Overview
In the third trimester, the world can fall on you with the speed and determination of a T-Rex. You’ve always thought of the third trimester as the “couch-totally-getting-weight-gain” trimester. You might never enjoy that part of pregnancy, mostly because you’ll be always too tired to do much of anything. However, you also think this is the time when your life may start to suck. Even though things may not be that different from the beginning of your pregnancy.
Some things that might go wrong in the third trimester
Urine and breast changes
Since we’re in the third trimester, we see a decrease in the volume of urine during the night, and breasts that can become distended and sore (though still too early to know if the leaky breasts are as common as they were in the first trimester).
As far as pain goes, the most pain during the third trimester isn’t necessarily childbirth pain. That comes toward the end when your body is having a hard time transforming into a functioning human being, and its incredible ache forces you to consider alternative ways of getting through the day.
Contractions
Of course, contractions during pregnancy can be uncomfortable for moms-to-be, but there are also other, more common pains you might experience that just don’t involve the literal shaking of the bones that can come with labor.
Gestational diabetes
The condition is caused by an inability to produce enough of a substance known as insulin. This can be caused by several reasons, including your body producing too much insulin, or not producing it correctly. Stress, heredity, and getting overweight or underweight all affect a woman’s ability to absorb and use insulin. At the beginning of the third trimester, everyone should get tested for gestational diabetes.
The higher the mother’s glucose levels, the more likely it is that her baby will have the condition. The symptoms of gestational diabetes include extreme thirst and frequent urination, but don’t go away with time. If a woman’s blood sugar levels are high, she will feel it acutely and frequently. A rapid heart rate, tremors, and excessive thirst are all common symptoms.
However, women who have a baby during a time when they have gestational diabetes are at a higher risk of the condition reoccurring after birth. Being overweight increases a woman’s risk of developing diabetes after having a baby and having gestational diabetes can make it worse.
Treatment for Gestational diabetes
Regular exercise is important for both the mother and baby as it helps to keep your blood sugar stable. Prenatal insulin is recommended to help prevent type 2 diabetes. Low sugar foods should be preferred if you have gestational diabetes.
Placenta Previa
According to Penn State University researchers, gestational diabetes affects around 7% of pregnancies in the U.S. and 13% in Europe. The study that a baby’s heart rate is reduced at around 38 weeks because a placenta has grown too big to supply all of the baby’s needs.
The placenta is called placenta previa and the veins and arteries of the placenta can cut or disrupt the blood supply of the umbilical cord. This can result in low oxygen supply to the baby, often resulting in stillbirth or death.
A blood clot could travel from the placenta to your uterus and cause hemorrhaging that leads to a hemorrhagic (bleeding that occurs suddenly and requires immediate medical attention). The condition also increases the risk of premature birth. Many women have already noticed symptoms of a hemorrhagic during pregnancy including intense pain in the abdomen.
Since the placenta grows very close to the bladder and uterus, pregnant women sometimes experience bladder incontinence and vaginal bleeding after giving birth. The placenta does not always attach close to the cervix. As a result, the cervix does not open until after the placenta has been delivered.
This condition increases the risk of problems such as:
- Abnormal breathing
- Breathing problems
- Brain injury
- Decreased growth
Placental Abruption
Placenta abruption might occur during third trimester. Having a pregnancy with severe placental abruption increases the risk of death in both the mother and child.
Abdominal or pelvic floor injury
Injury to the abdominal or pelvic floor muscles can cause the uterus to begin to drop, which can cause the placenta to detach.
A related condition called placenta previa can also cause the uterus to drop too early, increasing the risk of giving birth to a preterm baby.
Treating or preventing a placental abruption
Miscarriages can sometimes be caused by placental abruption. To treat a placental abruption, a doctor will perform a procedure called a D&C. This procedure removes the placenta and also removes any tissue that may have come away with it.
To prevent placental abruption, doctors will use medications and medication-releasing devices to manage a woman’s symptoms.
Most commonly, doctors will administer low-dose epidurals. However, other forms of pain management can also help to manage a woman’s symptoms.
Intrauterine growth restriction
If a baby is growing slower than expected, then that condition is called Intrauterine growth restriction. Growth restriction in the uterus occurs when a fetus is not receiving enough nutrients or growth factors. This can cause the uterus to grow at a faster rate than is healthy.
