Third Trimester of Pregnancy: What to buy, what to prepare and what to actually expect

Updated: April 2026

Written by Meg — mom of three (ages 5, 3, and 1) in Atlanta. Here's everything I'd tell you to have done before 35 weeks. 🫶

In your third trimester and feeling the pressure to get everything done? This covers what to buy in those final weeks, compression socks and belly bands your insurance may cover, nursing-friendly clothes to start building now, and my biggest piece of advice — aim to be done by 35 weeks, not 40. Real talk from someone who had a baby a week after she thought she had plenty of time.

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.

FAQ

What should I prepare in my third trimester? Aim to have everything done by 35 weeks — nursery, registry, hospital bag, car seat installed, baby clothes washed. I know everyone says first-time moms go late but I delivered at 37w 6d and I have several friends who were early too. You can always slow down if baby takes their time; you can't un-stress if things aren't ready. Pack your hospital bag by 36 weeks at the latest.

What should I buy in my third trimester? Nursing-friendly tops and button-down shirts if you plan to breastfeed — buy these now while you can try them on with your bump. Wait until 9 months to buy nursing bras since sizing changes significantly when your milk comes in. Compression socks for swelling and varicose veins (ask your doctor — insurance may cover). A belly band for support on active days. Comfy underwear in a bigger size that you don't mind throwing away after recovery.

Do I need compression socks during pregnancy? My doctor recommended them and I wore them a few times a week in the third trimester — they really do help with swelling and leg discomfort. Worth checking with your insurance as they may be covered. I also wore a belly band on days when I was on my feet a lot which helped with back support.

When should I pack my hospital bag? By 36 weeks at the latest — I had everything packed except makeup and toothbrush at 36 weeks with my first, had a baby one week later. You can absolutely show up to the hospital with nothing and they will give you everything you need for you and baby. But having your own things makes it more comfortable. See my full hospital bag checklist for exactly what I packed.

Should I take a birth prep class? If you can, yes — especially for a first delivery. Check what your hospital offers, and also look into the Moms on Call 0-6 months online course ($99) which covers newborn care, diapering, bathing, feeding — all the things nobody tells you before baby arrives. I had my husband watch it with me so we were on the same page.

What does the third trimester actually feel like? Uncomfortable, honestly — heartburn, trouble sleeping, random aches, feeling huge. But also really exciting as you start counting down. Honor all of your feelings about it. Pregnancy is genuinely hard and women don't talk about it enough because it makes them seem ungrateful. You can be grateful and uncomfortable at the same time. Once baby arrives you really will forget — three babies in and I still keep signing up for this!

→ How to prepare for labor and delivery here

→ Hospital bag checklist and what to expect here

→ Postpartum recovery — what to expect in those first weeks here

→ Bringing home baby — what to expect in the first weeks here

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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.

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