Watch for preeclampsia symptoms
In the third trimester, contact your provider promptly if you experience severe headache, vision changes, sudden swelling in your face or hands, or pain in your upper abdomen. These can be signs of preeclampsia.
How your baby is developing
Your baby now weighs around 1 kilogram and is about 37 cm long. The brain is developing rapidly, forming the grooves and folds that will characterize it at birth. The eyes can open and close, and the baby is sensitive to light.
The lungs are maturing but would still need support if the baby were born now. Fat deposits are building beneath the skin, helping the baby regulate temperature after birth.
- Eyes open and sensitive to light
- Brain developing rapidly — grooves forming
- Fat building under the skin
- Lungs developing but still maturing
Glucose challenge test
Around weeks 24–28, most providers screen for gestational diabetes using a glucose challenge test (GCT). You drink a glucose solution and have blood drawn an hour later. If the result is elevated, a longer glucose tolerance test (GTT) may follow.
Gestational diabetes, if present, is manageable with guidance from your provider — dietary changes and monitoring are the usual first steps.
Preparing for the final trimester
The third trimester can bring new physical discomforts — back pain, heartburn, swollen feet, and difficulty sleeping. These are normal as your body adjusts to the baby's increasing size.
This is a good time to finalize birth preferences, take a childbirth education class if you haven't, and prepare your hospital bag if you plan to give birth in a hospital or birth center.
Tips for this stage
Start your hospital bag
Week 28–32 is a comfortable time to begin assembling your hospital bag. You don't need it for several weeks, but having it ready reduces stress in the final stretch. See our hospital bag checklist printable.
Manage back pain gently
Pelvic tilts, gentle prenatal yoga, and a supportive pregnancy pillow can ease back discomfort. Ask your provider before starting any new exercise in the third trimester.