Third Trimester

The nine months of pregnancy are split into three trimesters of fetal development. The third trimester is the last and final stage of the baby's growth before delivery. From week 28 to whenever the baby is born is known to be a time of great physical discomfort for a woman. The Mayo Clinic website lists the following as physical changes to anticipate during the third trimester: continued breast growth, weight gain, Braxton Hicks contractions, backaches, shortness of breath, heartburn, swelling of the legs, spider and varicose veins, hemorrhoids, frequent urination and potentially heavy vaginal discharge.

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Although it's a physically demanding time for a woman, it's an exciting developmental time for the baby, who opens his or her eyes for the first time at the very beginning of the third trimester and detect light for the first time a few weeks afterward. The baby will also practice breathing and finish developing his or her bones. The last month or so of pregnancy, a protective coating will develop over the baby's skin, he or she will begin to put on some serious weight and may begin getting a little restless in the uterus. The Mayo Clinic website suggests that women ask their doctors about 36 weeks into pregnancy how many kicks per hour they should expect to feel, to ensure the movements are coming at a healthy rate. Around this time, a woman may need to visit her health care provider for weekly check-ups, during which the physician should check the child's position and preparedness leading up to the estimated date of delivery. Typical medical tests include tests for group B streptococcus, or GBS, which can be harmful for a baby.

At 40 weeks, the pregnancy has come to term and a woman may see her due date come and go. This is relatively normal and a good number of women still naturally deliver healthy babies up to two weeks after the due date has passed.

This disappointment as well as the emotional and hormonal changes that come in preparation for delivery. It can be overwhelming for many women who find themselves anxious about childbirth. The Mayo Clinic website suggests women keep a journal, try talking to the baby and taking photos of their pregnant belly. Keeping one's mind off of being worried is the key to sticking out the extra time until the baby is ready to be born.