In the third trimester, avoid lying flat on your back (supine) as the uterus can compress major blood vessels, reducing blood flow; lying on your stomach is impossible; and while the right side can put pressure on the liver, the left side is generally recommended, using pillows for comfort. Also avoid prolonged standing, sitting in one place, bending at the waist, crossing legs, or lifting heavy items.
In the meantime, perhaps it is time for maternity care providers not only to act to avoid maternal supine position during the day but also to alert pregnant women to avoid the supine sleep position in the third trimester of pregnancy.
The "3-2-1 Rule" in pregnancy is a guideline for first-time mothers to know when to call their midwife or doctor for active labor: consistent contractions every 3 minutes, lasting 2 minutes each (or 1 minute long for some variations), for over 1 hour. It helps differentiate true labor from false labor (Braxton Hicks), signaling it's time to head to the birthing center, while subsequent pregnancies often follow the faster 5-1-1 rule.
Try your best to avoid sitting cross legged especially during pregnancy! This can create an imbalance with the joints and ligaments that hold and grow with your uterus. As your baby grows you want as much even space as possible to allow for optimal positioning for birth as well.
Following are 10 of the most common mistakes that mothers should avoid making during the third trimester of pregnancy.
Swelling, especially in the face, that does not go away after lying down. Rapid weight gain (more than one pound per day) Blurred vision or spots before your eyes. Headaches, severe or that don't respond to comfort measures or Tylenol.
The 5-5-5 rule is a guideline for what kind of help a postpartum mom needs: five days in bed, five days round the bed — meaning minimal walking around — the next five days around the home. This practice will help you prioritize rest and recovery while gradually increasing activity.
Although there is no consensus on the full spectrum of forbidden points,3 those most frequently cited as contraindicated throughout pregnancy (at least before 37 weeks) are SP6, LI4, BL60, BL67, GB21, LU7, and points in the lower abdomen (eg, CV3–CV7) and sacral region (eg, BL27–34).
Your baby is well-protected by the amniotic sac, uterus, and abdominal muscles, making it unlikely that bending over could harm the foetus. However, as your pregnancy progresses, your growing bump can make this simple task feel awkward and uncomfortable.
There's no single "hardest" month, as challenges vary, but many find the first trimester tough due to nausea, fatigue, and hormonal shifts, while the third trimester (especially the final month) is physically demanding with discomfort, frequent urination, sleep issues, and anxiety about labor, making the last few months incredibly challenging for most. The second trimester often offers relief, but back pain and heartburn can begin, Cleveland Clinic notes.
First-time mothers are most likely to give birth in the 39th or 40th week. For twins, spontaneous births typically occur around weeks 36 and 37, and few pregnancies go beyond 38 weeks, due to medical considerations. “Full term” is now defined as 39 to 40 weeks, while 37 to 38 weeks is called “early term.”
Certain meats and fish
Raw or undercooked meat, including beef, poultry and pork. This includes hotdogs and deli meat (like ham or bologna). If you eat hotdogs or deli meat, cook them until they are steaming hot or just avoid completely. Raw fish, especially shellfish.
Maintaining a healthy pregnancy is not hard when you know how to do it! The three golden rules are to always listen to your doctor's advice, eat healthy, and stay active. Remember, don't focus only on your baby's growth because ultimately keeping yourself healthy is the first step to keeping your baby healthy!
Things you'll want to get done before you go into labour
Safety considerations through the 3 trimesters:
Only apply or allow gentle strokes on your abdomen or around your bump. Avoid deep tissue massage in legs and upper arms. This is because pregnancy increases the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) which, sometimes, may not be easily recognised.
8 third trimester pains and how to deal with them
You definitely cannot squish the baby like that! Think of women throughout the centuries who were bending over, squatting in fields, with perfectly healthy babies! Or all the women who don't even know they're pregnant who do those things. They're so well protected in there!
During pregnancy you should exercise at a level where you can hold a light conversation while you workout - if you reach the point of breathlessness then neither you or your baby will be getting enough oxygen.
Early term: Your baby is born between 37 weeks, 0 days and 38 weeks, 6 days. Full term: Your baby is born between 39 weeks, 0 days and 40 weeks, 6 days. Late term: Your baby is born between 41 weeks, 0 days and 41 weeks, 6 days. Postterm: Your baby is born after 42 weeks, 0 days.
Give up smoking and drinking alcohol
All pregnant mothers should strictly adhere to giving up smoking and drinking alcohol. This means any beverage that contains alcohol as well as all forms of cigarettes and illegal drugs.
If you have any of these signs or symptoms before your 37th week of pregnancy, you may be experiencing preterm labor: Change in your vaginal discharge (watery, mucus or bloody) or more vaginal discharge than usual. Pressure in your pelvis or lower belly, like your baby is pushing down. Constant low, dull backache.
The 2-hour rule for babies means they shouldn't stay in a car seat (or travel system seat) for more than two hours at a time, whether in or out of the car, because the semi-upright position can strain their developing spine and restrict their breathing, increasing the risk of low oxygen levels, especially for newborns and preemies. For long journeys, parents should take breaks every two hours to take the baby out, allow them to lie flat for a while, stretch, and feed, ensuring they get proper head/neck support and circulation.
The 'baby blues' are common around days three to five, thanks to plummeting oestrogen and progesterone levels. 1 in 5 mothers experience perinatal mental health issues in the first year after birth, including postpartum depression or anxiety, making the early days even harder.