There may be affiliate links or adverts within this post. This means that by purchasing a product through this link, I will earn a very small commission. This is of no extra cost to you, and you are under no obligation to buy. All opinions about any products are my own and I only recommend products I am passionate about. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. For more information please visit our 'Disclaimer' page.
The third trimester is a wonderful, uncomfortable, nervous time. Throughout your pregnancy there are so many changes that happen to our lives and our bodies, it is sometimes hard to remember some of the important bits. I’ve listed 23 points below that are important for your third trimester. This list will help to make the last few remaining weeks a little less stressful and a bit more enjoyable.
To get your Ultimate Third Trimester cheatsheet, just click below for your FREE copy. This will give you a clear and simple list of everything you need so that you have all the essentials. The third trimester is a tiring time and this free bundle of cheat sheets and checklists will relieve some of the pressure.
Rest
This is the most tiring and uncomfortable few weeks you will experience. Your carrying around a lot of extra weight, and no I’m not calling you fat! Your little one is packing on the pounds ready to be born. So its only natural that you will continue to grow and continue to become uncomfortable. Just remember it will all be worth it in the end and you need to conserve energy right now.
Drink lots of water
I’ve mentioned this before, but drinking enough water is super important. There is so much strain being put on your body, why make it more difficult for ourselves? This is also mentioned here in my post about the first trimester. Drinking plenty is good practice, even if you aren’t pregnant.
Avoid heavy lifting or Lift correctly
This goes for your toddler if this isn’t your first baby, that load of wet laundry or the finishing touches to the nursery. This is not the time you want to seriously hurt yourself by pulling something. Rest and take it easy.
Pack your hospital bag
Some of you may have already packed your hospital bag by now, but if you haven’t…. I wouldn’t leave it any longer. I am currently 33 weeks and still haven’t packed mine as I’m in the middle of moving house (not ideal). This is making me panic, so I suggest to just get it done and it’s one less thing to have to worry about. Boots has some good suggestions for your hospital bag.
Related: Hospital Bag Essentials | All you need.
Get your birth partner to pack a hospital bag as well!
It isn’t just us mums that need a hospital bag, anyone who is coming with you should pack a few essentials as well. You know, a toothbrush, some snacks….a clean pair of pants? They don’t need a suitcase, but you want them to feel comfortable as well don’t you?
Have your birth partner on speed dial
Always better to be safe than sorry! You aren’t going to need to use that speed dial for a while yet hopefully. Just in case though for obvious reasons.
Know your route to the hospital
This may sound silly. Especially if you have lived in the same town for years but amid panic from whoever is driving. It’s also important to know any alternative routes to the hospital because you do not want to come across a ‘Road Closed’ sign when in labour and have no idea what way to go.
Ask your midwife of ANYTHING you are unsure of
Even if you think it’s a stupid question, the midwife will answer it and not laugh at you. You are not the first person to ask it and you will not be the last. It seems that (for me at least) the third trimester has made my brain mush, so I ask the same things a lot. Ask anything and everything, it will help settle your mind, and hearing the answer straight from the mouth of your midwife is 100000000x better than googling it (I am guilty) and getting conflicted and often incorrect answers.
Make a list of anything you still need to buy
This isn’t to say you need to buy all of it in one go! You still have time so don’t fret friend. Although ideally, you want to buy this no later than your third trimester. With my first pregnancy, I asked for Mothercare (Mamas and Papas do them also) vouchers if anyone asked if they could buy me something, this meant that I could then get exactly what I needed. I used the vouchers to get all the little bits that I still needed.
This can also work if you need an expensive item like a breast pump or a pushchair. It will help to take the pressure off of your bank account and you won’t end up with 50 baby blankets and so many cute onesies that your newborn will never actually wear them all before they have grown out of them.
23 things you should do in your third trimester, from packing a hospital bag to embracing your nesting instinct. #thirdtrimester #pregnancy #mumblogger #lifestyleblogger Click To Tweet
Think about whether you will breastfeed or formula feed
This is a very important decision, but it does not mean that whatever you decide is set in stone. I was adamant I was going to exclusively breastfeed with my son and when I realised I couldn’t, it was hard to handle. Of course, the cost comes into your mind when thinking about it as formula is expensive, but don’t let that be your only deciding factor. If you do decide to breastfeed then make sure you have some nursing clothes and bras or button-down shirts that will enable easy access. Asos has some incredibly fashionable and affordable nursing wear.
Install the car seat in the car
This is a given. Make sure that you and your partner are familiar with how these contraptions work, and how to make sure it is safely fitted in your car. Most baby shops will offer a fitting service for you if you are unsure. Make sure any airbags that could affect the car seat in the event of an accident are disabled, especially if you are putting the baby in the front! Most car seats now come with an Isofix, these are incredible and even rear-facing baby car seats can just click into them. They are also a bit safer than just using the seat belt.
