Third Trimester: The Final Countdown

Week 28: Glucose screening. Week 32: Growth scan. Week 36: Weekly visits begin. Week 40: The waiting game. And then... week 41, 42, sometimes 43...

Week 28: Glucose screening. Week 32: Growth scan. Week 36: Weekly visits begin. Week 40: The waiting game. And then... week 41, 42, sometimes 43. The third trimester is a marathon, not a sprint.

Week 28-32: The Prep Phase

Glucose test, Tdap vaccine, start childbirth classes. This is when you realize you need to actually prepare for this baby. Nursery, hospital bag, birth plan — it all needs to happen now.

Also: you start getting uncomfortable. Sleeping becomes a strategic operation involving 5 pillows and a pregnancy wedge. Heartburn is constant. And don't even talk to me about the swelling.

Week 33-36: The Final Stretch

Baby is getting big. Movements are less kicks and more rolls. You can see body parts moving across your belly — alien-like and fascinating.

Weekly visits start at 36 weeks. They check for Group B Strep, do cervical checks, and monitor baby's position. If baby is breech, this is when they start talking about ECV (external cephalic version) or C-section.

Week 37-42: The Waiting

Full term starts at 37 weeks, but most first babies come after 39 weeks. The waiting is the hardest part. Every twinge: "Is this it?" Every night: "Maybe tonight?"

My advice: make plans. Schedule things. Don't sit around waiting. The baby will come when the baby is ready — and obsessing won't speed it up.

— Miller

— Miller is a Certified Nurse-Midwife in Portland, Oregon. This article reflects personal experience and clinical observations. For medical advice, consult your healthcare provider.