As you enter the third trimester of your pregnancy you begin the final countdown until it’s time to deliver your baby. The third trimester also changes the frequency of prenatal visits, testing, and types of exams you will experience. As you enter this final stage of pregnancy the focus begins to shift less on the pregnancy, and more towards the delivery of a healthy baby.
Third trimester prenatal visits
At around 32 weeks you will increase the frequency of your prenatal visits with your physician to about every two to three weeks. By the time you reach 34 to 36 weeks, visits will increase to weekly check ups to maintain an up to date status of your pregnancy. More frequent visits may be necessary depending on how smoothly things are progressing, or if your physician has placed you in a higher risk category.
Prenatal visits in the third trimester will also include regular vaginal exams to check the positioning of the baby, as well as any changes in the cervix as you near closer to your due date.
Third trimester prenatal testing
Additional testing during the third trimester will also be performed, including a test to identify Group B Strep as well as a Fetal Movement Count.
Group B Strep is a type of bacteria that can be passed along to an infant by an infected mother. As many as 40% of pregnant women test positive for Group B Strep, which is treated by administering antibiotics during labor. Testing for Group B Strep involves collecting samples from the vaginal area between 35 and 37 weeks.
Fetal Movement Count is a test done to test the activity of the fetus. This test can be performed anytime after 28 weeks to help determine the health of the baby based on the level of activity felt by the mother.
Other tests that may be performed if required by your physician may include a Nonstress Test which involves a fetal monitor to record the rate of your baby’s heart rate over a period of time, and a Contraction Stress Test which may be used to determine how well the baby will be handle the process of labor.
Third trimester prenatal planning
The third trimester is also the time when you will want to make final arrangements with your physician regarding your birth plan, your choice of anesthetic, method of delivery, as well as those who will be present during the delivery. Other things that should be discussed with medical personal include how you would like for emergency situations to be handled, as well as who will cut the baby’s umbilical cord.
The third trimester should also be the time that you consult with a lactation consultant if you plan to breast feed your newborn, and enroll for any classes offered by your hospital or birthing center. Prepared childbirth classes and orientations can not only inform you of hospital procedures, but can also prepare you for important skills to make it through the labor and delivery process.
Sources:
Palo Alto Medical Foundation, “Your Third Trimester”, pamf.org
