your doctor, which can help your medical team be prepared for the best for you. You can discuss epidurals, episiotomies, chances of a C-section, and induced labour before you are in the stress of active labour. You can also discuss with your OB/GYN, in case you have any specific customs that are to be performed right after birth.
Prepare the Home for the Baby
Preparing your home for your baby ensures a safe and stress-free environment for you with a newborn. Proper planning can help you to set and organise all essentials for your little one while recovering from postpartum. This includes addressing specific requirements like:
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Postpartum recovery
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Maintaining hygiene and safety for the newborn
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Making it easy to access essentials for the baby, like diapers, wipes, and burp cloths
Narrow Down Baby Names
Considered one of the best ways to tackle postpartum stress as moms-to-be, narrowing down baby names can help you destress. Narrowing down names for the baby can also help you personalise birth announcements, buy monogrammed nursery items, or even get some paperwork done before the baby comes.
Learn About Breastfeeding
Learning about breastfeeding is a must, as it can help build confidence for the mother. It can also improve the likelihood of exclusive breastfeeding for up to 6 months. Preparing for breastfeeding before delivery can make postpartum much smoother. Understanding the basics can prevent common hurdles like newborn weight loss, low milk supply, and engorgement.
Don’t Forget to Rest Well!
Rest isn’t just a luxury during the third trimester; it is an essential part to support your body. Getting adequate rest in the third trimester can help with better blood flow to the baby, lower the risk of complications and give the mother the physical strength required for labour and postpartum.
Read About Newborn Basics
Learning newborn basics can build your confidence and reduce postpartum anxiety. It can also prepare you to make proper health and safety decisions. Knowing how to take care of the little things, like how to soothe a crying infant, establishing a sleep schedule and understanding hunger cues, can help reduce postpartum anxiety.
Understand Common Third Trimester Experiences
Common discomforts during the third trimester, like shortness of breath, frequent urination and swelling, can be managed if you know about them. Knowing what to expect can empower pregnant women to manage the symptoms with ease.
Think About Preserving Your Baby’s Stem Cells
Stem cells offer a child the opportunity to have a biological backup in case a severe medical condition knocks on the door. During the third trimester, moms can consider preserving their baby’s stem cells at birth. These cells hold the potential to treat more than 90 serious medical conditions, including cancers and metabolic and blood disorders. In fact, today, stem cells preserved in a community bank increase the chances of a child finding a match when in need and can even help their siblings, parents, and grandparents.
Take Care of Your Emotional Well-being
Taking care of your emotional well-being during the third trimester is important. It can help regulate stress and your hormones and can even affect the baby’s health and development. It can reduce the risk of complications like high blood pressure.
Final Takeaways:
While your baby continues to grow and you continue to feel a swirling combination of feelings, we have made a checklist of important things to do in your third trimester. Following this checklist can help you feel organised and confident as your due date approaches. Apart from preparing your hospital bag, taking care of your emotional health and baby-proofing the home, don’t overlook the important decisions that can only be made at birth. Stem cell banking with LifeCell allows you to preserve your baby’s stem cells at birth and safeguard your baby’s future health for decades.