pregnancy series  third trimester 1260x542
31 Mar 2010

Pregnancy series: The third trimester

2 mins to read
Naturopath Stephanie Hamilton looks at the common symptoms experienced in the third trimester.


The final weeks of pregnancy can be extremely exciting. The impending arrival of your long awaited baby can be overwhelming as you get all the last minute things sorted: you may be finishing up at work, packing bags ready for the hospital, putting the final touches to the nursery and hosting a baby shower or baby blessing.

The common physical complaints in the final trimester (weeks 28-40) are usually due to the size of the baby and the increased pressure on the mother’s pelvis, digestion and circulatory system.

Frequent urination and incontinence

Frequent urination, is unfortunately, inevitable. It is due to the uterus putting pressure on your bladder, creating a frequent urge. The important thing to remember is to not reduce your water intake! This will not solve the problem and will put extra strain on your kidneys.

Incontinence is also due to the expanding uterus applying pressure on the bladder and weakening the pelvic floor muscles.

Remedies

  • Exercising your pelvic floor muscles throughout your pregnancy will greatly reduce your chances of incontinence in the last couple of weeks. 
  • Calcium fluoride helps to strengthen connective tissue.

Fluid retention

Swollen feet and ankles and puffy legs are common in the last trimester. This is due to increased total circulating blood causing an increased venous pressure. It is most common during the day when in an upright posture. At night while sleeping, the extra fluid is reabsorbed and venous return improves. This can also result in frequent urination at night due to an increase in renal output.

Remedies:

  • Keep your water intake up to 2L a day.
  • Drink 2-3 cups of dandelion leaf tea each day.
  • The mineral compound sodium sulfate can help with fluid imbalances.
  • Avoiding standing for long periods of time.
  • Rest as much as you can with your feet up above heart level. 
  • Make sure you get your blood pressure checked regularly to rule out any suspicious causes of your fluid retention.

Varicose veins

Increased pressure from the enlarged uterus gradually obstructs venous return and may result in varicose veins.

Remedies:

  • Avoid standing for long periods of time.
  • Spend time lying on your back with your legs raised to improve venous return.
  • Vitamin C is essential for the formation of collagen which is the major fibrous element of blood vessels.
  • Calcium fluoride helps to strengthen connective tissue and is specific for the treatment of varicose veins.

Insomnia

Restless sleep and insomnia can be quite debilitating at this stage of pregnancy when your energy levels may already be naturally low. Perhaps, it is nature’s way to get you prepared for the regular wake up calls when bub arrives and needs to be fed every couple of hours. However, you still need to rest as much as you can in order to prepare for the fast approaching labour.

Remedies:

  • Avoid eating too late in the evening to avoid indigestion. Make lunch your main meal and have a light but substantial dinner with adequate protein to ensure your blood sugar levels don’t fluctuate.
  • Engage in a relaxation ritual before you retire. Soaking in a warm bath by candle light, listening to relaxing music and meditation will help to calm the body and prepare it for rest. 
  • Avoid watching TV in bed or being on the computer late at night.
  • Calcium and magnesium will help relax the muscles and help treat restless or cramping legs.
  • Get comfy. Place pillows under your tummy and between your knees and make sure your room doesn’t get too hot. 
  • If you do wake up, don’t lie there frustrated and worried that you aren’t sleeping. Take a walk around the house in dim light and be kind to yourself. It is all part of the beautiful journey of pregnancy.

References available on request



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