5 Easy Tips to Stay Healthy During Your Third Trimester

Posted on January 15, 2010
Filed Under Gynelogical |

The third trimester of your pregnancy is usually the one that feels the longest. This is when you start to really get excited about meeting your baby and it’s also the trimester during which the most weight gain occurs. Taking good care of yourself during these last few months is critical in delivering a healthy baby and being healthy yourself. Here are five easy tips to help you stay healthy during those last few months of waiting.

1. Don’t neglect your prenatal care – It should go without saying, but we’ll say it anyway. Your obstetrician will put you on a schedule for visits, and you should stick to them. Between weeks 28 and 36, your doctor will likely want to see you every two weeks. From weeks 36 until delivery, you’ll likely be visiting the doctor weekly. It’s important that you attend these visits as scheduled and follow your doctor’s advice.
2. Get enough calories – During your third trimester, you’ll need to consume about 300 calories extra each day. If you’re overweight, your doctor might recommend a bit fewer; he’ll recommend more if you’re overweight. Be sure to get the recommended number of calories each day, and be sure to get them from healthy foods, rather than junk food. Good eating is the key to strength and stamina.
3. Exercise – Exercise during pregnancy will help you feel better, sleep better and prepare for labor. Most women can continue any exercise they were doing before pregnancy, unless their routines were very strenuous. During your third trimester, you may have to slow down a little, but you can likely continue some sort of exercise right up until you deliver. If you’re not used to exercising, you can start during pregnancy, but keep it slow and simple. Walking is always good, and is exercise that almost anyone can do. Talk to your doctor about exercise that he thinks is appropriate for your third trimester.
4. Drink plenty of fluids – Your blood volume increases dramatically during pregnancy, so you need more fluids in your diet. It’s very easy to get dehydrated or constipated when you’re pregnant, and drinking plenty of liquids will help prevent these.
5. Watch what you eat – It’s important to take extra precautions to avoid food borne illnesses during your pregnancy. For this reason, it’s wise to avoid all of the following foods:

o Unpasteurized milk, juices and apple cider
o Unpasteurized cheeses. These include cheeses listed as “fresh”, like soft cheeses, blue cheese, Camembert, goat cheese, feta and brie.
o Undercooked or raw fish, including sushi and sashimi
o Raw or undercooked eggs
o Processed meats like deli meats and hot dogs, unless they are reheated until steaming
o Certain types of cooked fish, including tuna, mackerel, shark and swordfish, due to their high mercury content.

Remember that when your pregnancy is over, you’re going to have a new baby to take care of, so being healthy and in the best physical shape possible is really important during that third trimester. Soon you, and your body, will be moving on to a whole new adventure in life!

Phyllis Zerkle blogs about how to choose among ultrasound technician schools.

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