Pregnancy To Do List: Third Trimester

The Third Trimester! The baby is almost ready to leave the comfort of his/her mother’s womb and be welcomed into the beautiful world. Everyone is waiting with bated breath for the good news. The excitement is indeed skyrocketing. However, the period also means extra care and precaution. From diet to check-ups, one cannot afford negligence during this trimester. Mentioned below are few things and activities that should be implemented during the third trimester to ensure a smooth and healthy delivery sans any complications.

Take care of the diet

With each trimester, the baby is developing further. Thus, the dietary requirement also changes.

– Supplement the diet with foods rich in iron such as cereals (fortified), lean meat, as well as vegetables (especially the dark green leafy vegetables such as spinach, kale), broccoli, avocados.

– Fruits such as melon, kiwis, banana, and strawberries are a healthy option. These will provide you with most of the nutrients including vitamins, minerals, proteins.

– Dry fruits and seeds (walnuts, pistachios, almonds) are an excellent source of fibers and vitamins and should be a part of the recommended diet.

– Eggs (well cooked), yogurt, salmon, and lentils are also healthy options during the third trimester.

Regular check-ups

If you experience any unusual baby movements, waste no time and consult your attending physician at the earliest. The third trimester is also a period when many pregnant women develop a condition known as Preeclampsia. It is a pregnancy-related condition characterized by an elevated blood pressure. The appearance of proteins in the urine is another feature associated with preeclampsia. Thus, to be on a safer side, it is best to monitor the blood pressure twice daily (morning, night) during this period. Also look out for the symptoms such as a headache, blurred vision or a temporary loss of vision, nausea, vomiting, reduced urination, abdominal pain (usually the upper part).

Antenatal care and assessment

These programs have been specially designed to ensure that the mother and the baby stay healthy throughout the pregnancy period and long after. Under the antenatal care and assessment program, regular diagnostic and screening tests, health check-ups, vaccinations, and immunizations, as well as prenatal counseling for both the pregnant woman and her families, are conducted. Make sure you don’t miss out even a single health check-up or related programmes during the third trimester. Better to play it safe now than to regret at a later period.

Connect with the baby

While waiting for the big moment, you can connect with your bundle of joy. Talk to them, sing them songs, read them stories. In addition to hearing your voice, all these activities also have a soothing effect on the baby, making it all the more special. You can involve your partner into this. A gentle massage or a slight pat on the baby bump will do the trick.

Lots of shopping and prenatal baby shoot

You are about to welcome the biggest happiness of your life. Make it memorable to the core. A prenatal baby shoot is a must these days. Capture the moments for your baby to know how much he/she means to you both. And how can one forget shopping? Pamper yourself to the hilt. The idea is to stay happy and cheerful.

If possible, don’t miss out on the exercise and the stretches. These will go a long way to keep the body relaxed and also ensure a hassle-free labor.