What Not to Do in Your Third Trimester: Antenatal Care Tips

The third trimester of pregnancy is a crucial time for both you and your baby. As your due date approaches, it’s important to be mindful of what you should and shouldn’t do to ensure a healthy and safe experience. This phase is full of excitement, but also requires extra attention to antenatal health, as the final weeks are critical for your baby’s development and your overall wellbeing.

In this article, we will explore what to avoid during your third trimester, focusing on antenatal care, fitness, relaxation, and key pregnancy guidelines. With a careful approach to your antenatal routine, you can avoid unnecessary risks and be well-prepared for labour and delivery.

Antenatal Care: Attending Your Antenatal Appointments

What Not to Do: Skip Your Antenatal Appointments

During the third trimester, it’s essential not to miss your antenatal appointments. These checkups are more frequent as your due date approaches, and they allow your healthcare provider to monitor your baby’s growth, position, and overall health. Regular antenatal scans can help identify potential complications early, ensuring that any necessary interventions can be made before labour begins.

Missing antenatal checkups increases the risk of undiagnosed issues such as pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, or foetal growth problems. It’s equally important to discuss your birth plan and antenatal education with your doctor or midwife during these visits to ensure you’re fully prepared.

What You Should Do:

Attend every scheduled antenatal appointment.

Discuss any symptoms or concerns with your healthcare provider.

Ensure you have an updated birth plan and are familiar with the stages of labour.

Antenatal Fitness: Avoiding High-Intensity Exercise

What Not to Do: Engage in High-Impact, Strenuous Activities

While staying active is vital during pregnancy, especially in the third trimester, high-intensity exercises or activities that strain your body should be avoided. The increased weight of your baby, combined with a shift in your centre of gravity, makes you more susceptible to falls and injuries.

Instead of high-impact workouts, opt for safe antenatal fitness routines such as antenatal yoga, which is specifically designed for pregnant women. Yoga for pregnancy helps improve flexibility, reduce stress, and prepare your body for childbirth without the strain of more intense physical activities.

What You Should Do:

Replace high-intensity workouts with gentle antenatal yoga or prenatal yoga classes.

Focus on exercises that enhance relaxation during pregnancy, such as deep breathing and meditation.

Prioritise antenatal fitness that prepares your body for labour, such as pelvic floor exercises and stretches.

Antenatal Massage: Avoiding Unqualified Practitioners

What Not to Do: Book a Massage with an Unqualified Therapist

Pregnancy can take a toll on your body, especially in the third trimester when back pain, swollen feet, and other discomforts are common. However, it’s important not to book a massage with just any practitioner. Antenatal massage requires specialised training, as certain techniques and pressure points should be avoided during pregnancy to prevent harm to you or your baby.

Prenatal massage from a qualified professional offers numerous benefits, including reduced tension, improved circulation, and enhanced relaxation. These benefits can make the final weeks of pregnancy more comfortable, but only if performed correctly.

What You Should Do:

Ensure your massage therapist is qualified in antenatal massage or prenatal massage.

Ask your healthcare provider for recommendations if you’re unsure where to find a certified therapist.

Focus on massages that promote relaxation and comfort without putting unnecessary pressure on sensitive areas.

Diet and Nutrition: Avoiding Unhealthy Foods

What Not to Do: Indulge in Junk Food or Unhealthy Cravings

While it’s natural to have cravings during pregnancy, indulging in junk food or unhealthy snacks regularly can lead to unnecessary weight gain, increased blood sugar levels, and other complications. In the third trimester, your baby’s nutritional needs are at their highest, and poor food choices can affect your energy levels and overall wellbeing.

Make sure your diet consists of nutrient-dense foods that support both you and your baby. If you haven’t already, consider adding antenatal vitamins to your daily routine to ensure you’re getting the necessary nutrients, such as folic acid, iron, and calcium.

What You Should Do:

Focus on a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins.

Incorporate antenatal vitamins into your daily routine to meet your nutritional needs.

Stay hydrated and avoid excessive caffeine or sugary drinks.

Stress and Mental Health: Avoiding Overwhelm

What Not to Do: Ignore Stress or Mental Health Concerns

Pregnancy can be a stressful time, particularly as your due date approaches. Ignoring stress or mental health concerns in the third trimester can have a negative impact on both you and your baby. Elevated stress levels can contribute to high blood pressure, poor sleep, and an increased risk of complications during labour.

To manage stress effectively, consider relaxation techniques such as antenatal yoga, meditation, or prenatal massage. Antenatal clinics often offer antenatal support through counselling services, which can be helpful if you’re feeling overwhelmed. Addressing mental health concerns early ensures that you enter labour feeling calm and confident.

What You Should Do:

Practise relaxation techniques such as antenatal yoga and meditation.

Seek antenatal support through your antenatal clinic if you’re struggling with stress.

Communicate openly with your partner and healthcare provider about your mental health.

Antenatal Education: Not Preparing for Labour

What Not to Do: Ignore Antenatal Classes or Education

A common mistake some expectant parents make is not attending antenatal classes or researching labour preparation thoroughly. These classes are an essential part of antenatal education, offering valuable insights into what to expect during labour, pain management techniques, and how to care for your newborn.

In the third trimester, antenatal classes near you can help you feel more confident and prepared for the birth process. If you’re unable to attend classes in person, there are plenty of online resources and virtual antenatal classes that can provide the same information.

What You Should Do:

Attend antenatal classes or explore virtual antenatal education options.

Prepare for the birthing process by learning about different labour stages and pain management methods.

Familiarise yourself with the signs of labour and when to contact your healthcare provider.

Your third trimester is a time to be extra vigilant about your antenatal health. By avoiding strenuous activities, ensuring proper nutrition, and seeking qualified antenatal support, you can significantly reduce the risks associated with the final stages of pregnancy. Always prioritise regular antenatal checkups and take the time to prepare for labour through antenatal education and relaxation techniques.

By following these guidelines, you’ll enter the final weeks of your pregnancy with confidence, knowing you’ve done everything to support your own health and your baby’s development.

Sources:

NHS Antenatal Care Guide: https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/your-pregnancy-care/antenatal-checks/

American Pregnancy Association: Prenatal Massage: https://americanpregnancy.org/healthy-pregnancy/pregnancy-health-wellness/prenatal-massage/

Antenatal Yoga Information: https://www.babycentre.co.uk/a1033532/prenatal-yoga