3rd Trimester blues and some helpful stuff I bought {third trimester of pregnancy}

Pains During the Third Trimester of Pregnancy

I’ve posted a funny post previously about some of the not so fun things that creep up on you during the third trimester. That was more tongue-in-cheek silliness, but this one will be a little more serious.

Some of the biggest issues I’ve had have been lower back pain, pelvic pain, and just other all around pains. You just get so dang big and everything is pressing on everything. Sleeping gets hard because you have to sleep on your side, but all that weight causes my legs and hips to cramp up. So I’m constantly waking up and rolling over (which requires a 3 point turn, let me tell you) and by the end of the night both sides hurt and I’m out of sides and sleeping is just done at that point. Moving side to side and rolling hurts in the pelvic and nether region and there’s really not much to be done about that.

Items that Make the Third Trimester of Pregnancy Easier

However, I at least got a few items to help make it easier.

Maternity Support Band

I bought one of those maternity support bands that you wear under the bump to help support it and relieve some of the pressure on your back. Most of the ones I saw online were in the $60-range but I found one at a local boutique for $20, and it is the Medela brand (which is my breast pump, go figure). It goes around the belly and secures via velcro in the front. I wear it all day, and I’ve considered sleeping in it, but it didn’t seem like a good idea to have extra bulk in the bed in addition to my body pillow. In any case, I really recommend it (or any other maternity support band of your choice) because it does take some of the pressure off. I immediately feel relief when I put it on, and immediately feel more pressure when I remove it. That was a good purchase.

Birth Ball

I also purchased a birth ballbirth ball, or exercise ball, or whatever else you want to call it – an inflatable ball. We went to Academy and picked it up based on my height. It helps sit in a more squat-like position and open up the pelvis.  I try to sit on it daily, though I don’t always remember, it does help stretch everything out. I also hear it is good to use during labor if you’re allowed to be moving around. It also helps that the one that was meant for my height is purple, so you know that makes me happy. This was recommended by a doula that taught comfort measures in birth class we took (cause it was free, woot). She also recommended taking two tennis balls and tying them in a sock to use for back massaging during labor. So we’re definitely going to put that in the hospital bag. I hope to bring the birth ball too, though I don’t know if I’ll get to use it at all. I guess if not we can always deflate it to keep it from taking up a lot of space.

Feel free to share if you have other recommendations for helpful items in this last stretch of pregnancy.

You might also like the post I shared about the products that help the most during the second trimester of pregnancy.