third trimester Content | Baby Billy

Shortness of breath during pregnancy

Running out of breath soon?😮‍💨  Even a minimal amount of exercises can take your breath away fast. Sit down, take a deep breath and here's what you need to know about shortness of breath during pregnancy.😃 Shortness of breath during pregnancy😮‍💨Causes of shortness of breathPregnancy hormones stimulate your body to breathe in more frequently and deeply😮‍💨 to take in more oxygen for your growing baby-to-be. Your blood capillaries🩸 are also swollen, muscles in the lung are relaxed to absorb more air.As your uterus👶 keeps growing bigger, it puts pressure on your diaphragm and lungs, limiting their full potential to inhale as much oxygen as they want, causing you to feel out of breath. 😮‍💨When will shortness of breath ends?When you reach closer to your due date, your baby👶 is moving to the position and preparing to come out. As your baby drops down into your pelvis, the lung and diaphragm will be less compressed and you will breathe more easily.😃 What you can do about shortness of breathTo ease your symptoms a little bit, you should stand🧍🏼 as straight as you can to expand your lungs and let them do their job. Take it easy when you exercise🚶 by having breaks in between. Sleep on your left side😴 so you can easily breathe and blood circulation works better. 

Hemorrhoids during pregnancy

Hemorrhoids are small swollen vessels in your rectal area. It is very common during pregnancy especially in the third trimester and you can avoid it by adjusting daily life habits and pregnancy diets.Hemorrhoids during pregnancy😟What are hemorrhoids?Hemorrhoids are swollen blood vessels🩸 in your lower rectum. They can develop inside the rectum or protrude out through the anus in various sizes. It's possible for you to experience hemorrhoids without any symptoms. However, some moms may feel itchy, sore and irritated when passing stool.😖 Rectal bleeding or blood🩸 can also be visible in stool during pregnancy.😟Causes of hemorrhoidsAs your uterus👶 is growing, it puts pressure on the pelvic veins and the inferior vena cana, consequently blocking the return of blood🩸 from the lower half of the body, increasing rectal pressure on the veins below your uterus and making them inflamed and swollen. Constipation🚽 during pregnancy also contributes to hemorrhoids because straining when you have a hard bowel movement puts more pressures on the veins and encourages development of hemorrhoids.😟 A surge of progesterone hormones relaxes the walls of your veins and allows them to swell easily. Blood🩸 can pool in an external hemorrhoid and form a thrombosis, resulting in a thrombosed hemorrhoid which is seen as a large swollen lump.🙁 How to prevent hemorrhoids😟Reduce constipationEating a high-fiber diet which is rich in whole grains, vegetables🥬 and fruits. Always stay hydrated by drinking water.🥛 If you're constipated, ask your healthcare provider about fiber supplement or stool softener. 😟Don't sit on the toilet for too longThe longer you sit on the toilet watching movies, the more pressure you put on your rectal area.🙅‍♀️ You don't need to stay there longer than necessary.😟Do Kegel exercises dailyKegel exercises promote blood circulation in the rectal area and strengthen muscles in the anus. Hence, the chances of hemorrhoids are significantly reduced.😃😟Stretch your bodyIf you're a workaholic who is glued to the table and sitting at your desk all day💻, try to get up and move around for a few minutes every hour or so. When you sleep😴, lie on your side so that blood can circulate and return from the lower half of your body.Remedies for pregnancy hemorrhoids😟Cold remedyApplying cold packs may reduce swelling and discomfort.🧊 You can also use cold compresses having hazel soothing to ease the affected area. 😟Heat remedyWhen you take a bath🛀, soak your lower half of the body in warm water for 10-15 minutes a few times each day. You can use cold treatment first, then warm, and repeat the procedure to achieve the best result and ease the pain.😃 😟HygieneClean the affected area gently but thoroughly after each time you visit the bathroom🚽. Unscented toilet tissue is highly recommended as it is not irritated and safer for your skin. You can also buy wipes moistened with hazel soothing to treat hemorrhoids.🧻 

