Before I had my first baby, I thought the third trimester would mostly be about getting excited for the baby to arrive.
And it is.
But it's also the point where your body starts making pretty much everything harder.
Getting out of bed becomes a whole process. Rolling over requires planning. Your bump feels like it's doubled in size overnight, and somehow you're both completely exhausted and completely over being uncomfortable.
Having been through it twice now, these are some of the things I wish someone had warned me about.
Getting out of bed becomes a skill
There comes a point where you can't just wake up and casually get out of bed anymore.
You have to roll onto your side, move your legs over the edge, push yourself up and hope everything cooperates.
And if you're anything like me, this is also the point where you realise you need to go to the toilet. Again.
A supportive pillow setup can make a surprisingly big difference here, especially when your hips, back and bump are making it harder to find a comfortable position in the first place.
Rolling over is no longer a casual movement
I never really thought about rolling over before pregnancy.
In the third trimester, it's an event.
You get comfortable on one side, your hip starts complaining, so you decide to turn over. Then you have to move your bump, your legs and approximately six pillows with you.
Sometimes you finally get settled and immediately need to pee.
It's one of those things that sounds ridiculous until you've experienced it.
If you're struggling with rolling over because of hip or pelvic discomfort, slowing down and keeping your knees together as you turn can make the movement feel more controlled.
Your bump suddenly feels VERY heavy
There is a point where your bump stops feeling like a cute pregnancy accessory and starts feeling like you're carrying a bowling ball around all day.
Standing for long periods can become uncomfortable. Walking around the shops can feel surprisingly tiring. Even doing normal things around the house can leave your back, hips and pelvis feeling like they've had enough.
This was one of the things I noticed most towards the end of pregnancy.
A pregnancy support belt was something I didn't think I'd need until I reached the point where even a trip to the supermarket felt like hard work.
It gave my bump a little lift and made those days where I was on my feet more comfortable. I didn't wear it every day, but on the days I needed it, I was always glad I had it.
Sleep becomes more about getting comfortable than actually sleeping
You can be absolutely exhausted and still spend half the night trying to get comfortable.
Your bump needs support. Your knees need support. Your hips need support. Then you get too hot. Then you need the toilet.
And somehow the pile of pillows you started with has ended up all over the bed.
For me, getting the right support around my bump, back and hips made a huge difference. A pregnancy pillow can help take some of the pressure off by supporting the parts of your body that suddenly need a bit more help.
You don't need to turn your bed into a pillow fortress either. Finding a setup that works for your body is what matters.
A pregnancy pillow can help take some of the pressure off by supporting the parts of your body that suddenly need a bit more help. Do I Really Need a Pregnancy Pillow? And Do They Really Work?
You can be exhausted and still sleep terribly
This one feels particularly unfair.
You spend the entire day feeling like you could fall asleep standing up, then finally get into bed and your brain decides it's time to think about everything.
Or your baby decides 10pm is the perfect time for gymnastics.
Or your hips hurt.
Or you need the toilet.
Or you're suddenly starving.
Third trimester tiredness isn't always fixed by simply “getting more sleep”. Sometimes the best you can do is make the sleep you do get as comfortable as possible and rest when you can.
Your feet may suddenly become a problem
Shoes that fitted perfectly a few weeks ago can suddenly feel like they're two sizes too small.
Your feet and ankles can also feel tired and swollen after you've been standing or walking for a while.
For me, this was another reminder that I didn't need to push through everything just because it was something I'd normally do without thinking.
Put your feet up. Sit down. Wear the comfortable shoes.
No one is giving out medals for wearing your nice shoes until 39 weeks.
Everything takes longer
Getting dressed.
Putting socks on.
Picking something up off the floor.
Getting out of the car.
Getting out of bed.
Showering.
Basically anything that involves bending, twisting or moving quickly becomes a little more complicated.
And honestly, I think this is one of the biggest adjustments of the third trimester.
You start realising that things don't have to be done at the same pace they were before pregnancy.
Give yourself an extra ten minutes.
Sit down when you need to.
Ask someone else to pick something up.
It's okay.
You start running out of room
There is only so much space available inside one body.
By the third trimester, it can feel like your baby has claimed most of it.
Eating a full meal can suddenly feel like a terrible idea. Sitting in certain positions isn't comfortable. Bending over becomes increasingly ambitious.
And then there's the fun game of trying to find a position where you can actually breathe, eat, sleep and exist comfortably at the same time.
Sometimes you just have to accept that your body is doing something pretty major and things are going to feel different for a while.
You might be completely over being pregnant
This is probably the one I wish more people talked about.
You can be incredibly excited to meet your baby and still be completely, utterly done with pregnancy.
You can love being pregnant and hate the discomfort.
You can feel grateful and exhausted.
You can be excited and uncomfortable at the same time.
None of those feelings cancel each other out.
By the end of my pregnancies, I was definitely at the point where I was ready to meet my baby and ready to have my body back to myself.
And that's okay.
The little things matter more than you expect
By the third trimester, it's often the small things that make the biggest difference.
A comfortable pair of pants.
Shoes that don't hurt.
A support belt on a day when your bump feels particularly heavy.
A pillow that actually supports you instead of ending up on the floor.
Sitting down instead of standing because you feel like you should.
Accepting help.
Going to bed early.
None of these things are particularly exciting, but they can make those final weeks feel that little bit easier.
And that's really what I wish I'd known the first time around.
You don't have to tough everything out just because it's a normal part of pregnancy.
If something can make you more comfortable, use it.
Because by those final weeks, getting through the day without having to wrestle yourself out of bed feels like a pretty decent achievement in itself.
One last thing
If you're in your third trimester right now and thinking, “Is it just me?”, it's probably not.
The heavy bump, the terrible sleep, the constant toilet trips, the awkward movements and the general feeling of being uncomfortable in your own body are all things many mums experience towards the end of pregnancy.
And while it can feel like a very long few weeks, you are getting close.
Make yourself as comfortable as you can, ask for help when you need it and don't feel guilty about slowing down.
You've got enough going on already.
Looking for more pregnancy comfort tips?
I've shared more of the things that actually helped me through pregnancy, from getting comfortable at night to dealing with those aches and pains that seem to appear out of nowhere.
