By the third trimester of your pregnancy, you can barely contain your excitement. The desire to actually say hello to your baby in person can be quite powerful and joyful at the same time! But in all the daydreaming, it’s important you find time to plan to make this the smoothest three months of your pregnancy. That means having a birth plan, investing in a trusted stem cell banking plan, and taking care of everything in between. Let’s get you started with our well-planned third trimester to-do list!
Know What To Expect In The Third Trimester
The third trimester begins when you are 28 weeks into your pregnancy, and it ends on your due date, which is roughly 40 weeks. Knowing what to expect can help you prepare better. From backaches to Braxton-Hicks contractions, and varicose veins – your body will throw a couple of curveballs at you. However, staying in touch with your OB-GYN can help you understand what’s normal and what’s not.
Prep For Delivery
That includes packing your hospital bag and preparing a birth plan, which we’ll discuss later. As your due date approaches have a bag ready that contains everything you will need such as important documents, comfy clothes, wallet, phone, charger, and your stem cell banking documents.
Sign Up For Prenatal Classes
Prenatal classes will help you get ready for what happens after the baby comes while also teaching you about prenatal care. Think of them as a coaching class that walks you through everything you need to know about labour, delivery, taking care of your baby, and more.
Double Check Your Birth Plan
Whether you go for caesarean or natural delivery, re-assessing your birth plan with your doula and your OB-GYN is a safe and easy way to know everyone is on the same page. If you’re going for stem cell banking, make sure you let your medical team know so they can assist with cord blood collection.
Invest In A Trusted Stem Cell Banking Plan
Not what you usually find in third trimester to-do lists but it’s important you consider it seriously at this stage in your pregnancy. This is your only shot in securing your baby’s health in the long run.
For those of you that are new to the concept, stem cell banking involves collecting the blood from your baby’s umbilical cord just after the birth.
This simple process is also known as cord blood banking, and the reason why blood is collected from the umbilical is because it is extremely rich in life-saving stem cells, which can be stored and used later to help your baby fight 90+ life-threatening diseases such as cancer, bone marrow diseases or immune system disorders if they ever need to.
A handful of stem cell banks operate in India, among which LifeCell is recognized as one of the country’s most trusted and established stem cell banks. Its Community Stem Cell Banking combines the benefits of private storage with access to a larger community pool. This allows you to preserve your baby’s stem cells for your family’s potential future use while also increasing the chances of finding a suitable stem cell match if needed. Additionally, the benefits can extend to eligible family members, including siblings and grandparents, helping support your family’s long-term health needs.
Prioritise Your Comfort
Wear what’s comfortable, eat what’s comfortable, and do whatever makes you happy. The idea is to minimise stress so your baby and you can enjoy the last few weeks together as one before they arrive into this world and straight into your arms.
Eat Well
Seriously eat well. Maintaining good health is absolutely non-negotiable, mama! Stay hydrated to prevent fatigue from setting in, and have all your vitamins. Get your dose of other nutrients and minerals too from the foods you eat. Munch on fruits, and use this as a free pass to eat all the starchy foods you love!
Get Essential Baby Gear
An absolute to-do item in the third trimester is getting your house and your car baby-ready. Set up the baby’s room, get a car seat, basic clothes, diapers, essential skincare products, feeding bottles, burping cloths, changing mats, and every item under the sun you can think of so you don’t have to rush to get things after your baby arrives.
Stretch
And lastly, stretch! It can help ease back pain and pregnancy cramps while improving your overall physical fitness and health. Pregnancy, as magical a time as it is, can also be taxing. So moving your body everyday can help you stay fit all through.
Conclusion
The third trimester can feel like the end of a wonderful and beautiful era. While it’s best to soak up every moment of it, it is also wise to plan and get a few essential to-do items out of the way, such as investing in LifeCell’s Stem Cell Community banking, so you can truly enjoy this phase worry-free.