Third Trimester Blues

“It’s a deep burn”… for me the phrase used to refer to the feeling you get after an intense but fulfilling bout of exercise.

Now, well into the third trimester, we’re talking about a burn of a different kind. The one that crops up after you’ve wolfed down a sandwich like a ravenous hyena, only to regret it within ten minutes, and for the rest of the afternoon. Gone are the days of a satisfying workout, now it’s all about working out what will fill your stomach without setting fire to it.

I’ve been enjoying keeping an eye on all the pregnancy apps and weekly updates, but I’ve noticed a disturbing trend. For each week that your baby gets some adorable new feature – like batting its eyelids or sucking its thumb, you get something horrible to deal with.

Your baby has – fingernails!

You have – swollen ankles!

Your baby has started to hear!

You have stopped being able to sleep through the night

Your baby is noticing your voice

You are noticing the constant urge to … oh let’s be frank – break wind.

Your baby is bigger than ever!

Your gums are bleeding. (Could someone please explain why bleeding gums is a side effect of making another human?!?)

At our antenatal classes the men were asked to describe the best and worst things about pregnancy. Along with the one-sided pleasure of a built in designated driver, increased bust size was right up there (unless you’re venturing into E cup territory and beyond you’ll probably agree). Garrett listed as worst pregnancy symptom for him – ‘huffing and grunting’. Yup, the reduced lung capacity hasn’t gone un-noticed as I struggle to make it up the sixty stairs from the street to our house. I can’t even remember what it was like to set off at a brisk pace and not end up feeling like I’ve just attempted the London Marathon off the couch. There’s the encroaching waddle factor as well, feeling like you can only progress forwards by also throwing your weight from side to side like an emperor penguin. And while all the health and fitness articles recommend getting regular, gentle exercise, I’m so exhausted that anything more than a few yoga stretches results in me needing to take a four hour nap. Not possible when I’m still hauling myself to work every day!

The third trimester is considered the home stretch, but when people proclaim “not long to go now!” It’s all I can do not to suggest that they strap a bowling bowl to their stomachs for eight weeks. Then come back to me and we’ll discuss the concept of ‘not long’!

There’s also the constant flip-flop of emotions between uncontrollable excitement and sheer terror of the thought of a completely helpless being arriving to change your life forever as the clock ticks down to that inevitable day.

The third trimester is a tough time both physically and emotionally, but I do have one thing to be completely excited about – this year I’ll definitely be able to stick to my New Year’s Resolution – lose five kilos by February!

What did you struggle with most in the final weeks of pregnancy?

63 Comments

- - mom101628 said
  - 12 Jan 2018
    10:42 pm
Great article, and humorous too. I just got sick of waddling around in the last couple of months.

- - catgrrl3 said
  - 27 May 2014
    4:25 pm
I am sure it was this stage my favourite thing to say was, please get it out of me

- - christial said
  - 19 May 2014
    9:33 pm
Am I the only one that didn’t have all those crazy feelings/thoughts during pregnancy? I actually quite enjoyed the whole thing!

- - alaisha said
  - 13 Mar 2014
    12:30 am
Pregnancy is in itself a confusing puzzle and these hubby’s can’t understand.

- - oh_glorious_one said
  - 04 Mar 2014
    6:21 pm
I might just show this article to the tradie who has stretched a 2-day job into a 35-day odyssey. My hormones are causing me to scream at him every time I have to talk to him – and he’s reacting as any male would – ignoring my phone calls to complete the job. He’s now left me hunting around for websites to write hugely negative reviews on his company and services!

- - savita297@gmail.com said
  - 27 Feb 2014
    9:37 pm
Had a good time reading this article.

- - yyon4699 said
  - 26 Jan 2014
    10:36 am
Thank you for this article

- - ljsalomon said
  - 03 Jan 2014
    9:13 pm
Enjoyed reading – thanks for sharing.

- - meimei said
  - 15 Dec 2013
    4:44 pm
Great article. I enjoyed read it 🙂

- - sonja_holness said
  - 10 Nov 2013
    7:09 pm
I remember the last few weeks of pregnancy all too well and the annoying bodily functions that come with it.

- - catgrrl3 said
  - 31 Oct 2013
    2:08 pm
thanks for sharing this, enjoyed reading it

- - rainbownerds said
  - 31 Oct 2013
    12:05 am
A good read, thanks for sharing

- - emily_flores said
  - 16 Oct 2013
    2:57 pm
Oh the joys of pregnancy! The last month was the worst for me!
- ginoula5 replied
  
  24 Aug 2014 , 5:00 pm
  Ohh those last few weeks can be so draining.
- - jaymarie12 said
  - 25 Aug 2013
    3:53 pm
lol I hated the 3rd trimester! I didn’t get any sleep at all!

- - lynzstevo said
  - 14 Aug 2013
    1:59 pm
Third trimester was the worst for me. I had 2 summer babies. The first was due right at the end of summer and we had no air con. And for 3 days ergon was working on the powerlines and turned off our power for 6-8 hrs each day. Torture!
- sallty replied
  
  20 Aug 2013 , 8:26 am
  I’m so glad I had a winter baby. First trimester was bad enough in summer, third would have been awful.
  - kjgarner replied
    
    30 Sep 2013 , 2:26 pm
    
    I was in hospital for my third trimester in the summer, nice and air conditioned in there.
- - hopefullyheidi said
  - 06 Aug 2013
    7:09 pm
I really enjoyed this article. It was truthful and funny at the same time.

- - vicky_guillaumier said
  - 06 Aug 2013
    12:20 pm
I was a mess during my third trimester with both my babies.

- - sunava said
  - 28 Jul 2013
    3:26 pm
i couldnt sleep on my back , and the vomitting due to acidity was worst!but still it was worth it,i am a mum now!

- - tammykilby said
  - 23 Jul 2013
    12:45 pm
wslking around for me was the worst as i got really bad vericus vains an all the prussure hurt as soon as i woukd walk.

- - rachkap said
  - 20 Jul 2013
    4:08 am
Thanks for sharing. Some thought provoking things here for my future!