The third trimester: maternity leave, babyshower and meeting your little one

Your belly is getting bigger, and your baby is more active. This can cause quite a bit of discomfort. At the same time, the moment you meet your little one is getting closer. You’re probably really looking forward to it, although the upcoming birth might feel a bit scary too. Luckily, the third trimester is full of special moments to take your mind off the tough times. And again, time seems to fly by.

Tough times

In the second trimester, you may have felt on top of the world—full of energy, feeling those first kicks, and working through your long to-do list. In the third trimester, however, you might start experiencing more discomfort. As your baby grows heavier and bigger, you may start feeling pressure on your pelvis or experience Braxton Hicks contractions (practice contractions). Not always pleasant, but it’s actually a good sign: your body is preparing itself for the arrival of your mini.

Towards the end of pregnancy, many women also struggle with insomnia. Maybe you already had trouble sleeping during the first trimester due to a head full of thoughts and hormonal changes. Those hormones are still playing a role in the third trimester, but additionally it also becomes more difficult to find a comfortable sleeping position. Add in the sensitive bladder and your nights can get very chaotic. Totally normal, but definitely annoying.

Maternity leave

Your energy may be dipping during the third trimester, but the good news is: it’s (almost) time for maternity leave! You can choose to start your leave 6 or 4 weeks before your due date. You might be looking forward to it, or perhaps you're dreading the break from your usual routine. Both are perfectly normal. Everyone spends their leave differently. Some use the time to catch up with friends and family, while others prefer to settle down at home and go into their own little bubble. Just do whatever feels right for you.

Once you've finished nesting, you might find yourself getting a bit bored during the last weeks of leave. You’re excited for your baby’s arrival and feel like you're just waiting around. That can be mentally challenging, especially since your baby probably won’t arrive exactly on your due date. Try not to get stuck in “waiting mode” and find some small activities to help pass the time: walking, doing puzzles, reading, or watching a new series, for example. Try to really enjoy doing nothing, because once the baby is here, free time will be a rare luxury.

Extra checkups

If you’ve had a ‘normal’ (non-medical) pregnancy so far, you likely haven’t needed many midwife visits. That changes in the third trimester. From now on you’ll be seeing your midwife more regularly. During these appointments you’ll listen to the baby’s heartbeat and can ask any questions you have. Feeling nervous or scared about the birth? Talk about it with your midwife. They can reassure you and give you practical tools to help you feel more prepared.

Baby shower

Do you want a baby shower? And do you want to organize it yourself or be surprised? If you choose to plan it yourself, you can start thinking about the guest list, theme, and which baby shower games you’d like to play. Pinterest is full of inspiration!

Tip: Have guests guess things like the baby’s looks, gender, or name (if still unknown) using prediction cards. It’s fun to look back on these after the baby is born!

Final preparations

Is the nursery ready, and do you have everything in place to give your little one a warm welcome? The third trimester is the perfect time to wrap up the final details. It’s time to nest! That includes washing all the clothes, reorganizing the changing table 30 times, and maybe even scrubbing the baseboards with a toothbrush. Yep… hormones can make you do some funny things.

It’s also time to pack your hospital bag, so you're ready to go at a moment’s notice. Even if you’re planning a home birth, it’s smart to still a bag ready, just in case you need to go to the hospital unexpectedly. Make sure your partner (if you have one) packs some personal items too, like extra clothes, toiletries, and maybe a book for the early (latent) phase of labor.

Tip: Put the hospital bag in the car in advance so you can leave right away if needed. Also great for when labor starts while you’re on the go.

You’re probably also thinking about how to care for your baby once they arrive. That can feel overwhelming. What do you really need, and which products are unnecessary? The Newborn Essentials Set includes three truly essential products for those first few weeks. A newborn doesn’t actually need as much as you might think.