Your third trimester appointments help keep you and your baby healthy as you get ready for birth.
As your due date approaches, you'll see your midwife more often to check your health, monitor your baby's growth and support you as you prepare for labour.
Watch our video below for advice from midwife, Pip Davies.
Midwife professional talking about antenatal appointments.
In your third trimester, your antenatal appointments are an opportunity for us to make sure that you and your baby are all healthy.
You can also ask any questions, anything that may be on your mind, no matter how small.
You might notice some things that feel a bit different in these final weeks of pregnancy.
So you might feel a bit more pressure or a bit more heaviness down there, especially in your pelvis, as your baby starts to engage in your pelvis.
And that's really, really common and normal at this stage.
When do I know my baby's engaging?
Babies can engage at all different times actually so some will engage quite early and stay in the pelvis others will kind of pop in and out and others will wait right until the last minute to engage in your pelvis.
But all it means if we imagine that your baby in the earlier stages of pregnancy is kind of up here in your abdomen and then they start to pop the head into that bony part of your pelvis.
And then as you progress towards labour they just engage further and further in how would i know if labour is starting or if it's Braxton Hicks, for example.
What is Braxton Hicks?
So Braxton hicks are like your warm-up contractions.
Really common to have them in the third trimester of pregnancy.
Often you might feel or see your tummy go rock solid, very momentarily, and then it relaxes off.
The difference between the Braxton hicks and then the labour contractions is that labour contractions will be much more regular.
So you might have them, say, every four minutes.
They last for 45 to 60 seconds, and they come like clockwork, and they're much more intense or uncomfortable than the Braxtonhicks.
Do make sure you've got your notes ready, your hospital bags all packed and near the front door and have all those key numbers that you might need to call handy as well so that when the moment comes you know exactly who you're calling, where you're going and what you're doing.
Amazing, thank you.
We spoke to midwife and lactation consultant Jyoti Gandecha for some additional advice…
What happens at third-trimester appointments?
"As birth approaches, appointments help you prepare you for labour and give you opportunities to discuss pratical arrangements", Jyoti says.
"It's completely normal to have lots of questions during pregnancy, especially if it's your first baby."
Some useful questions to ask your midwife might include:
- Is my baby in a good position for birth?
- What are my birth options?
- Who do I contact if I have urgent concerns?
- How many birth partners can I have with me?
"Many parents find it helpful to keep a list of questions between appointments. Pregnancy can be busy, and it's easy to forget something important once you're in the room with your midwife"
She adds, "Arriving on time can also help ensure there's enough opportunity to talk through anything that's on your mind"
Ask questions and build a relationship with your midwife."
How is your baby's position checked in late pregnancy?
"As pregnancy progresses, your midwife will regularly check your baby's position to make sure everything is developing as expected in preparation for birth", Jyoti says.
"Ideally, babies move into a head-down position during the final weeks of pregnancy. To assess this, midwives often use a technique called abdominal palpation, gently feeling your abdomen with their hands to determine how your baby is lying."
"Your midwife may also ask where you feel your baby's movements, as this can help identify their position. If a breech position is suspected, you may be offered an ultrasound scan to confirm your baby's position and discuss your options."
What does 'engaged' mean?
"During antenatal appointments, you might hear your midwife say that your baby is engaged. This means their head has started to move down into the pelvis, getting into the best position for birth.
"Engagement often happens around 36 weeks of pregnancy, although it can occur earlier or later. While it doesn't necessarily mean labour is about to start, it is a sign that your body and baby are preparing for birth."
How can you feel more confident as your due date approaches?
"As your due date approaches, you'll see your midwife more often to check your health, monitor your baby's growth and support you as you prepare for labour." Jyoti says
"Remember, your antenatal appointments are there to support you. They are a chance to ask questions, discuss any concerns and get the reassurance you need to feel confident as you prepare to welcome your baby."