Breasts leaking colostrum during pregnancy

It's time for your body to prepare for breastfeeding. Your breast starts producing colostrum and you might notice some drops in your bra. No worries, you should thank your body for doing its job.😃Colostrum during pregnancy🤱What is colostrum?Colostrum is your baby's first meal which is rich in protein and mom's antibodies.👩 It's also called foremilk because it comes in before mature breast milk. Colostrum looks like a clear and creamy white, or yellow orange liquid.🍼 More mature milk looks more creamy, white-ish and sticky looking. 🤱The vital role of colostrumColostrum provides nutritions, vitamins, proteins and is loaded with white blood cells⚪🩸 that produce antibodies used to combat with bacteria and viruses🦠. Not only does it contribute to building the baby's innate immune system, it also establishes a healthy gut microbiome and has a laxative effect that helps remove meconium from the gastrointestinal tract.🚽 Causes of breasts leakingWhen you're in the third trimester, prolactin hormone starts gearing up and producing a small amount of milk.🍼 After you give birth for three to four days, the hormone is at its full speed, producing milk for your baby.👶 High levels of estrogen and progesterone hormones keep the quantity of milk in check so you don't see a large volume of milk leaking. Your hormones are trying to keep themselves balanced and only activate when it's the right time.😃 If prolactin level is slightly higher than other hormones, you will see colostrum leak out a bit.🤰 How to cope with breasts leakingBreast leaks are a minor problem during pregnancy and easy to handle. You can use nursing pads inside your bra and avoid nipple stimulation.🙆‍♀️ If you see unstoppable leaking or blood in colostrum, you should tell your doctor immediately because there could be signs of a clogged milk duct.👩‍⚕️

Natural ways to induce labor

Are you wondering how you can induce labor when it's already past your due date? Sadly, there are no scientifically proven labor-inducing tricks but it won't hurt if you want to try these safe and natural methods.🧐Natural ways to induce labor🤰Sexual intercourseSexual activity stimulates orgasm and releases oxytocin which may provoke uterine contractions. Especially when you have sex with men👨, prostagladins in semen can help ripen the cervix. Having sex during the final weeks of pregnancy is safe.🙆‍♀️ However, you should avoid this intimation after your water has broken since your baby might suffer from serious complications.⚠️🤰Nipple stimulationWhen your nipples are stimulated, your body produces oxytocin which may induce labor and contractions.😀 However, overstimulating your uterus can stress your baby👶 so you should consider trying this method while being monitored.🤰Castor oilCastor oil is a strong laxative. Drinking a bit of castor oil is claimed to have effects in stimulating prostaglandin release and inducing labor.😀 However, there's not a lot of definitive research on its effectiveness; moreover, it can lead to diarrhea and dehydration which make you uncomfortable.😔🤰EnemasEnema works on triggering bowel movement and prostaglandin release. However, there's also not much scientific research done on its effects on labor but its efficacy seems to work on select cases.😔 Enemas can cause diarrhea and dehydration, making you uncomfortable.😟 Other natural ways to induce labor🤰Herbal remediesSome herbs such as red raspberry leaf tea and evening primrose oil are claimed to be effective in inducing labor.🌼 Due to lack of evidence on their safety for pregnant moms, you should consult with your doctor before using them.👩‍⚕️ Some of them can overstimulate your uterus, stress your baby and pose other risks.😔 🤰ExerciseModerate exercises are highly recommended during pregnancy.🚶 There's not much research on how exercises induce labor. Nonetheless, exercises are proven to be effective in shortening the labor process and ending your labor pain a bit faster.😃🤰Acupuncture and acupressureInserting tiny needles💉 through strategic locations on your body is helpful in terms of alleviating pain and discomfort. Acupressure is similar but uses pressure instead of needles. Since a few studies support their effectiveness in labor induction, you should consult with your doctor or midwife before deciding to use these techniques.👩‍⚕️🙆‍♀️   

Perineal massage

Perineal massage helps stretch the perineum and make it more elastic so that your baby can come out more easily. It's really easy. It won't take long for you to master all techniques!🧐Perineal massage💆What is perineal massage?Perineal massage is a method that helps prepare the pelvic floor muscles and make them more flexible for vaginal delivery.😃 Giving these muscles a gentle massage in the weeks before your baby's birth can soften and stretch the tissues, keep the perineum area loose and pave ways for the baby to come out more easily.👶 You can do a perineal massage yourself or ask your partner to do it for you.👨‍👧 You can also do it during delivery too! 💆Benefits of perineal massagePerineal massage is effective in reducing damage to the pelvic floor and avoiding perineal tears.🤗 It can also help you refrain from going through an episiotomy during delivery, having scars, postpartum urinary or postpartum perineum pain. Preparation for perineal massage💆When to startYou can begin perineal massage at about 34 weeks in the third trimester.🤰 You can do it three or four times a week until the due date, each takes 5 minutes. Although you might feel some sensation and burning pain in the first few weeks, you will gradually be accustomed to having massages, learning how to breathe👃 and relax and eventually feel more comfortable.💆 💆Massage oils and gelsMassage oils and gels are essentials in the massage process as they help moisturize the perineum and make it more elastic.😃 There is a variety of natural oils for you to choose from such as coconut oil, sweet almond oil or sunflower oil.🌻 However, because some of these products can irritate your vagina, you should consult with your doctor for recommendations.💆How to do perineal massageThe massage should be done gently to prevent bruising and swelling.😃 After you sit in a comfortable position, lean back on pillows, bend your legs and spread your knees open. Put one or two drops of oil on your thumbs, place them about 1 to 1½ inches inside your vagina and gently stretch the wall out to the side.💆 Then keep massaging up and down in a U shape. Repeat the process for a total of 4 to 5 minutes. It's easy, right?😝 

