When does the third trimester begin? Speaking with multiple doctors will probably just confuse you. Some consider the beginning of pregnancy to be the day you began ovulating, before you actually got pregnant. Others will try to estimate the moment of conception, when your egg was actually fertilized. Depending on who you speak to, the third trimester can begin anywhere between 25 and 28 weeks, depending on when they think your pregnancy began. Either way, you’re finally nearing the end!
Last week, we covered some of the more serious pregnancy complications that can occur during your second trimester. You can find that article here. Now, we’re going to turn to the last 12 weeks of pregnancy. If your pregnancy has developed safely thus far, you should know that the likelihood of your child surviving a complicated pregnancy have increased considerably. For one, a child born before term (the full 40 weeks) has a 90% chance of living a healthy life.
Common Third Trimester Complications
With that being said, the third trimester requires extensive prenatal care, which means lots of visits to the OB / GYN. Because you’re so close to delivery, catching a complication earlier rather than later is extremely important.
None of this is meant to scare you, or indicate that you will experience any of the complications that we discuss. Most pregnancies in the US progress normally, and result in healthy, happy babies. Even so, recent statistics from the Centers For Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) found that 14.5% of pregnant women experience some form of complication. You can find a comprehensive list of pregnancy numbers here.
Preterm Labor
Preterm labor occurs any time labor begins before the 37th week (ninth month) of pregnancy.
Most of us think of “contractions” as something that only happens during labor. But contractions can actually begin during the first trimester, as your uterus expands and contracts to adjust to the presence of a fetus. Your uterus can also contract during a normal menstrual cycle and during orgasm.
During labor, uterine contractions push a baby through the birth canal. Sometimes, early contractions can relax the cervix to a point that actually induces labor. This can occur as early as 24 weeks.
Symptoms of preterm labor can be subtle and easily confused with the normal effects of pregnancy, signs like vaginal pressure, pain in your lower back, an increase in urination, and tightness or hardness in your abdomen.
Preterm Premature Rupture Of Membranes (PPROM)
PPROM is a long way of saying that a pregnant woman’s amniotic sac burst too early. In other words, her water broke prematurely. Although the medical community is unsure why PPROM occurs, many suspect that infections of the amniotic membrane are involved.
PPROM occurs in around 3% of pregnancies. It’s dangerous because the amniotic sac protects your baby from germs that could infect the fluid surrounding it. If PPROM happens after 34 weeks of pregnancy, many doctors suggest inducing labor. Previous to that, pregnant women are hospitalized, given antibiotics, and labor is medically prevented.
Placenta Previa
Placenta previa occurs when the placenta, the organ that nourishes a baby by passing nutrients through the umbilical cord, covers the cervix. This blocks the path that a baby would naturally use to leave a mother’s body.
The most common symptom of placenta previa is bleeding, which can occur suddenly and be painless. The blood will be bright red. An ultrasound will be able to conclusively determine whether or not the condition is present.
Treatment options depend on how far along you are. If your baby is preterm, and bleeding is substantial, a cesarian section is the only option. If the bleeding stops, some doctors will allow the fetus to continue to grow within the womb.
