You made it! The third trimester. You’re that much closer to meeting your beautiful baby. For a lot of future mama’s, it’s also when you realize your time is running out to get your important list of to-do’s done before baby arrives. For me, while there were so many fun things happening (my gorgeous baby shower), it was also the hardest 12 weeks of my pregnancy with new symptoms creeping up. Sleep, or rather the lack thereof, was also at its peak with a growing bump making things quite uncomfortable. Then, at week 36 I started swelling to the tune of 12-15 pounds of extra water weight. Ultimately, I was diagnosed with preeclampsia and the only shoes I had that fit were these velcro sneakers. Thankfully, I discovered some amazing products like these leggings and these pajamas to help deal with those conditions. So, in today’s post I’m sharing a round up of third trimester must-haves that can help ease the physical discomforts as well as prepare you for labor and delivery.
12 Third Trimester Must-Haves
There are just 12 short weeks (or less!) between you and your baby. But, these last 12 can be stressful and tough on your body. I laugh when people say, “get some rest before the baby comes.” It’s so hard for a pregnant woman to sleep! I featured a pregnancy pillow in my first trimester must haves post. But, I wasn’t obsessed with it. So, instead I’m recommending this one that multiple recently pregnant friends all love. Give yourself some grace as you work through your to-do list. Indulge in a few of my third trimester must-haves. So, get the pillow. Buy the pajamas. I’m also including a few recommendations of items I didn’t use, but would have if needed. For example, if baby has dropped and the pressure is unreal – definitely try the belly band! The little things matter in these last three months. Keep reading to see my full list of must haves below.
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Everything You Need in your Third Trimester
Maternity clothes
You might have tried to avoid it, but by the third trimester you’ve likely “popped”! Fitting into your normal clothes is no longer an option. So, it’s time to invest in some maternity clothes! Believe me – it will make you feel better and styling the bump will be fun!
There are a ton of great retailers at affordable price points, like Pink Blush Maternity and Target. Then, for more luxe pieces my favorite is Hatch. If you only get one thing, it should be the Ultimate Before, During & After leggings! I’m currently wearing them as I write this post, six weeks post-partum. Dresses are also easy because many can be worn after you give birth and they’re easy to just throw on and go. Check out these midi dresses. They give you enough coverage as the bump gets bigger and you can style them between seasons. Lastly, you have to check out Bumpsuit! They have tons of bump-friendly jumpsuits, dresses, rompers – you name it. They’re super soft and so flattering, especially in the third trimester.
If you need some ideas on how to style your new maternity clothes, take a peek at this post and this post featuring some of my maternity style.
Soma Cool Nights pajamas
One thing people don’t tell you about pregnancy is that you will get hot sleeping (it’s even worse post-partum). Grab yourself a pair of either the Soma Intimates Cool Nights pajamas or the Nordstrom Moonlight pajamas (short sleeve version here). Both got worn on repeat every single night because they are designed to keep you cool and help you get a good nights sleep. Since they’re button up style, they’re also perfect for nursing as well if you plan to breastfeed.
Tums for Heartburn Relief
Another pregnancy side effect I didn’t expect? Heartburn and acid reflux. My ‘What to Expect’ book said it could start in the first trimester. But, when so much time passed I thought I was in the clear. Alas, I finally got some strong acid reflux starting in weeks 28-29 and started taking Tums Smoothies chewy tablets every night before bed to help me sleep. They work wonders.
Hemorrhoid Relief Cream
File hemorrhoids under things I never thought I’d experience in life, let alone during pregnancy. During a trip back to visit family in Chicago during 26 week of my pregnancy, I had the joy of discovering that I had a few hemorrhoids down below. Let me tell you – they are painful! Sleep can be very tough the first few nights. I had to fly home in that tight seat which was so uncomfortable! There were tears in my eyes it was such a burning pain during the flight. Thankfully, I had a doctors appointment the day after we got back and she recommended Preparation H which you can get at any grocery store. It helps relieve the pain, but the hemorrhoids themselves take 10+ days or so to subside. My doctor kept it real with me that it was likely they wouldn’t completely go away until after I delivered. She was right.
