Concerned About Growing Pains During Third Trimester? Don’t Be

The third trimester is the most tiring period of the pregnancy. Your belly has become huge in size and you are tired of carrying this extra weight around. You are probably thinking of visiting the 4D baby scan clinic to figure out when your baby is going to be born. Unfortunately, this extra weight not only makes you tired but also make you suffer from growing pains. Read on to find out more about it.

Your ligaments in the pelvis that are attached to the uterus start getting stretched as the uterus grows. But this ligament does not have the ability to become stretched as much as possible which is why you start to feel pain. The more your uterus will grow, the more you will feel pain. You might feel pain on one or both sides in your lower pelvis. Too much weight can lead to severe back and hip pain.

But in the third trimester, it is not just your belly that’s growing. Other parts of the body start to swell too during the third trimester, especially your feet and ankles. Your body is producing 60% more blood during this time. But your uterus keeps putting pressure on the veins due to its size. This results in all the extra fluids to pool in your feet and ankles. If you keep standing for a long time, not only they will swell but you will feel pain too.

But we are here to tell you that there is nothing to be concerned about these pains. They are quite normal during the third trimester. There are several things you can do to get comfort and relief from these pains. The most important thing to do is to keep yourself hydrated. Drink lots of water. You can also use a hot pack when you feel too much pain. You can sleep with a pillow on your bag to get relief from your pain. Doing light stretching exercise can also help.

In order to get relief from swelling from your ankles and feet, you can try several things. Give rest to your leg by sitting down for at least 10 minutes if you have been standing for a long time. Keep your feet in an elevated position. One of the best times to put your feet up is right after dinner. Otherwise, if you put your feet up right before going to bed it will make all the extra fluids go to the kidneys and you will have to get up again to go to the bathroom. 

If these options don’t help, the pain persists, or you are concerned, contact your provider for further evaluation. You can always visit the 4D baby scan clinic Milton Keynes if you have questions or concerns during your pregnancy.