Third Trimester

Does anyone else not want to wear underwear any more? I feel like everything I wear is getting tighter and tighter, and I'm starting to get super uncomfortable.

Apart from that, everything is going really well with the little guy, and I'm gaining quite a bit of weight! To be honest, I haven't really had the guts to stand on the scales and see how much weight I've put on - I don't want to risk fainting in the bathroom while my husband is away in NY & there's no one around to save me.

At my last appointment (two weeks ago), I was told that our baby is a BIG healthy boy. And by big, I really do mean big. He weighed 400 grams more than he should (which is a lot in baby world!), and will be well over 9-10 pounds if he continues at this rate.
Uhhhhh, what?! My pelvis does not sit correctly (right side has always sat slightly higher than left), thus discussing & considering our options for possibly being induced earlier, or a caesarian. Although, I'm not too fussed, as long as he's okay. We will just continue to monitor his weight gain and make a decision at about 36-37 weeks, which gets me to my next point...

Here are some things to remember and prepare for in your third trimester!

Go to as many classes as you like, and soak up all that information to prepare yourself for what's to come in the next couple of months! Some people might tell you ''it doesn't matter how many classes you go to, nothing can prepare you"...but I don't really listen to anyone but myself. Do what feels right for you.

Get your nursery together. By now I'm sure it's all well under way, but the bigger you get, the slower you move. So finish it off while you can still bend down without feeling like you'll never be able to get up again. I'm having a lot of moments where I drop something on the ground and just stare at it for about ten minutes.. then just leave it on the floor. Mostly, I see people picking things up around me in my peripherals, so, thanks guys!

Chat and sing to your bubba. He/she can hear you, though you may be little muffled, he/she will recognise your voice & that's something pretty special. My Mum keeps telling me to sing a particular song, and when he is born, to sing it to him again and see how he reacts. We have been singing all types of stuff - from Cat Stevens to Elvis to Metallica to Linkin Park to The Civil Wars to Taylor Swift! At the rate I'm going - he's literally going to be a rockstar!

Prepare yourself for any type of labour. Things may not go as you wanted them to, so remember to prepare yourself for every possible situation. You may be 100% sure you will have a natural birth, and end up with a caesarian, so even if you don't think it will happen - best to read about recovery just in case! Be aware of what's happening, or could happen to your body.

Wash EVERYTHING! I'm taking a few weeks off work before the little guy arrives, and in this time I will be washing all bedding, all clothing.. in fact, let's be honest. I probably would put the entire house in the washing machine if I could. Dettol is going to thank me for buying literally everything off the shelf. Either that, or have a professional come in and clean your house. You may even want to do this after the baby arrives too as I'm sure there won't be much time for cleaning!

Take weekly photos. You may have been doing this already, but this is the stage where your belly will get super, super big! And it will be really awesome to look back on once you have given birth and say "OH MY GOSH - look how big I was!!!!!".

Pack your bag! I will be doing a post on this as I get closer to my due date, so keep your eyes peeled!

Make sure your car seat is installed & you have your certificate of installation ready to give the nurses.

Fill in all relevant documentation prior to the birth, this includes centrelink, medicare, your health care fund etc. Most places will ask that you contact them on the day of the birth so your baby is covered from the get go.

SLOW DOWN! In the last few weeks before you give birth, don't run around like a crazy person. Remember the life you once knew is going to change dramatically, and you are going to be exhausted. Lap it up while you can.. hang out on the couch for a day, go to the movies, get your hair done, go to a beauty salon. Do all the things that make you feel good, things you won't be able to do for a little while!

Get in touch with your body and be aware of pregnancy symptoms that shouldn't be ignored. If anything feels unusual, contact your doctor. It doesn't matter if it's a false alarm, in this case it's definitely better to be safe than sorry. As I move closer to my due date, I begin to see my Ob every two weeks, then every week, helping me to feel less anxious that everything is on track.

Exercising has been great, though I seem to have a pretty severe case of Restless Leg Syndrome when I sleep. I need to stretch for about 40 minutes before I lay down, which definitely does help - but it seems it's not enough! I constantly wake up with cramping & pain - and have realised that my nights of an 8 hour sleep are long gone - at least for the next 18 years. Keep up with an exercise routine, not only does it help prepare your body for labour, it will also help after the baby comes too.

All in all, we are going well, but I feel myself getting very tired, very easily. I have around 7 weeks of work left, and I'm really hoping I can push through. The third trimester is definitely on it's way, and every day that passes, I get more and more excited about meeting our little guy.