3rd trimester of pregnancy? here are 4 things you need to pay attention to

Third trimester pregnant women must be extra careful, paying attention to many things to ensure that their babies remain healthy and safe until the time of their birth. But undeniably, all the hassles of preparing for childbirth make us often forget to check the condition of our own bodies. As a reminder, read on this article so that you know about what things need special attention in your last trimester.

Third trimester pregnant women need to pay more attention…

1. Fetal movement

The movement of the fetus in the womb should be more active near the time of delivery. This is because he will change position, from initially curling up with his head on to slumping down into the mother's pelvis in preparation for birth.

During this shift, your baby will also stretch their arms and legs, causing enough motion to startle you. Therefore, what the mother needs to pay attention to is the movement of the fetus.

Is the movement as much as usual, reduced, or not moving at all? If you feel the baby's movement weakens, try to eat something and then lie on your left side. This method stimulates the fetus to move through food intake from the mother.

If the fetus does not move at least 10 times in the next two hours, immediately contact the doctor to find out the cause.

2. Sleeping position

3rd trimester of pregnancy You should not sleep on your back. Apart from being uncomfortable, the supine position will block the flow of blood to the baby through the placenta.

Quoting American Pregnancy, pregnant women are encouraged to lie on their left side because the uterus will naturally rotate to the right throughout pregnancy.

Lying on your left side brings the baby to the middle of the stomach. This will increase blood flow as well as nutrient intake through the placenta.

To make it more comfortable, you can slide a pillow between your legs to help support your body.

3. The work done

When entering the third trimester of pregnancy, you may be wondering, about when to stop working and does it harm the fetus?

Actually, as long as you do a normal job without exerting your energy and still paying attention to nutritional intake for your little one, work is not an obstacle.

It's a different story if you work in a poorly ventilated environment with exposure to hazardous volatile fumes or lead-based paint. If so, you need to consult your obstetrician and tell him about your work conditions.

However, some problems during pregnancy such as the risk of preterm labor, uterine weakness (cervical incompetence), placenta previa, and preeclampsia require more rest during pregnancy. Your doctor will likely recommend that you take maternity leave immediately.

4. Travel long distances

Traveling long distances during the 3rd trimester of pregnancy is quite risky. The reason is, there are several health risks that lurk such as blood clots due to sitting too long, exposure to infections, and various pregnancy complications.

If conditions require you to leave, then avoid driving. Doctors usually still allow you to board the plane until around 32-34 weeks of pregnancy, unless you are at high risk of preterm delivery.

Don't forget to bring medical records about your pregnancy history just in case at any time needed.

Also, try to get out of your seat and walk at least every hour or two. Try to keep eating clean and well-cooked food to prevent exposure to infections from bacteria that can harm pregnancy.

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