The only thing that is constant about your body in pregnancy is that it is constantly changing. While it is true that the trimesters of pregnancy are really just arbitrary timeframes that we have developed to talk about what usually happens during a given portion of pregnancy, the fact of the matter is that there are body changes that are characteristic of each of the trimesters of pregnancy. For example, the first trimester of pregnancy has its morning sickness. The second trimester tends to be the time that a woman’s body feels the best. And, there are certain things that most women will experience during the third trimester of pregnancy in terms of body changes.
One of the third trimester body changes that is most noticeable has to be the sheer growth of your baby. The fact that your baby is getting bigger and bigger and bigger every day has many implications for your body. For example, you might notice that you need to urinate much more often during the third trimester, as your baby is pushing on the organs in your abdominal cavity, such as your bladder. You might also find that it is harder to breathe or catch your breath. This is because the baby is pushing on your ribcage, creating less room for your lungs.
A relatively minor but noticeable body change in the third trimester can be your bellybutton. If you were previously an innie, you may suddenly find one day that you are an outie.
Your breasts will probably continue to be tender during the third trimester. You may even leak a yellowish liquid, called colostrum, that will be your baby’s first milk.
Constipation is more common during the third trimester than it is during the earlier stages of pregnancy.
Backache, leg cramps, and cramps in the feet are common third trimester body changes, as well.
The good news is that the third trimester is the home stretch. Once your baby is born, many of these changes will go back to their pre-pregnancy condition, while most will lessen over time.
