Pregnancy Tips for Surviving the Third Trimester

Week 28 onwards

Congratulations on making to the last stage of pregnancy! Give yourself a pat on the back! Although you're about two-thirds to the finish line, your little one has still got lots to grow. Unlike the second trimester, because of the extra (and growing) weight, my wife gets tired easily. During our antenatal class with Dr. Wong Boh Boi, the fathers get to try out an 8-kilograms vest to experience what their wives are going through. Yet, unlike this dummy vest that we can take off as and when, mummies got to carry it till the baby's out. And to be honest, that's real hard work - a huge salute to all mummies out there.

You might be interested in these other reads too:
Our Delivery Story at Thomson Medical Center and Hospital Bill (November 2018)
What You Should Do After Finding Out You're Pregnant
Pregnancy Tips for Surviving the First Trimester
Pregnancy Tips for Surviving the Second Trimester

Pregnancy Tips for Surviving the Third Trimester (currently viewing)

What to expect during your third trimester

Disclaimer: Tips provided are based on our own personal experience. It may work for some, but not others. We are not medical professionals. If symptoms aggravate or persist, please seek a trained doctor.

#1. Baby movements. And backaches

Now that your little one is growing rapidly, chances that you will start feeling his or her kicks, heavy accompanied with backaches and occasional cramps. After all, your organs gotta make space for the baby, you'll be sure to feel some discomfort.

Tried and tested:

- Back massage: Lie sideways and have your partner do a good ol' back massage for you to release some tension. A suggestion is to put a few tennis balls in a stocking, tie them tight on both ends, and it rolled against your back for a quick relief.

- Propping your legs up: A simple pillow or cushion would do the trick for this.

Pregnancy Tips for Surviving the Second Trimester

Week 13 to 27
Now that the first trimester (till Week 12) is finally over, give yourself a huge pat on your back and possibly kick back and enjoy. You've earned it! As compared with the first trimester, the second trimester is known to be "heaven" or "honeymoon period" (as what my friends described). After all, your fetus is more or less settled in your tum-tum as risks of miscarriage has dipped to less than a low-low-low 10%. And you know what? If it's not happening yet, wave goodbye to your morning sickness.

You might be interested in these other reads too:
Our Delivery Story at Thomson Medical Center and Hospital Bill (November 2018)
What You Should Do After Finding Out You're Pregnant
Pregnancy Tips for Surviving the First Trimester
Pregnancy Tips for Surviving the Second Trimester (currently viewing)

Pregnancy Tips for Surviving the Third Trimester

What to expect during your second trimester

Things are definitely gonna be easier, but it's not all rainbows and butterflies (yet), here are some things to expect during week 13 to 28.

Disclaimer: Tips provided are based on our own personal experience. It may work for some, but not others. We are not medical professionals. If symptoms aggravate or persist, please seek a trained doctor.

#1. Bleeding gums. And bad breath.

Keep bleeding, keep, keep bleeding. Just that, it's your gums that are bleeding now. Swollen, tender, and bleeding gums paired with bad breath. Seriously. Everytime we kiss, it's like I'm turning into a vampire or something. But you know what girl, this is temporary! Once the baby is out, hormones level will change back the way it used to be.

Tried and tested:

- Softer toothbrush and salt: Switch to a toothbrush with softer bristles. Dental hygiene is very important. My wife uses coarse salt with the toothpaste as well, as it gives temporary relief and it's antiseptic. 

Pregnancy Tips for Surviving the First Trimester

Before I move on, I would like to sincerely congratulate you on stepping into another new phase of life. Whether it is planned or unplanned (like us!), acknowledge that this is a great gift from God. Although the journey of being pregnant and beyond is going to be tough, it will be one that's gonna be the most rewarding.

You might be interested in these other reads too:
Our Delivery Story at Thomson Medical Center and Hospital Bill (November 2018)
What You Should Do After Finding Out You're Pregnant
Pregnancy Tips for Surviving the First Trimester (currently viewing)
Pregnancy Tips for Surviving the Second Trimester

Pregnancy Tips for Surviving the Third Trimester

What to expect during your first trimester

So, you are pregnant. What now? Chances are that you are starting to feel bodily changes in your body, largely due to the increased secretion of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) a.k.a pregnancy hormone. 

Disclaimer: Tips provided are based on our own personal experience. It may work for some, but not others. We are not medical professionals. If symptoms aggravate or persist, please seek a trained doctor.

#1. Morning sickness

The bad news is that hCG positively correlates (ugh, such academic terms) - the higher hCG levels in your body, the more you may nauseate. As shown in the graph below, hCG peaks at the 9th week of pregnancy. 

Source

The good news is that hCG is essential for fetal development - you wouldn't want it another way, right? Although most mummies will feel nausea, the spectrum ranges from vomiting a hell lot to not vomiting at all. Throughout the pregnancy, my wife did not vomit even once, so it really depends.

Tried and tested:

- Seaband: Provides a fast-relief for nausea by stimulating an acupuncture point on both wrists. We got the normal Seaband (doesn't have to be specifically Seaband Mama) at Guardian for about SGD$18.

- Ginger: Take water boiled with ginger in the morning to alleviate nausea symptoms. According to traditional Chinese medicine practice, do not take ginger at night.

- Red dates: Highly nutritious food that provides energy and circulates blood flow, while preventing anaemia and constipation.

- When you're nauseating, you become hypersensitive to certain foods. Plain crackers and hard-boiled eggs are perfect in filling mummy's tummy while providing nutrients to the fetus.

What You Should Do After Finding Out That You're Pregnant

If you're reading this right now, chances are that you just found out that you are pregnant. Yay, congratulations! Okay, now what? After the initial excitement (and disbelief - trust me) gets over, a hundred and one questions now occupy your mind. Oh no, what should I do? What should I eat? Is this safe for the baby? I heard the first trimester is unstable, should I let out the news? As Lady M and I stepped into another phase of our lives, I suddenly felt qualified to write about a brand new topic - Pregnancy.

You might be interested in these other reads too:
Our Delivery Story at Thomson Medical Center and Hospital Bill (November 2018)
What You Should Do After Finding Out You're Pregnant (currently viewing)
Pregnancy Tips for Surviving the First Trimester
Pregnancy Tips for Surviving the Second Trimester

Pregnancy Tips for Surviving the Third Trimester

Our pregnancy story

My wife had a hunch that she is pregnant, although her menstrual due date is still a few days away. How she did it still remains a mystery to me, perhaps it's the prompting of God, who knows. We bought a pregnancy testing kit (#1) from 7-11, and we tested the next morning since the human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) a.k.a. pregnancy hormone is at its peak in the morning pee. Hmm. An extremely fade, undisguisable line, are we pregnant? Maybe not. Later that day, we got another pregnancy kit, this time an expensive one (#2), and the line was clear...