6 Ways to Get Comfortable During The Third Trimester
By: First Time Mama
Tags: Third Trimester, Pregnant Women, Motherhood, Pregnancy, Baby

With your bump getting larger by the day, you’re probably starting to find it challenging to get comfortable. Your back aches, none of your clothes fit you, you can’t sleep, and your baby loves kicking you in the ribs!. Oh, the joys!

After having two of my own, I know how exhausting the third trimester can be, especially in the final weeks. It’s definitely a period of two halves, its at once exciting and joyous as your busy prepping for the imminent arrival of your newborn. But that colossal bump, constipation, the water retention and the rest don’t half cause you some agro.

While I can’t take away the aches and pains, I can offer some tried and tested advice about how to stay comfortable during the third trimester.

USE PILLOWS FOR SUPPORT

Pillows are a must for comfort and support in the third trimester. Without my big pregnancy pillow, I wouldn’t have a gotten a wink of sleep! I used to sleep hugging my pregnancy pillow with a regular pillow supporting my back. My poor other half had hardly any room in our bed!

Pregnancy Pillow

The big pregnancy pillows are fantastic, but regular pillows and cushions are just as good and a lot easier to transport. It’s worth keeping a small pillow or cushion with you in your car at all times. As the further you go into the third trimester, the harder it becomes to get comfortable. Having a cushion with you — whether you sat at your work desk or going out for a meal with friends — will ensure you’ve always got support for your back.

EXERCISE TO SOOTHE ACHES AND PAINS

Low impact exercises such as swimming and yoga are brilliant for soothing pregnancy aches and pains. I suffered from sciatica during both my pregnancies and doing yoga stretches daily helped ease and virtually stop the sciatica pain completely. If you head to youtube, there are lots of pregnancy yoga tutorials and ones specifically for easing sciatica and other pregnancy issues.

Swimming is particularly good during the third trimester, as the water helps to support your extra weight. Giving relief to your back and joints. And unlike some other forms of aerobic exercise, swimming helps you to feel cool.

EAT SMALL HEALTHY MEALS THROUGHOUT THE DAY

Pregnancy heartburn is the worst! Heartburn isn’t something I suffer with when I’m not pregnant, but during both my pregnancies it was terrible. The best way to keep heartburn under control when pregnant is to eat small healthy meals throughout the day and avoid consuming foods that are known to make heartburn worse. Such as coffee, coca-cola, citrus foods and fatty foods.

You’re more likely to get heartburn if you overeat and are very full. It is very tempting to overeat when you’re pregnant, but it’s best to eat little and often and have the odd treat here and there.

Keeping upright can also help with heartburn. Sitting up straight when you eat will take the pressure off your stomach. And propping your head and shoulders up when you go to bed can stop stomach acid coming up while you sleep.

EAT HIGH FIBRE FOODS AND DRINK PLENTY OF WATER

Constipation and haemorrhoids are a problem for a lot of women throughout their pregancy and especially during the third trimester. It’s because the increase in progesterone levels causes your muscles, including your intestines to relax, which slows the passage of food through your intestines. Eating a diet rich in high-fibre foods; fruits, vegetables and whole grains and drinking plenty of water will help prevent constipation. This, in turn, should stop you from straining when you go to the loo and hopefully prevent haemorrhoids.

TRY MASSAGE AND WATER THERAPY

Pregnancy massage is a wonderful way to relax and ease aches and pains. You can book yourself in for a massage at your local clinic or ask your partner to massage you. Massaging your belly is also a great way to bond with your baby, and it can help calm them when they are having an aerobics session in your tummy!

Water Therapy

I have never been a person who enjoys baths, but during pregnancy, a nice warm bath can be very soothing and relaxing. A warm bath is also a great way to prepare for a restful nights sleep. If there is such a thing in the third trimester!

AVOID STANDING FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME

During pregnancy, your body holds on to extra fluid, which is why most pregnant women experience swelling in their hands, feet and face. Swollen feet and legs can be extremely uncomfortable. To ease the swelling try to limit standing for long periods of time if possible and in the evening, elevate your feet and legs to promote blood flow. You could also try wearing compression stockings to decrease the swelling.