The third trimester is exciting, beautiful, weird, and sometimes scary — you'll feel all the emotions as you approach the day you meet your baby. Expect to be uncomfortable: your bump keeps growing, aches and pains return, and symptoms like heartburn, spider veins, and frequent urination may come back. Meanwhile, baby's organs and systems continue to mature. Prenatal visits become more frequent, and your care team will monitor your health and baby's wellbeing closely. Time can feel like it's flying and crawling at once — hang in there, you're in the home stretch.
The third trimester begins on day one of week 28 and runs through your due date — usually around week 40. Many babies arrive earlier, and some stay put past their date; due dates are estimates, not deadlines. Most providers won't let pregnancy continue much beyond 42 weeks and may discuss induction before then. Follow along week by week with our pregnancy guides from week 28 onward.
Select your week below to track each stage of your third trimester.
Welcome to the third trimester — the home stretch begins. Welcome to the third trimester, the home stretch where grow…
Full guide includes baby development, symptoms, nutrition, FAQs, and listen-along audio.
Read full week 28 guide →Size comparisons are playful approximations and every pregnancy is different. This is general information, not medical advice — your doctor or midwife is your best guide.
Tap any week for the full guide — development, symptoms, labour prep, FAQs, and listen-along audio.
Week 28
About the size of a eggplant
Welcome to the third trimester — the home stretch begins. Welcome to the third trimester, the home stretch where grow…
Read full guide →Week 29
About the size of a butternut squash
Baby's muscles and lungs continue to mature. Week 29 is about steady maturing, and many parents notice the baby's mov…
Read full guide →Week 30
About the size of a cucumber
Baby can open and close their eyes and may follow light. Week 30 often makes the final trimester feel unmistakably re…
Read full guide →Week 31
About the size of a coconut
Rapid brain development continues; baby is gaining weight steadily. The baby is adding weight and brain power quickly…
Read full guide →Week 32
About the size of a jicama
Baby often settles into a head-down position around now. Week 32 often brings a sense of momentum because the baby ma…
Read full guide →Week 33
About the size of a pineapple
Baby's bones are hardening (except the soft skull, by design). Week 33 is a strength-building week for the baby and a…
Read full guide →Week 34
About the size of a cantaloupe
The central nervous system and lungs are maturing well. Week 34 can bring a strong nesting energy for some parents an…
Read full guide →Week 35
About the size of a honeydew melon
Baby is filling out and has less room to somersault. The baby is filling out quickly now, and you may feel a shift fr…
Read full guide →Week 36
About the size of a romaine lettuce
Baby is likely head-down and getting ready to meet you. Week 36 has a distinctly final-stretch feeling, with many par…
Read full guide →Week 37
About the size of a swiss chard
Baby is considered early-term; lungs are nearly ready. Week 37 is a real milestone because the baby is considered ear…
Read full guide →Week 38
About the size of a leek
Baby continues to gain a little weight and shed the protective coating. Week 38 is a waiting week for many families,…
Read full guide →Week 39
About the size of a mini watermelon
Baby is full-term and ready for the outside world. Week 39 carries a strong sense of readiness, even though babies st…
Read full guide →Week 40
About the size of a small pumpkin
Your due date! Remember, only a few babies arrive exactly on time. This is your due-date week, and one of the most im…
Read full guide →Week 41
About the size of a watermelon
Going a little past your date is common and usually fine. Week 41 can test patience, but it is also a week when monit…
Read full guide →Week 42
About the size of a watermelon
Most babies have arrived by now; your care team will guide you closely. Week 42 is uncommon, and care usually becomes…
Read full guide →Feeling practice contractions? Try the contraction counter →
The finish line is nearing — baby will be in your arms before you know it. The third trimester can bring new or returning symptoms as your body prepares for birth. Common ones include:
Before true labour contractions, you may feel irregular Braxton Hicks — practice tightenings that tone the uterus and help the cervix prepare. They're usually painless and stop when you change position or rest. Use our contraction counter to track patterns if you're unsure.
In late pregnancy, baby may drop lower into the pelvis — called lightening or dropping. Your bump may look lower, breathing can feel easier, and eating may be more comfortable. You might also need the bathroom more often as baby presses on your bladder.
Random sharp zaps in the pelvic area are common near the end of pregnancy. Lightning crotch is harmless and brief — changing position often helps.
Heartburn, backache, swollen feet, trouble sleeping, and frequent urination often return or intensify in the third trimester as baby takes up more space. Smaller meals, pillows for side-sleeping, and rest breaks can help.
Increased blood volume and pressure can cause swollen ankles, varicose or spider veins, and heavy legs. Elevating your feet, staying hydrated, and gentle movement may ease discomfort. Sudden swelling in the face or hands needs urgent medical attention.
Baby keeps growing and filling out with a layer of brown fat. Organs continue to mature — especially the lungs, which practise breathing movements. Reflexes develop and the five senses become largely functional; your voice is a favourite sound. Bones harden while the skull stays softer for birth. Around 37 weeks, meconium (baby's first stool) begins to form in the intestines. A lot is happening behind the scenes to get baby ready for their debut.
Most of the same safety rules from earlier trimesters still apply — with a few extra notes on travel and physical limits as you near your due date.
Third Trimester
You've been doing this for months, but the closer you get to the finish line, the more questions pop up. Here are three common third-trimester questions — always ask your doctor or midwife for advice tailored to you.
A: At or past your due date, gentle walking and moderate movement may help some people. Sex is sometimes suggested because orgasm releases oxytocin and semen contains prostaglandins — but nothing is guaranteed, and some "natural" tips aren't safe. Always get your provider's approval before trying anything to encourage labour.
Aches and pains are common in the third trimester, but some symptoms need urgent attention. Contact your provider right away for severe unrelenting abdominal pain, regular contractions before 37 weeks, heavy bleeding, or fluid leaking from the vagina — these may signal preterm labour. Also reach out for blurred vision, strong headaches, and sudden swelling, which can indicate preeclampsia. During kick counts, seek help if you notice a major reduction in baby's usual movements (for example, fewer than 10 movements in two hours when baby is usually active).
Tick items off as you go — your progress is saved on this device.
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Baby will be here before you know it. Use the third trimester to finalise essentials, wash clothes, and set up the basics so you can rest when baby arrives.
Time contractions, track your weeks, and get ready for baby's arrival.
What to pack for the hospital and buy before the big day.
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