This is the third part in our series describing pregnancy symptoms and holistic remedies for each trimester. Check out Part 1 and Part 2!

We made it to the last trimester —hooray! This was probably my favorite time of my pregnancy due to the fact that my bump expanded so quickly and I finally looked pregnant, I felt the most movement from my baby, and I couldn’t wait to meet my little girl as the days got closer. Adding things to my registry, deciding on a name, and confirming my birth plan with my midwife made everything so exciting, even at the start of the pandemic.

Many of the same symptoms of the first trimester came back including nausea, fatigue, rapid breast growth, increased appetite, and mood swings. Some new ones popped up too such as hemorrhoids, back and hip pain, hot hands and feet, trouble sleeping at night, and specific cravings.

Below I’ll address a few symptoms with remedies as well as ways to prepare yourself physically and spiritually for both and meeting your baby!

Third Trimester Symptoms

Hemorrhoids

Admittedly I didn’t know much about hemorrhoids before pregnancy and even then womxn would try to warn me but I didn’t think it would happen to me! Hemorrhoids are swollen and inflamed veins in the rectum and anus. They can sometimes cause discomfort when sitting or during bowel movements, and sometimes lead to fissures where you notice blood in the toilet. Though they seem scary, they’re not dangerous and can be treated. Mine naturally disappeared postpartum but while I was still pregnant I used sitz baths ( little soaks just for the vaginal/ anal area) and took baths with epsom Salts to help combat the hemorrhoids and sore muscles at the same time. Just make sure your water is not scalding hot for your little one.

Hot Hands and Feet

This was another surprising, yet persistent symptom for me. Around 30 weeks along I noticed that sometimes,especially while cooking or standing in one place for too long, my feet and/or hands would get prickly heat so overwhelming I would try to find relief with anything cold. My midwife suggested I freeze a bottle of water and roll my feet/hands over it when I got the sensation, and that was gold! I would also hold hands/ touch my boo wherever was cold on his body :)

Restlessness at Night

To be honest I had this issue throughout my whole pregnancy— at each stage I would have to pee almost exactly every two hours at night! In the last stage it was also accompanied with heartburn and occasional muscle spasms, mainly in my legs. Luckily I was always so tired I never had issues falling asleep, but to help me stay asleep, prevent muscle spasms, and relieve tension I practiced gentle yoga almost every day. The poses both helped relax me and prepare my body for labor. Some of my favorite poses were cat & cow, exalted warrior, pigeon pose, and chair pose. Again baths/ showers at night helped ease the aches in my body most noticeable before bed. Sleeping with either a body pillow or a pillow between your legs while on your side was good to reduce minor aches and spasms too.

Preparing to Meet Baby

Whether you’re just starting your last trimester or just a few weeks away from your predicted due date, I recommend doing breath work and visualizations a couple times a day to connect to your baby. I enjoyed sitting in the sun and letting the rays warm my belly and face. Rubbing my belly as I felt kicks and body rolls and offering assurance to both myself and the baby that we were prepared to birth confidently and in sync with each other and the Divine Feminine.

It is common to feel overwhelmed in pregnancy with thoughts of the birth, living with baby, changing relationship dynamics etc but practicing deep breathing relaxation helps ease anxiety immediately as well as being good practice for breath needed during birth.

Mantra for third trimester:

I surrender to the flow of the universe

I trust my body and my baby

I am proud of my body and my baby

I give thanks for my divine portal

I honor the waters that created me and hold my baby.

Remember to eat well, rest as much as possible, drink water, and keep stress as low as possible. Your health and baby’s are more important than any bullshit!

~ Next post will be on ways to create a holistic birth plan ~

Love

Kenya Ku$h