When Does the Third Trimester Begin?

Pregnancy is an amazing process and the cycle of progression can be very exciting if this is your first baby. The average pregnancy lasts 40 weeks, give or take a few weeks depending on the circumstances. One trimester lasts 12 weeks, which means there are three trimesters in a pregnancy. The third trimester of pregnancy is the final phase in the growth and development of your baby.

  1. The Home Stretch

    • Some call the third trimester of pregnancy ̶0;the home stretch." These are the final months of your nine-month pregnancy. According to the University of Illinois website, the seventh month begins the third trimester of pregnancy. If you are counting weeks, this is week 28. You should feel the baby high up in your belly at this time, reminding you quite often throughout the day that she is there, as she becomes more and more active.

    Mother

    • You will begin to notice a series of bodily changes that are common during the third trimester of pregnancy. It is normal to start feeling uncomfortable during this time. As your belly grows, you may find it impossible to sleep on your back without discomfort and may prefer to sleep on your side with a pillow between your legs for extra comfort. Jefferson University Hospitals explains that your ankles, feet and face may begin to swell and you may begin to develop stretch marks on your thighs, buttocks, breasts and abdomen. Braxton-Hicks contractions, or false labor contractions, are also common during this time.

    Baby

    • By the time your third trimester begins, your baby averages 19 inches in length, and weighs around 6 pounds. He can also see, hear, and according to the Children̵7;s Hospital of Pittsburgh, suck his thumb. Your baby̵7;s brain, kidneys and lungs continue to develop throughout this trimester and the bones that make up his skull grow softer as he prepares to enter the world. At the tail end of the third trimester, he will start to rotate in the womb -- eventually his head will point downward toward your cervix -- in preparation for delivery.

    Care and Planning

    • You will know that you are entering your third trimester when your physician begins to schedule your appointments every two weeks instead of once a month. During the final month of the trimester, you will probably visit your physician once a week to determine how close you are to delivery. According to the University of Rochester Medical Center̵7;s website, your physician will begin to perform pelvic exams during the end of your third trimester to determine whether your cervix is beginning to dilate. She may also discuss the labor and delivery process with you during this time.

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