Tucks Hemorrhoidal Pads with Witch Hazel
Another third trimester must have are these Tucks Hemorrhoidal Pads with Witch Hazel. They will be a lifesaver if you do get hemorrhoids and they’ll also come in handy post-partum too during recovery. You can thank me later.
Comfortable Shoes (mine have velcro!)
Luckily for me, it wasn’t until week 37 that I could no longer wear most of my shoes. That’s when these Veja sneakers became my go-to. I’m a huge fan of the brand and reviewed this pair here. But, what I love most about them for pregnant ladies is that they have velcro. Bending over to put shoes may be a challenge. So, the velcro makes things easy, especially when you don’t have someone to help.
Cozy Pregnancy Pillow
Getting hot while you’re sleeping may be the least of your worries when it seems like you just can’t get comfortable in the third trimester. Late in my third trimester I resigned myself to having a pillow fortress around my body. Try a pregnancy pillow like this one to give your joints (and belly) some relief. Its affordable and has rave reviews. Originally, I didn’t want to get it because it seemed too big. But, now that just seems silly when I think of the 3+ pillows I used at night.
Large Water Tumbler
It’s no secret that staying hydrated is important for pregnant women. It helps with digestion but also aids in forming the amniotic fluid around the fetus. I finally got my hands on one of these Stanley mugs that you might have seen on Instagram and can confirm that they are worth the hype! There are different sizes, but the one I have holds 40 ounces. So, it makes getting to 100+ ounces per day way easier.
A birthing ball
Once baby is heads down, you’ll probably start to research different things you can do to start the labor and delivery process naturally. Your OB may mention things like taking raspberry leaf tea, eating dates, or having sex. But, another thing you can easily do is sit and swivel on a birthing ball. I got this one, but I should have used it more! I’ll be sharing our full birth story soon. But, baby boy did not drop enough to help me dilate. I’m confident more use of the ball would have helped.
Belly Band
Since baby boy stayed up high and didn’t drop a lot leading up to his birth, I didn’t feel a ton of pelvic pressure or hip pain. But, the weight of carrying a baby causes discomfort overall that a belly band like this one can help alleviate. You can either wear them over your clothes or under them. I should have used one once the swelling in my legs started!
Compression Socks
Add compression socks to the short list of items I didn’t purchase but should have. They certainly would have helped with my leg swelling the final two weeks. But, if you work from home and sit a lot of the day, they’ll be helpful too. This chic brand, Comrad, has some really cute pairs (like the pink ombré!).
Heating pad
Every pregnancy is unique. But, most women tend to gain the most weight during the third tri. An affordable heating pad can be helpful to use at night if you experience bad back pain. I purchased this one when we were going through IVF and it came in handy again during pregnancy.
Third Trimester Checklist
Once the third trimester hits, the anxiety may set in! Or, at least a little bit of nervousness of all you have left to do. There are so many small details you might be thinking of and adding to your third trimester checklist. So, to make it easy I’ve made one for you! Don’t worry if you can’t tick all the boxes. The reality is that all baby needs is you, a place to sleep and some food (whether that’s breast milk or formula – a fed baby is best!). The rest will all fall into place.
Click here or tap the image below to download my third trimester to do list.
This helpful maternity checklist will be a blessing as you get closer to your due date! It’s broken down by things you need to do to prep for your time at the hospital, like finalizing your birth plan or remembering to pack your hospital bags. It also includes things to do at home, like completing the nursery (see my post with Everett’s nursery plans here), and assembling any important baby gear, including your bassinet, crib, and monitor.
My checklist also includes some miscellaneous tasks like coordinating your maternity leave, planning a babymoon and taking maternity photos.
Once baby arrives, there will inevitably be a handful (or two) of things not crossed off from your list. Don’t stress! Focus on you and your baby’s health and it will all get done in due time. A few items from this list of third trimester must-have’s will come in handy and you’ll adjust to your amazing new life with your bundle of joy.
