The third trimester runs from week 28 until your baby is born. Your baby spends these weeks gaining weight and getting ready for life outside, while you may feel heavier, more breathless, and more ready than ever.
Your baby, week by week
Week 28 · Eyes and lashes
Your baby can open and close their eyes, and has eyelashes.
Week 31 · Senses
Your baby can hear, taste, smell, see light and feel touch.
Week 32 · Breathing practice
Your baby moves their chest as if breathing, using the fluid around them.
Week 34 · Nervous system
It's maturing quickly.
Week 37 · Head down
Most babies are head down by now.
Week 40 · Ready
Your baby is fully ready for life outside.
What you might notice
- Trouble sleeping, from aches, heartburn, needing to pee, and a bump that makes every position hard work.
- Shortness of breath and heartburn, as your uterus presses up. Breathing often gets easier once your baby drops lower, around week 36.
- Back and pelvic aches, and pressure low down as your baby settles into position.
- Swelling in your feet and ankles, especially at the end of the day. Sudden swelling is in the list below.
- More Braxton Hicks. Practice tightenings become stronger and more frequent. Is this a contraction?
- Tiredness returning, and for some, a burst of nesting energy near the end.
- Your baby's own pattern of movement. Get to know it; any slowing or change is a reason to call. How to count kicks.
Pregnancy symptoms, week by week →
Appointments and tests
- Weeks 28–36
- Visits usually move to about every two weeks.
- From week 32
- A good time to pack your hospital bag and talk through your birth plan.
- Weeks 36–37
- A group B strep test, a quick routine swab.
- Week 36 on
- Weekly visits until your baby arrives.
What happens at each prenatal visit →
Call your midwife, doctor or maternity unit today if
- Your face, hands or feet swell suddenly, or you have a bad headache or blurred vision
- You have bleeding, fluid leaking, or regular tightenings or period-like cramps
- Your baby's movements have slowed down or changed
- You have strong itching, especially on your hands and feet
Any time of day or night. You will never be a nuisance for calling.