When a woman has increased abdominal or pelvic pressure, as a result of placental abruption, it may affect her ability to progress through the stages of labor. If a baby is growing slower than expected, doctors advise the pregnant mom to eat small, frequent meals or to try nursing and pumping more frequently to encourage more feedings. Sometimes the mom must eat a larger meal than she would at a usual time or snack.
Risks of a vaginal delivery
Some women may want to have a vaginal delivery for convenience and because a cesarean delivery is considered a surgical procedure.
However, it is essential to understand that women with a severe placental abruption will likely experience a dangerous and potentially life-threatening event.
If a woman with a severe placental abruption goes into premature labor or has a vaginal delivery, the umbilical cord may not be able to supply blood to the baby.
The cord can then become compressed and the baby can suffocate. A baby in this situation could also die from blood loss from a placental abruption.
The risks of vaginal delivery for a woman with a severe placental abruption are:
Chances of premature birth are increased when the baby comes quickly before the placenta is completely delivered.
Pre-eclampsia
Women can feel a wide range of symptoms during third trimester of their pregnancies, from morning sickness to backaches, headaches, and more. After that, a woman can expect a period of increased exhaustion during her recovery. But women are still at risk of developing something called eclampsia, a serious condition that can lead to seizures, and the risk is especially high during the last third of pregnancy. Pre-eclampsia can be a risk factor for preterm birth
Pre-eclampsia can be associated with high blood pressure, which can cause the placenta to not work well. Blood from the placenta can leak into the bloodstream of the mother, which can cause low blood pressure
How can I tell I have pre-eclampsia?
Pre-eclampsia is usually not severe or dangerous but can require hospitalization
If a baby is born at 36 weeks or more, the baby may need immediate medical attention
If the baby is born at 28 weeks, the baby will not need immediate medical attention.
When should you go to the hospital?
The most important time to seek medical attention is during a premature delivery. Once a baby arrives, women should call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. A woman who is at more than 21 weeks of pregnancy will need immediate delivery. Any more than 21 weeks may be a higher risk to the baby.
What are the symptoms of pre-eclampsia?
Pre-eclampsia can cause some or all of the following:
- High blood pressure
- Puffy face
- Bloating
- Headache
- Vision problems
- Vision changes
- Sudden vomiting
- Lightheadedness
- Fever
- Anxiety
- Lower back pain
- Dizziness
- Possible swelling of hands or feet
- Muscle cramps
- Catching a sneeze can trigger a sudden episode of vomiting.
Causes of Pre-eclampsia
- Pre-eclampsia and eclampsia can be genetic
- Pre-eclampsia can be caused by a diet lacking in folic acid
- Inflammation of the placenta, which prevents nutrients from reaching the baby
- High blood pressure
- Infections, such as hepatitis or sepsis
- Certain medications or drugs
Treatment for pre-eclampsia
Your doctor may prescribe more drugs if pre-eclampsia is mild, and they may change or stop them if it’s severe. Treatments might involve medication to reduce the blood pressure or removal of the pregnancy tissue, including the placenta, through a procedure known as a D&C (dilation and curettage).
Preterm labor
Many people have heard the term “preterm labor” and are wondering what it is and how it affects expectant mothers in third trimester.
Preterm labor occurs when the mother’s body begins to prepare for labor while she is still pregnant. Preterm labor happens before 37 weeks, but most often starts as early as 20 weeks.
Once labor begins, it is fairly quick, usually less than a day, and can lead to a c – section delivery, if needed.
Premature rupture of membranes(PROM)
Most women don’t realize it’s happening until it has. It occurs when the bag of waters (the liquid that was keeping the baby in) suddenly bursts. At first, you might notice gush of liquid on your legs. But soon it will pass through your vagina. When it happens, it’s the beginning of the journey of your baby’s entry into the world. Doctors, midwives, and women who have given birth before telling you to call them immediately.
Bottom Line
Many complications are arising during pregnancy. Pregnancy in a woman’s life a due challenge. One should go through a lot of stuff during pregnancy. It might be very hard to face those challenges. With proper care and treatment, one can have a successful pregnancy.
Sirisha B