What is the 3rd trimester like?

I'm 22 weeks, measuring around 26 weeks. I feel huge. I feel my belly stretching like crazy. I feel and look the same way I did during about my 8th month with my daughter. Right now I weigh the same as I did when I gave birth to my daughter. Since I've never been any bigger than this and I have a little under half the pregnancy left...I want to know what can I expect with the 3rd trimester. How big? How tired? How mobile? How fat lol?

 

I delivered at 37.4 weeks. By that time, I was measuring around 50 weeks. I worked until 35 weeks. The last month or so was rough. Everything aches--hips, pelvis, stomach, ribs, joints, etc. I couldn't eat much--you go from starving to so full you feel sick very quickly an without warning. I could walk for maybe 10 minutes through the grocery store and was very tempted by the motorized carts. And I had awful swelling that didn't go down for much of the third trimester. But, it was doable. I drove. I worked. I got around. I didn't have trouble sleeping really.

 

I don't remember what I was measuring, but I delivered at a little over 35 weeks. All I remember is the babies were so heavy. I had a maternity belt that i literally could not do without. And as Rachael said, everything aches. My feet swelled daily, I couldn't stand up or walk for long periods, and sleeping for me was very hard. I also was able to work, however, up until our winter break, which I was around 33 weeks, then had the girls two days before we were due back. I would have went back if I had not had the girls, but thank goodness I did. I remember just crying on Friday about having to go back to work on Monday (I am a teacher) and knowing I was going to have to be up on my feet, then I went into labor the next day. However, for me, the third trimester was a breeze compared to how much trouble I had in the first.

 

I'm 36 weeks, and I am uncomfortable! My hands and feet are swollen all the time, as in I cannot wear anything but flats and even those hurt. I wake up about once every hour at night to pee and flip sides. My hips and legs hurt at night. I get tired very easily, going up the stairs can get me out of breath, but I can do little shopping trips and the like. I am big enough to have outgrown nearly all my maternity clothes (and I bought bigger ones in anticipation) and I've put on about 40 lbs.

The worst part for me has been the swelling - being on my feet for any length of time, or even sitting for more than half an hour makes me feel like my feet are going to explode.

 

I'm a petite (thin structured) girl and am 32 wks - I find the belly so heavy, I get tired easily (few aisles of walmart and I'm like panting lol) and the twins act like freaking nutso's at night when I try to sleep and almost have me in tears as it's kinda painful.
I feel like I want them out NOW lol, yet know in my head/mind that they need to stay in longer.

BUT, it's not always so bad. There are moments I feel great and life's "as normal" kinda thing! So def there's good w the bad!!!

 

Wow... lots to look forward to! Here I thought I felt crappy already

 

I delivered at 38w3d and the thing I remember most was being out of breath doing EVERYTHING! I couldn't even read to my son without getting winded, lol! Getting in and out of his bed to cuddle with him was also like an Olympic event. Everything just took longer. I also had trouble sleeping...everything hurt and I was up peeing almost every time I rolled over. None of my clothes covered my belly so I didn't go out much...also I was afraid of going into labour every time I left the house so I stayed close to home . My belly was incredibly itchy and I lost all the feeling around my belly button and below due to the insane stretching...the nerves couldn't keep up with how fast my skin was growing. The one thing I can say is that things went back to normal pretty quickly after I had the girls...I remember being able to breathe again almost immediately and that was great! Also, they were discharged from the hospital an hour after they were born so having big healthy babies was worth the toll it took on me .

 

I really did not think I would make it through the third trimester - I was enormous and my feet and ankles were super swollen. And it was an extra hot summer here in south Texas (I delivered September 1). I am a skinny girl and had gained less than 25 pounds with my first two pregnancies - I gained 60 with the twins!! But I didn't have any complications and I was able to get around - I spent a lot of time in the swimming pool. By the time I hit the last week - I had a scheduled c-section at 38+5 - I felt like I was walking on air - it was GREAT to be able to say "My c-section is next Tuesday!" instead of "My c-section is in three months," which was always depressing (especially when you look like you're already going to pop and have three months to go).

You can do it!

 

I delivered at 35 and 3 and measured 42 weeks. I gained 52 pounds (pre preg 119 and 5'3). It was miserable for me. Baby B was in my ribs and displaced a rib which caused severe pain. I dreaded going to sleep because switching positions hurt my back and pelvis so bad that I had to often wake my DH to help me roll over or get up to use the bathroom. I think the pain was the worse for sure, I had no swelling (until after delivery). However, it was all worth it and the best part of the 3rd trimester is that in the end you have you r babies and all the discomfort and pain is gone! Good luck!

 

this is so helpful to hear. It sounds like its no picnic, but its doable and well worth it. I guess I had a fear of the unknown.

 

It is so uncomfortable, but definitely doable. I had a lot of rib pain having one kid all pushed up there. And I had a lot of trouble sleeping with back pain and just not being able to keep comfortable. Lots and lots of pillows! Mostly I was just tired though and everything took me twice as long to do. I got off work at 26 weeks (I was being threatened with layoffs and my doctor thought I should be resting more anyway) and I rested as much as I could. But the relief after the kids are born.. I felt like superwoman!

 

I delivered at 38 weeks 2 days and the last 6 weeks or so was tougher than I'd ever thought it would be, but the rewards was incredible...so keep your eye on the prize!

Every part of my body ached and felt like it was pulling apart. Getting out of bed especially at night to pee was the worst, and I took little baby steps and had to hold on to furniture to help stabilize myself and reduce the pain in my hips.

Sleeping was nearly impossible. I'd get maybe 15-45 mins at a time. Between my massive and itchy belly, back and hip pain (hips go numbs...fun! And you have to actually get out of bed and turn around and get back in the other way if you want to switch sides which I had to do often.), the babies acting out WWF matches in my belly (the books say that movement will get less as they run out of room, that was NOT true for us!), having to pee (and then keep guzzling more water), and the horrible reflux it was a battle every day and night to get any rest. I napped during the day better than I slept at night for some reason so I did that when I could.

I sounded like Darth Vader. My husband and I went to the Symphony during my 3rd trimester and he swears that everyone in our section was turning to look at me. I'm sure they were wondering if I was about to give birth then and there, and why the hell it sounded like I was breathing in a space suit!

Eating was nearly impossible. I ate often, and small meals, but I had to force myself. Actually as I now recall I drank a LOT of milk in lieu of food in the last 6 weeks or so. I craved it actually, and my stomach was so shoved up into my throat that anything I ate gave me immediate heartburn so milk was soothing for that as well. I was drinking gallons and gallons up until the day they were born. Haven't had a glass of milk alone like that since then haha.

Anyways...there is more, but the bottom line is that I survived and I really barely remember what it was really like nowadays. Having my two big, beautiful babies was more than worth it and I'd endure it all again in a heartbeat!

 

Hi,

It wasn't that bad for me, I think I am one of the lucky ones that got it easy, so I just want you to know that is possible also. I gained 38# and I delivered at 37 weeks and 5 days by scheduled C-section. I worked all the way to the end, I just took the last week off because everyone told me I need to be rested for the birth and they were SOOOOO RIGHT!!! I delivered on a Friday and I didn't work that week. Also, I exercised all the way to the end - not too much but 30 min on an eliptical machine, some abdomen excercises on an excersise ball and 5# weights twice a week. I wore high heels all the way - including at the delivery. My feet didn't swell. I wore my regular shoes all the way to the end.

I had to pee only once a night which I think wasn't too bad comparing to other stories I read. I was drinking a lot of water - maybe 12 bottles a day. I forced myself to drink a lot and I think that kept the swelling off, because my kidneys were working all the time. I read somewhere that if you don't drink enough water, the kidneys slow donw and then it's harder for them to start working again with the babies on top of them so that's why you retain water - not sure if that's true or not, but I made myself drink a ton of water and I didn't get puffy at all. Of course my stomach was huge and it was hard to turn around in bed or get in and out of bed, but it was doable.

I was lucky not to have any complications and health issues. I wish you the best as well!

 

It's nice to hear a good pregnancy story! I'm trying to be realistic knowing that a lot of twin pregnancies are difficult... but good to know not everyone is miserable in the 3rd trimester

 

My third trimester went great. Other than having to get up a lot in the middle of the night to pee things weren't too bad. Honestly, now that I have had the babies my back hurts wangy more than it ever did when I was pregnant. You may definitely outgrow your maternity clothes. I got to the point I was wearing clothes from the plus size section at stores. I worked until 33.5 weeks. I left early because of my work place and I was really tired having to get up at night, work, and then go home and watch my 2 year old. It was just easier to skip work! I wish you a good happy third trimester!

 

Mine was bad. I had swelling, hip pain, puppps, couldn't walk, couldn't wear any shoes except flip flops, peed l the time, was generally miserable. I cried almost every day, but I am a crier.

 

It wasn't too bad for me. I worked until I was 36 weeks and up until the last moment I walked our dog 3 times a day. I delivered at 38 weeks and was measured 49. Yes i was huge, and my hips hurt and I couldn't sleep much because of the size of my belly, but I think it was doable.

 

Thanks for asking this, I was nervous to. LOL! Just so you know, you are not alone. I go tomorrow to find out what I'm measuring and how much I've gained... but at 18 weeks I was measuring 25! My height and a transverse baby that likes to lay in my ribs makes my stomach bigger.

I'm nervous about the third trimester, but I just remind myself that I'm blessed to live in a time where at least I know I'm having twins and to be careful. Imagine living when there was no ultrasound machine and you gave birth to two without realizing you would! I also am thankful that my company has a temp in for another coworker on maternity leave and she is going to train with me in between the other coming back and me leaving so we're set for that. I also know and am preparing for being off of work by 30-31 weeks. I'm measuring so far ahead that I know at some point I won't be able to drive. Measuring 40 cm with my daughter (on her due date) I drove to work but it was a bad idea because I was hitting the steering wheel with my belly.

 

Driving was the one thing that felt VERY different after giving birth. I drove again about 2-3 weeks after giving birth and I remember noticing the difference big time. I was able to drive all the way to the end of my pregnancy, I just pushed my chair back a bit as needed. On the day of the birth I drove my car to the hospital and then my FIL took it home. We had to bring 2 cars because of all the family members that came with us at the hospital and we had the 2 carseat bases in my husband's car, so I brought my car as well.

 

Its not unbearable, just uncomfortable.

I slowed down a lot. And needed to sleep so much! I wanted to do so much, but my babies came first. My feet did swell, and itch! I would get wicked gas bubbles and contractions, so a lot of late night pacing down the blocks.

I would also just sit and feel my belly. It was huge, but full of life. I was baking my babies.

 

In the final months you will find most of the maternity clothes will no longer fit.

I was referred by a friend to a specialty line of clothes for mom's of twins and triplets called For Multiples Maternity.
They were comfortable and fit my twin's belly up until the end which was 49 inches.

You can by them on line at formultiples.com.

 

WHAA? I so would have bought these! I grew out of 1 size at 6 months and a gigantic size at 8 months!

 

I was induced at 37 weeks (after literally BEGGING to wait another week... or two). We stopped measuring at 36 weeks at 52 cm. I actually felt GREAT. I had a little swelling if I was on my feet for too long, and was a little out of breath if I exerted myself too much (probably a good reminder that I needed to take it easy...) My only real complaints were:

1. That the maternity shirts were just too short. Luckily I didn't have to get out much and I discovered on a trip to Old Navy that plus size clothing (not maternity) styles were much longer, and empire tops were very popular at the time. They fit so much better, and I liked the styles so much more. And there was tons more selection! So maybe something to check out...

2. And the car... I am fairly tall - 5'8 and I have always sat really far back from the wheel - generally as far back as the seat goes. At 36/37 weeks I could barely fit between the seat of the car and the steering wheel. I probably wouldn't have been able to if I had gotten much bigger.

3. And a cyatic (sp?) nerve that one of the boys danced on regularly which either caused crazy pain or numbness. Though I became a pro at figuring out just where to poke/pat or otherwise talk sternly to to get his attention to make him stop.

The 3rd trimester was a lot of fun watching my belly. I had a mover who practiced tai kwan do reguarly on my belly and it was amazing to watch as my whole belly would shift from one side or the other. Think aliens. It looked possessed. And really lopsided sometimes. I would occassionally bump into things (like door jambs) because he had shifted so far to one side that I wasn't accustomed to sticking out that far in that direction) He was really interactive, too - I could tap on a spot and he would kick or hit back like a game. He was also the one who was vertex at every appointment until 35 weeks then flipped breach. He flipped back over at 36 weeks.

It goes by so fast, as will the time when the babies get here. Enjoy the time now, because once it is gone, you won't ever get it back. And trust me - babies are far more cooperative, and quiet... when they are in your belly than when they aren't. (says the mother of almost 3 year olds who are screaming at the top of their lungs and attempting to murder each other as I sit here...)