You’re close to the delivery soon. Some of the same discomforts you had in our second trimester will continue. Plus, many women find breathing difficult and notice they have to go to the bathroom even more often. This is because the baby is getting bigger and it is putting more pressure on our organs. Don’t worry, our baby is fine and these problems will lessen once you give birth.

Some new body changes you might notice in the third trimester include:

• Shortness of breath
• Heartburn
• Swelling of the ankles, fingers, and face. (If you notice any sudden or extreme swelling or if you gain a lot of weight really quickly, call our doctor right away. This could be a sign of preeclampsia.)
• Haemorrhoids,
• Tender breasts, which may leak a watery pre-milk called colostrums(kuh-LOSS-struhm)
• Our belly button may stick out
• Trouble sleeping
• The baby “dropping,” or moving lower in our abdomen
• Contractions, which can be a sign of real or false labor

As you near our due date, our cervix becomes thinner and softer (called effacing). This is a normal, natural process that helps the birth canal (vagina) to open during the birthing process. Our doctor will check our progress with a vaginal exam as you near our due date. Get excited — the final countdown has begun!