Practice how to collapse the pushchair
OH MY GOODNESS!! With my first pregnancy, I wish that I had perfected this. It is slightly embarrassing in the middle of the car park, with a screaming baby, a stressed partner and a crying mama when you can’t successfully collapse the pushchair. I mean, I know that any other person who has had a child knows exactly how you feel and has probably been there, done that. It doesn’t stop me cringing when I think about it though. Practice until you can do it with your eyes closed. You’ll thank me later when it comes to your first outing.
Stock up on postpartum care essentials
You may hear some horror stories about this part of new motherhood. No, it’s not glamorous, yes it can be a bit icky and uncomfortable and sometimes painful. Everything that happens is completely natural though and it honestly doesn’t last that long. I had a C-section with my first pregnancy so my post-partum care was slightly different from a natural birth, but what you need to buy is essentially the same. Again, Boots is the best for stocking up on those essentials, and these are just amazing from the Natural Birthing Company.
Stock up on newborn essentials
You are probably already overrun with baby clothes and blankets and cuddly-rattly things. When I say essentials, I mean:
- at least 1 pack of nappies
- 3 packs of wet wipes
- 5-10 muslins
- 5 pack of vests (long or short-sleeved depending on the season)
- 5 sleepsuits/ onesies
- A couple of hats
- A couple of pairs of scratch mitts
- 2 dummy’s
- A minimum of 4 baby bottles
- 5 bibs
- A blanket/ swaddle blanket/ sleeping bag suit
- Moses basket bedding
- Formula (if using)
- Nappy bags
As long as you have these things, then even if you are caught out with the baby arriving earlier than expected. You can at least make it through the first couple of days. Newborns don’t need that much stuff.
Related: 20 Newborn Tips for First-time Parents
Stock the freezer or prep leftovers
You won’t even want to think about cooking for at least a week. So do a big shop and get it delivered to stock the freezer. Or if you are feeling particularly energetic or want to put that nesting instinct to productive use. Batch cook a load of dinners so that they are ready to freeze. I didn’t do this with my first pregnancy and wish I had because we ended up living off of takeaways and junk food for about a month. Which didn’t help with the baby weight?
Read over and finalise your birth plan (if you have one) in your third trimester
Like I mentioned in my second-trimester post a birth plan is not for everyone. If you do choose to write one or have already written one, read through it again. You may have found that what you want has changed. Read through it with your birth partner and finalise it to make sure that you both understand each aspect of it. This will probably fall to the responsibility of your birth partner, so to make sure that they understand it is probably the most important. Also remember to laminate it, or have it in a plastic wallet. There’s a lot of fluid that appears during labour.
Nest till your heart’s content
Whether this is cleaning, cooking, buying last-minute baby bits, or last-minute bits for yourself or even food shopping. Take it, easy mama. Nesting is a natural thing to want to do, and most of the time we don’t even realise we are doing it. Try and make sure it’s productive, rather than washing the baby clothes for the third time or arranging things in draws that never get used.
Set up the Moses basket
Get the Moses basket in position ready for the arrival of your little one, it’s one less thing that needs to be done when you bring them home. It also means that you will be able to see if the bedding you have for it fits securely and is safe. It is recommended that the baby sleeps in the same room as you for a while, so if you need to shift your bed about, wait for someone else to get home and do it.
Look into childcare if your planning on returning to work after the baby is born
This may not be high on your list of priorities with all the other things to think about during the third trimester, especially if you are taking maternity leave, or are choosing not to return to work at all. You don’t have to book their place or anything yet if you are wanting to put them into a nursery. Just inquire at a couple to see what age they take them from, do they have to of had a certain amount of immunisation’s yet, how much it costs, and what the baby to staff ratio is. Then you can start to think about it.
Pack a nappy bag
This can double as the baby’s hospital bag to make things easier during your third-trimester organising. You don’t need to take much with you, although I know that in the UK we are expected to provide much more than the hospital.
Related: The Ultimate List | What to Pack in Baby’s Hospital bag.
Take gentle exercises such as walking or swimming
This can helps ease the discomfort of the third trimester, as well as help baby, get in the right position to come out! This is important to continue through all trimesters of pregnancy as I have mentioned here about the second trimester.
Perineal stretching
As I had a C-section, it turns out I didn’t need to do this. For natural labour though, I would suggest you spend some time once a day doing it if your comfortable trying it, you could even do it with your partner if you want. Mama Natural has a great post on how to do this and the benefits. I used this oil throughout my third trimester that was bought as a gift from boots during my first pregnancy.
Talk to your partner about any aspects of labour you are nervous about
This is a big day for both of you. You are going to become parents either for the first time or for multiple time. Even if you’ve done this before, there may still be parts that you are both nervous about. Talk to each other. You could find you have the same worries or that one of you has the answer or solution to the other’s concerns.
Don’t forget your freebie!
Do you have any essentials that you think you have to do in the third trimester? Let me know in the comments, I always love to hear from you lovely lot.
While you’re here….choose your favourite image below and save it for later and share it with others on Pinterest. Good luck with your third-trimester mamas!