Pregnancy | the third trimester

Top recs from your new mom friend 🫶

You go girl! You're in your third trimester! The final stretch! YOU'VE GOT THIS! You'll be sleeping more comfortably and enjoying a glass of wine in no time - while staring at what is sure to be the sweetest little bub in the entire world. Hang in there. Here are some ideas to help you in this last leg of your pregnancy.

More things for you, mama.

• Nursing friendly clothes. Any clothes you buy from this point forward, consider nursing friendly options if you plan to breastfeed! I lived in button down shirts and long open cardigans over nursing tank tops during my third trimester.

  • Bras. Your boobs will keep getting bigger, especially once your milk comes in. I waited until 9 months pregnant to order maternity bras (Target, MomCozy, sleeping bras) so I had a better idea on sizing. I went from a small 34B to a full 36C.

    • You can also take your favorite regular bra to Nordstrom and I think it’s like $12 for them to make it into a maternity bra for you.

    • Those Target Auden bras I linked above were recommended to me by my cousin's wife who's a lactation consultant, and they are super comfortable and great quality. For baby $3 I got a couple of the MomCozy ones - absolutely love too.

• Underwear. You'll probably want some comfy underwear for the end of pregnancy, in a bigger size - get some that you can throw out after your recovery! I liked that these had a white part on the inside so I could keep an eye on any... well, fluids! If I'm the first to tell you, there are fluids in your future, sister. Things are gonna get swampy AF down there and it's totally normal, just keep an eye on it and call your doctor if anything seems off. Any blood, especially.

  • As you get closer to labor, you'll want to keep an eye out for your mucus plug which is a sign that things are progressing! If you've never heard of a mucus plug I do not recommend googling it, but it is something your doctor should talk to you about as you get closer!

• Compression socks - talk to your doctor, mine recommended these and I wore them a few times a week in my third trimester to help prevent varicose veins and relieve any swelling. Your insurance may also cover these, so it's worth checking!

• Belly band - I wore this during workouts and on days when I was on my feet a lot. It helps take some of the extra weight of your belly off and supports your back. Same here, insurance may cover.

Soak it all in.

Especially if this is your first pregnancy, savor this time with your partner before baby joins the party. Consider taking a babymoon, getting maternity pictures taken or going on some special date nights. Whether this is your first or you already have a few kiddos, your life is about to change in the sweetest way! Take pictures of that bump and enjoy what you can, knowing not every minute of your pregnancy will be enjoyable. And that's okay to acknowledge, too. It doesn't mean you will love this baby any less. It means you don't like sleeping poorly, throwing up, heartburn, headaches, gaining weight in all the weirdest places, random aches and pains, people touching your body without permission, not eating and drinking things you like -- I could go on. Pregnancy is tough and women don't say it enough because it makes them seem ungrateful. Honor all of your feelings - good, bad, ugly. It's what brings the littlest loves of your life to you, and once they're here, you really will forget about how uncomfortable you feel right now.

My biggest advice for your third trimester.

Aim to have all your baby things done by 35 weeks, instead of 40 weeks. That way if it takes you a bit longer than that, you will still likely be done before baby arrives (although you never know!!!). Everyone always says with a first time birth you will not be early but I was and I have several close friends who were also early, so it never hurts to do things in advance just in case.

• Think about this for your baby shower too! Mine was 1 month exactly before the baby arrived so we were in a bit of a dash to get the remaining items we needed, send thank you notes and get all the gifts, put them together, etc.

• Consider if you want to take a birth prep class, or how you want to approach Labor and Delivery. See here for my advice on Labor and Delivery prep.

• Pack that hospital bag early too! List here with what I packed. I had it all together and ready to go except for my makeup/toothbrush at 36 weeks with my first. A week later, I had a baby!

  • TO BE CLEAR, you can show up to the hospital with nothing and you will be given everything you need for you and baby. But there are some things you can bring from home that may make the experience a bit more comfortable, which for me I was glad to have. Do not stress about this too much - it’s a nice to have but not necessary by any means.

NEXT UP: How to prepare for Labor & Delivery | Hospital tips - what to bring & what to expect

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Your friendly reminder that this blog is not medical advice! This blog is for educational purposes only and does not substitute for professional medical advice. Consult a medical professional or healthcare provider if they seek medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment for you or your family.

Affiliate Disclosure: There are affiliate links in this post, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will be compensated if you click through and take action. These are all items that I purchased with my own money, or was gifted from my registry, so please know I am only recommending things I truly use.