Third Trimester Self Care Essentials

Post Updated February 2021

Here I am at 36 weeks pregnant. Yes six weeks have passed since my last update, it feels like I just blinked and February was suddenly over. I’m officially in the 9th month of my pregnancy and it could very well even be baby month! It’s a little bittersweet. Although I have been through the general worries that come with pregnancy, I have enjoyed this time and made a conscious effort to soak up the entire experience. I have had it pretty easy, medically, and honestly haven’t yet thought ‘I am so sick of being pregnant!’. I think I’m going to be of those annoying women who whines about missing their bump!

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Third Trimester Self Care Essentials

Something I did struggle with and still do in my pregnancy is some emotional issues that go beyond raging hormones. Needless to say, depression and stress are not good for baby. Today, as well as a quick pregnancy update I want to share with you some of my absolute self care lifesavers in these final weeks. Now, more than ever, is the time to get all the sleep you can to help that baby pack on the pounds! It’s also your final time just being you. Alone. Kind of scary, huh? A little guilt free indulgence is just what the doctor ordered!

1. Lounge Wear

Every pregnant mama deserves some new comfy clothes. Treat yourself to something cozy that also works postpartum.

2. Back Support

I admit I don’t use this daily but if I have some chores to do or anything that involves standing for a little longer than I’m used to this is a life saver! It takes the pressure off my abdomen and also my lower back. There are far more expensive (and probably much higher quality) ones than this but for my needs it’s perfect.

3. Compression Socks

As well as long road trips, I did some international travel during my second trimester so compression socks were a must for my circulation during my flights. If you’re on your feet all day, I highly suggest donning a pair of these. They are also recommended during c-section recovery if that happens to be on the cards for you

4. Water Bottle

Water is your best friend during pregnancy. You need 10-12 glasses of water per day. If you’re like me, you’ll drink more out of a prettier bottle.

5. Belly Oil

Applying belly butter or a good oil to my bump was a small self-care ritual I practiced every single night.

6. Pregnancy Pillow

From the start a body pillow seemed like a pointless expense as well as the fact that they are HUGE. Enter the third trimester! YOU. NEED. THIS. Sleep is fleeting or non existent. Do everything you possibly can to get some.

 

Self Care Activities For A Happy Healthy Pregnancy

36 Weeks Pregnancy Update

 

Baby’s Size

According to the app, at 36 weeks baby is the size of a honeydew melon! Baby weighs close to 6 lbs and is around 18.5 inches long.

Total weight gain

24 lbs

Maternity clothes

Living in leggings and flowy tees! Maternity jeans are my BFF on weekends as well as soft jersey midi dresses!

Stretch marks

None and happy to get to 36 weeks without any but I won’t mind too much if I still do.

Sleep

I’m really struggling to fall asleep these past few weeks. Sticking to sleeping on my left side makes my face numb and kills my neck! I still do ok once I actually fall asleep but getting there is so difficult. It’s often well past 2am before I get to sleep. I feel exhausted all the time but trying not to nap as it makes falling asleep even more difficult.

Longing for

All the sweets, soft drinks and caffeine in the world. I guess cravings only hit me in the third trimester! I’m doing well with not giving in to every craving. Sodas are not consumed, coffee is only allowed once a week and sweets are kept to a minimum!

Movement

Baby is pretty cramped in there now so feeling jabby little stretches and pokes rather than the previous full body flips I had been feeling. It seems the baby has the hiccups often though which is a rather strange sensation. Sometimes it continues for ages.

Cravings

Baked goods. Especially donuts. Sigh!

Symptoms

Difficulty sleeping, fatigue, skin tightness, sudden strange bursts of energy in the midst of long stretches of lethargy. But no nausea! So that’s always good.

Belly button in or out?

Out as much as it will be. Still doing its weird half and half thing and still freaking me out.

Wedding rings on or off?

On and still wrestling to take to them off, especially in our warm Georgia Spring weather.

Happy or moody?

Anxious, which more often than not leads to moodiness over happiness!

Looking forward to

Installing the car seat, placing my bags by the door and setting up some baby gear around the house. It’s suddenly very real. It will feel even more real when my family visits later in the month. I can’t wait to hear an Irish accent 🙂

THIRD TRIMESTER SELF CARE ESSENTIALS

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  • I’m so excited for you! Not long to go now. My baby will be a year old in a little over a month and reading your post reminds me so much of those last anxious weeks waiting for my baby. Enjoy it!

  • You are the cutestttt!! I have that body pillow and though it’s bulky and hard to get out from under when getting up in the morning, it was really really nice to have!

  • Very excited for you! A great list, self care is so important both during and after your pregnancy. I enjoyed a maternity massage at 36 weeks pregnant and it was incredible.

  • So many great products for those who are preggers! Also you are simply glowing!And I absolutely love these activities for moms to be to engage in to pamper and indulge themselves!

  • Oh, you look wonderful!! <3
    A body pillow is sooo necessary for pregnancy, it was the ONLY way I could get decent sleep in my third trimester. This pregnancy, my skin has been insane – I'm even getting a little bacne!!! :O
    Definitely need to look into that Glam Glow. Thanks so much for sharing <3