Hello, third trimester. It’s now literally a matter of weeks before you get to meet your little bundle of joy.
These next few weeks can go incredibly slowly as you start to get bigger and what seems like an easy task can become increasingly difficult.
Here are a few of my third-trimester must-haves from a mom of 5.
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Although you will be thinking about things you need for the baby and making lots of lists for your hospital bag, this list is solely for mom.
This is what you will need in those final three months to make you more comfortable and help you get through the most difficult trimester.
Some of these things will also be very useful post-partum whilst you are recovering from birth.
If you haven’t quite got to the third trimester here is the TOP 10 THINGS YOU NEED IN THE FIRST TRIMESTER and THINGS YOU NEED FOR THE SECOND TRIMESTER.
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1. Online Birthing class
This is the single most important thing you need in the third trimester. Learning about the whole birthing process whether this is your first or your 5th baby, from a qualified labor nurse is vital.
This course goes through everything you need to know from the comfort of your own home.
It’s super affordable and best of all you get to join a facebook group of moms who are going through the exact same thing you are. Read about Birth it up here
RELATED: MY HONEST REVIEW OF BIRTH IT UP ONLINE PRENATAL CLASS
2.Breastfeeding class
If you are planning to breastfeed then an excellent way of learning are online breastfeeding classes.
Milkology is one courses goes through everything you need to know to make breastfeeding a success. The best thing is that you have lifetime access so you can access it as and when you like and also if you plan to have other kids then it is a great investment.
The course is super affordable and for what you gain its worth every penny. You can read my review of Milkology here
RELATED: MILKOLOGY: MY HONEST REVIEW
3.Comfortable shoes that slip on or Flip Flops
Comfy slip-on shoes are a must in the third trimester, as your tummy gets bigger you may find tying shoes or doing straps increasingly difficult.
I have these shoes and find them very comfortable.
They slip on quickly so I didn’t need to worry about bending over and they will still come in useful after t
RELATED: HOW TO PREVENT SWOLLEN PREGNANT FEET
4. Waterproof Mattress Protector
As you enter the final trimester you may find that you suffer from bladder weakness, protecting your mattress is a good idea as the last thing you want is your mattress to be stained.
It will also help to protect your mattress if your waters break, you have a urine accident or leak discharge and from any post-partum leakages such as urine, breastmilk or lochia.
I didn’t like any of the ones that fitted the whole bed either, they felt plastic and made an already sweaty woman even
Secondly, I can’t bear the crinkly noise that they made on the bed so I opted to use disposable bed mats. Bed Mats are made for kids who are toilet training.
I used them on just my side of the bed and they worked an absolute treat. I use them during the last few weeks of pregnancy and during my time bleeding after th
5. Epsom Bath Salts
When you are feeling all achy
They also help me sleep when sleep is a real struggle in the third trimester.
Just be careful with getting in and out of the bath when you are towards the end as I have nearly found myself stuck on more than one occasion!
6. Support belt
In the last trimester the back, hip
Even if you aren’t suffering
7.Heat Pad or Cold Pack
Sore achy muscles and spasms are pretty normal in the last trimester, for me sometimes a
You need to see what works for you but it would always keep a cool pad in the fridge and have this heating pad to hand.
The heat pad gets hot really quickly which is just what I need in the last trimester as I become terribly impatient with things.
8. Water Bottle
The last thing you want is another excuse to go to the toilet, the baby weight pushing on your bladder is really bad enough, but you really do need to keep hydrated.
Constipation can become a big problem in the last trimester.
This is my favorite bottle as I can add ice cubes to it.
9. Birthing ball/ Stability Ball
A birthing ball is must have in the last trimester and not just for the exercising benefits.
I really loved sitting on the ball especially when the due date is fast approaching and my growing tummy means that I cannot get comfortable on the couch.
The ball helps you get into the optimal posture with your back and hips and has been known to help aid the stretching of the hips in preparation for labor.
Three of my labors did go overdue and I used my ball a lot! It is also a great aid for labor especially if you want to labor at home for as long as possible.
Helping the baby move down into the correct position before birth.
A birthing ball needs to be between 65-75cm tall when inflated so they can be as effective as possible.
10. Long Handle For Shaving
No one will tell you this but there comes a certain point in pregnancy that you can’t shave your legs let alone anywhere else!
This long handle for your razor is a nifty little gadget that allows you to shave the back of your legs and thighs with a simple attachment.
It does feel a little flimsy to start with and you will worry that you may amputate your leg but if carefully follow the instructions on the packet you should be absolutely fine.
11. Medjool Dates
It seems that this age-old wives’ tale actually has some scientific backing. A study in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in 2011 stated ‘the mean latent phase of the first stage of labor was shorter in women who consumed date fruit compared with the non-date fruit consumers.’
The study then goes on to say that women who ate dates had on average an 8.5 hr labor compared to an average of 15.1 hours of those who didn’t.
96% of date eating women went into spontaneous labor compared to 79% who didn’t.
The women who ate dates on admission were dilated on average 3.5cm compared with 2cm who hadn’t.
The study also stated that only 28% of women who ate dates needed the Pitocin drip as opposed to 47% who didn’t eat dates.
The magic number of dates that need to be consumed is 6 per day in the last 6 weeks of pregnancy.
Here are my favorite Medjool dates
12. Long Handled Dustpan and Brush
This long handled dustpan and brush absolutely saved me when I was pregnant with my 5th child.
As you can imagine with 5 small children I was constantly sweeping up and bending wasn’t possible with a big bump and sciatica pain.
I have not gone back to the standard dustpan and brush after using this one as it just makes sweeping up so much easier that I don’t even need to use a broom anymore.
Other important items for the third trimester:
Here are a few other essentials that you may need in the third trimester:
Maternity pillow, if you haven’t already got one of these then I don’t know how you have managed it. My no1 pregnancy must have at any point during pregnancy is this pillow.
Alternatively, you can get a free pregnancy pillow here, use coupon code mamaof5.
Want more FREE, pregnancy and baby gear? Click here to read how.
Lavender Essential oil and
Magnesium oil for restless leg syndrome
Compression socks for those who are suffering from swelling
In my opinion, the last trimester is by far the most challenging.
You can’t eat, you can’t sleep, you can’t walk without getting out of breath and dizzy. Pelvic pain means that you can’t even sit.
You may also find that your sickness has made a comeback bringing with it indigestion and acid reflux.
Your bladder has a mind of its own and the baby has officially broken your ribs kicking you so hard.
If all this wasn’t enough you are probably sitting in a hot sweat even if it’s snowing outside.
The above list will not get rid of all the suffering but it will hopefully make it a little easier to bear, the only thing that can help you now is actually giving birth!
Hang in there you are on the home stretch, its not long to go until you meet your beautiful baby.