Signs of labor

It's time! True labor is coming!! Signs of labor👶 ContractionsLabor contractions grow stronger over time and more frequent as they cause your cervix to dilate. You will feel an excruciating pain that may crush you from the inside and bring tears to your eyes.😖 It's going to be too painful for you to talk through once they've progressed.☹️Assessing the pain frequency by timing your contractions, knowing the intensity and location of the pain help you indicate true labor and prepare yourself.😃 Call your doctor immediately to make sure all the signs are true.👩‍⚕️ 👶 Back pain  If you're having lower back pain that radiates down into the legs🦵 along with contractions, it can be a sign that you're having back labor. The pain doesn't go away even if you change your positions. It intensifies during contractions, inferring your baby's head👶 is pressing against your lower back and wishing to come out.👶 Water breakingWhen the amniotic fluid sac that surrounds your baby ruptures, fluid leaks from your vagina💦. This is one of the final signs of labor and labor usually follows soon. Call your doctor to discuss the symptoms to make sure whether you're actually in labor.👩‍⚕️If your water breaks and you're in full term but you haven't had contractions yet, you might have premature rupture of membranes (PROM).⚠️Preterm labor👶 Preterm laborLabor often starts between week 37 and week 42 of pregnancy. If you notice you have contractions before you reach week 37, you're in preterm labor.😶👶 Symptoms of preterm laborIt's difficult to determine whether you're in preterm labor due to some similarities between Braxton Hick contractions and labor contractions. If you're really in preterm labor, your doctor👩‍⚕️ will give you medications to prolong your pregnancy days to allow the baby's lungs to fully mature and protect their brain.If you have more vaginal discharge than usual, fluid leaks, abdominal pain like menstrual cramps, six or more contractions in one hour even if they don't hurt😩, you should contact your doctor. Signs such as unprecedented low back pain, irritation in the pelvic area can also be harbingers that you might be in preterm labor.⚠️  

Does your water break?

It can be confusing because the trickle of fluid might look like peeing or discharge. Are you wondering the same question, 'How do I know if my water broke?'?🤔 Amniotic fluid sacs rupture🤰What does it mean when your water breaks?The amniotic sac🌊 surrounds and protects your baby. It is the cushion for the baby, and also serves as the media for the exchange of nutrients, water and biochemical products between you and your little one.👶  When your water breaks, it is the reason for you to pick up the phone and call your doctor immediately.🤙👩‍⚕️ You're preparing to go into labor! If it's too early for you to deliver, the doctor will give you medications to prevent an infection and prolong pregnancy days to allow your baby's lungs to mature. 🤰When can it happen?Your water usually breaks when you're full term at around week 39 to 40 of your pregnancy🤰. It often bursts within 24 hours when you start labor or during labor. If your water breaks before week 37 of pregnancy, it's called preterm premature rupture of the membranes (pROM). If it ruptures after week 37 but before active labor, it's called premature prelabor rupture of membranes.⚠️Signs of water rupture🤰How to tell if your water is leaking slowlyWater sacs burst can be mistaken for vaginal discharge or peeing.🧐 You may have vaginal discharge like fluid or pink blood closer to delivery.🩸 The fluid you see could also be urine as your baby is resting on your bladder, causing possible leaks when you're moving around.🤰How to differentiate amniotic fluid and other liquidsThe most fundamental differences between amniotic fluid and other liquids are appearance and smell.👃 Urine typically has a yellowish color and smells acidic. Amniotic fluid doesn't have an odor and it has a slightly sweet smell.👃 You can test yourself by lying down and checking your pantyliner after 30 minutes. If your pantyliner is wet, it can probably be amniotic fluid. You should consult with your doctor to check if it's really amniotic fluid by testing pH and observing it under a microscope.👩‍⚕️   AmniotomyAmniotomy is also called artificial rupture of membranes (AROM). When your cervix is sufficiently thinned and dilated but your water has not broken, the doctor might perform this procedure to speed up labor.👩‍⚕️ It's not necessary to accelerate labor because it can increase the risk of infection.😃 However, if you think you'd prefer to allow this to happen naturally in labor, you should consult with your doctor. 

