The third trimester of pregnancy

October 7, 2024
2 minutes

If you’re in the third trimester of pregnancy, you may be feeling a bit awkward and heavy. But it won’t be long now. This last trimester is roughly 13 weeks long. It starts at week 28 or 29 and continues until your baby is born. It spans the seventh to ninth months of pregnancy. Like the past two trimesters, it brings changes for both you and your baby. Here’s what to expect.

How your body changes in the third trimester

Even as you approach your baby’s delivery day, many of the discomforts of the second trimester can continue into the third. Things like body aches, itching and swelling may persist.

New changes in your body during this time might include:

Shortness of breath.
Heartburn.
Hemorrhoids.
Breast tenderness.
Difficulty sleeping.
Varicose veins.
Stretch marks.
Leg cramps or restless legs syndrome.

How your baby changes in the third trimester

Your baby is still growing and developing during these final few months. Here’s what’s happening.

At 32 weeks:

Bones are fully formed, though still soft.
Eyes respond to light changes and can open and close.
Your baby is gaining half a pound a week.

At 36 weeks:

Body fat increases.
Your baby is 16 to 19 inches long and has less space to stretch and wiggle.

At 37 to 40 weeks:

All the organs are ready to function outside your body, on their own.
Most babies turn around to be in a head-down position.

Medical appointments

Starting at the beginning of your third trimester, you’ll be seeing your health care provider more often. From week 28 to week 36, you should have an appointment every other week. Starting at week 36, you should see your provider weekly.

If you’re over the age of 35 or your pregnancy is considered high-risk, your appointments will likely be more frequent.

These later prenatal checkups will likely be shorter than ones earlier in your pregnancy. Your health care provider will check: