The third trimester

The work now is pattern: movement, swelling that is ordinary, and swelling that is not.

From about 28 weeks, know your baby’s movement pattern.
Ankles can swell; face and hands swelling suddenly should be checked.
Practice contractions are irregular and ease with rest.
Term is a window, not the due date alone.

Breath, weight, and sleep

The uterus sits under the lungs and on the stomach. Stairs wind you. Lying flat can make you queasy; a side, often the left, is the usual suggestion. Weight gain has a wide range. This is not the trimester for a diet. Small meals, water, and a pillow strategy beat most clever advice.

Getting ready without alarm

A bag, a ride, and the number you will call are enough of a plan. Classes help if you want them. They do not make labour obedient. Ask your team what they consider a reason to come in: contractions, fluid, bleeding, or a change in movement. Their threshold outranks a rule of thumb on a website.

Ask your midwife or doctor before you change medicine, herbs, or a birth plan.

Sizes and dates are averages. Feeding and sleep notes follow widely published public-health guidance, including World Health Organization infant-feeding advice and back-to-sleep recommendations. They are not a protocol for your hospital.