Perineal tearing during childbirth

A perineal tear is an injury to the tissue around your vagina and rectum that can happen when your baby's head comes through the vagina. There is no way to prevent perineal tearing, but trust your doctor. You can do it!🤗Perineal tear🥼What is a perineal tear?A perineal tear is a laceration in the perineum from the vagina towards the anus. During a typical vaginal delivery, the skin of your vagina thin out and is stretched to allow your baby's head and body to pass through.👶 When the vagina can't stretch wide enough, the baby is too large, the delivery just happens too quickly, the tear inevitably appears.🙁🥼How common is perineal tear?It is very common to see tears in moms having their first child and less common for moms in subsequent deliveries.👩 They often heal on their own.It's possible to tear even if your doctor performs an episiotomy to widen the vaginal opening. Consult with your doctor to know your case better and learn when and why they would perform it.👩‍⚕️Different types of perineal tears🥼First-degree perineal tearThe tear only affects the skin of the perineum and happens around the opening of the vagina or just inside the vagina a little bit. It's the least severe tear.😃 This small injury can heal itself in a few weeks without causing much pain. Your doctor may stitch the tear to speed healing and stop any bleeding🩸. 🥼Second-degree perineal tearThis is the most commonly seen during childbirth.🙆‍♀️ This bigger tear touches the muscles of the vagina and pelvic floor and can cut deeper into the vagina. It causes pain and discomfort and requires stitches to heal.🙁  🥼Third-degree perineal tearThis type of tear extends from your vagina to your anus, causing damage to the anal sphincter muscles. It is relatively rare among first-time moms and occurs less than 2% among moms who have had a vaginal birth before.😌🥼Fourth-degree perineal tearThis is the least common type of perineal tears.😯 The injury begins from the vagina, through the perineal area and anal sphincter muscles and into the rectum. Treatment of perineal tearsA tiny first-degree tear will not require much medical inventions.😃 However, other kinds of tears require some sutures. You may need an epidural to control your pain while the laceration is repaired. If the epidural is not working, you may be injected with anesthetic to numb the area first and the laceration repair continues.💉 The stitches will be dissolved themselves within six weeks. Ice packs🧊 applied on the area can help you ease the pain and discomfort. If you can't bear the pain, you can consult with your doctor for pain relief.👩‍⚕️    

Third trimester sleep

A good quality sleep seems like a distant memory when you enter the third trimester… How does sleep change in the third trimester?😴Can't get comfortableBack pain and sore muscles just keep reverberating even when you try to distract yourself🙁. Your belly is too big to allow you to lie down comfortably. Restless legs syndrome occurs more when your body is trying to rest and urges you to stay active, making it virtually impossible for you to get to sleep.💤 As your digestive system slows down in late pregnancy, acid rising back up causes heartburn in the chest, making it hard for you to fall asleep. Not to mention that your baby👶 is kicking and moving around in your belly keeps you awake at night too. 😴Bathroom visitsYour baby👶 is growing and putting more pressure on your bladder. You will find yourself visiting bathrooms🚻 more often as your need to pee increases. You can reduce the number of nighttime bathroom visits by cutting down fluids in the evening and emptying your bladder completely before you go to bed.🚽 😴WorryPregnancy is a long journey that has all ups and downs. It's normal to be worried at this point since the baby is coming out in no time.😃 Anxiety is not sleep inducing!😢 Talk about your concerns and worries with your partner and friends.👨‍👧 Make sure to gain all information about labor and delivery, postpartum period to prepare yourself for the last phase and stay assured that everything is going to be just fine!🤗Irregular pregnancy sleep patterns are linked to mental problemsPoor sleep😴 during this time is normal due to hormonal and physical changes. Pregnancy takes a toll on your body, making you feel physically drained but don't worry too much! Most symptoms won't develop postpartum depression.😃That said, late pregnancy depression can still progress into postpartum depression. Since it's difficult to tell exactly when depression actually hits you, it's important to express your worries and concerns with your healthcare provider and your partner and be heard.🤗 Don't be scared if you have difficulty sleeping with other symptoms of moodiness. You know that everyone is right here for you!🥰 

3D and 4D Ultrasounds

Why should I take the test?💡Are you anxious to see your growing baby in your belly? 3D and 4D ultrasounds allow you to see your unborn baby in depth and detail which you could not see in a standard 2D ultrasound. Your midwife may offer you an ultrasound if your baby is at risk of complications. Depending on the trimester and your needs. If you have any existing medical conditions or experiences of eclampsia, you are the right candidate for ultrasounds. Ultrasounds in 3D and 4D are performed only to closely examine fetal demise or monitor something specific. These are usually not included in routine prenatal exams. How is the test done?💉A sonographer will put some gel on your tummy and move a transducer over your skin. 3D ultrasoundsMultiple two-dimensional images are taken at various angels and put together to create a three-dimensional rendering. 4D ultrasounds4D ultrasounds provide you with baby's movements in real time. You can see your baby opening and closing his eyes or even sucking his thumbs. TMI from Baby Billy👩‍⚕️: Risks of the procedureThere are no known risks of ultrasounds for pregnant moms. However, ultrasounds should only be performed by qualified medical professionals when necessary.