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Prenatal visits during the third trimester:

During the second and third trimester prenatal visits, your physician may check the following, depending on your current medical condition and the health of the fetus:
• any current symptoms or discomforts
• mother’s weight
• mother’s blood pressure
• urine test – to detect albumin (a protein) which may indicate preeclampsia or toxemia, and sugar (which may indicate hyperglycemia)
• position, growth, and development of the fetus
• height of the fundus (top of the uterus)
• fetal heartbeat
After approximately the 29th week, your physician may change the schedule of your prenatal visits from monthly to every two weeks. After approximately the 36th week, your prenatal visits may be scheduled once every week. This schedule will depend upon the medical condition of the mother-to-be, the growth and development of the fetus, and your physician’s preference.
Toward the later weeks of the pregnancy (started at approximately the 38th week), a pelvic examination will be performed to determine the dilation and effacement of the cervix. Your physician will also ask about Braxton-Hicks contractions and discuss labor and delivery procedures.
What to expect during the third trimester:

The third trimester marks the home stretch, as the mother-to-be prepares for the delivery of her baby. The fetus is continuing to grow in weight and size and the body systems finish maturing. The mother may feel more uncomfortable now as she continues to gain weight and begins to have false labor contractions (called Braxton-Hicks contractions).
During the third trimester, it is a good idea to start taking childbirth classes in preparation for the big day – especially in the case of first pregnancies. If you plan to breastfeed, taking a breastfeeding class may be helpful.
During the third trimester, both the mother’s body and fetus continue to grow and change.
Week 28: Baby’s eyes open

Twenty-eight weeks into your pregnancy, or 26 weeks after conception, your baby’s eyelids are partially open and eyelashes have formed. Your baby is gaining weight, which is smoothing out many of the wrinkles in his or her skin.
By now your baby may be nearly 10 inches (250 millimeters) long from crown to rump and weigh nearly 2 1/4 pounds (1,000 grams). Otherwise healthy babies born this week have a 90 percent chance of survival without physical or neurological impairment — and the odds improve with each passing week.
Week 29: Baby’s bones are fully developed

Twenty-nine weeks into your pregnancy, or 27 weeks after conception, your baby’s bones are fully developed, but they’re still soft and pliable. This week, your baby begins storing iron, calcium and phosphorus.
Week 30: Baby’s eyes are wide open
Thirty weeks into your pregnancy, or 28 weeks after conception, your baby’s eyes are wide open. Your baby may have a good head of hair by this week.
By now your baby may be more than 10 1/2 inches (270 millimeters) long from crown to rump and weigh nearly 3 pounds (1,300 grams).
Week 31: Sexual development continues

Thirty-one weeks into your pregnancy, or 29 weeks after conception, your baby’s sexual development continues.
If your baby is a boy, his testicles are moving through the groin on their way into the scrotum. If your baby is a girl, her clitoris is now relatively prominent.
Week 32: Baby practices breathing

Thirty-two weeks into your pregnancy, or 30 weeks after conception, your baby’s toenails are visible.
Although your baby’s lungs aren’t fully formed, he or she practices breathing. Your baby’s body begins absorbing vital minerals, such as iron and calcium. The layer of soft, downy hair that has covered your baby’s skin for the past few months — known as lanugo — starts to fall off this week. Your baby’s kicks and jabs may be forceful.
By now your baby may be 11 inches (280 millimeters) long from crown to rump and weigh 3 3/4 pounds (1,700 grams).
Week 33: Baby detects light

Thirty-three weeks into your pregnancy, or 31 weeks after conception, your baby’s pupils can constrict, dilate and detect light entering his or her eyes.
Week 34: Baby’s fingernails grow

Thirty-four weeks into your pregnancy, or 32 weeks after conception, your baby’s fingernails have reached his or her fingertips.
By now your baby may be nearly 1 foot (300 millimeters) long from crown to rump and weigh more than 4 1/2 pounds (2,100 grams).
Week 35: Protective coating thickens

Thirty-five weeks into your pregnancy, or 33 weeks after conception, your baby’s body has become round. The pasty white coating that protects your baby’s skin — the vernix caseosa — is getting thicker.
Week 36: Rapid weight gain begins

Thirty-six weeks into your pregnancy, or 34 weeks after conception, your baby is gaining weight rapidly — about 1/2 pound (227 grams) a week for the next month.
The crowded conditions inside your uterus may make it harder for your baby to give you a punch, but you’ll probably feel lots of stretches, rolls and wiggles. You may want to check on your baby’s movements from time to time — especially if you think you’ve noticed decreased activity. Ask your health care provider how many movements you should detect in a certain number of hours.
Week 37: Baby is full-term

Thirty-seven weeks into your pregnancy, or 35 weeks after conception, your baby will be considered full-term. Your baby’s organs are ready to function on their own. To prepare for birth, your baby may descend into the head-down position.
Week 38: Baby develops a firm grasp

Thirty-eight weeks into your pregnancy, or 36 weeks after conception, your baby is developing a firm grasp.
Your baby’s toenails have reached the tips of his or her toes. His or her brain and nervous system are working better every day. This developmental process will continue through childhood and adolescence.
By now your baby may be close to 13 1/2 inches (340 millimeters) long from crown to rump and weigh nearly 6 1/2 pounds (2,900 grams).
Week 39: Placenta provides antibodies

Thirty-nine weeks into your pregnancy, or 37 weeks after conception, your baby’s chest is becoming more prominent. For boys, the testes continue to descend into the scrotum. For girls, the labia majora is well developed.
Your baby has enough fat under the skin to maintain body temperature as long as there’s a little help from you. The placenta continues to supply your baby with antibodies that will help fight infection the first six months after birth. If you breast-feed your baby, your milk will provide additional antibodies.
Week 40: Your due date arrives

Forty weeks into your pregnancy, or 38 weeks after conception, your baby may be more than 14 inches (360 millimeters) long from crown to rump and weigh about 7 1/2 pounds (3,400 grams). Remember, however, that healthy babies come in different sizes.
Don’t be alarmed if your due date comes and goes without incident. It’s just as normal to deliver a baby a week or two late — or early — than it is to deliver on your due date.
Changes in the mother’s body:

In the third trimester, some women become increasingly uncomfortable as their due date nears. As the fetus grows in size and crowds the abdominal cavity, some mothers-to-be have difficulty taking deep breaths or getting comfortable at night for sleep, while others are free from any discomfort as they anxiously await the arrival of their new son or daughter.
The following is a list of changes and symptoms that a woman may experience during the third trimester and includes:
• Increased skin temperature as the fetus radiates body heat, causing the mother to feel hot.
• The increased urinary frequency returns due to increased pressure being placed on the bladder.
• Blood pressure may decrease as the fetus presses on the main vein that returns blood to the heart.
• Swelling of the ankles, hands, and face may occur (called edema), as the mother continues to retain fluids.
• Hair may begin to grow on a woman’s arms, legs, and face due to increase hormone stimulation of hair follicles. Hair may also feel coarser.
• Leg cramps may become more frequent.
• Braxton-Hicks contractions (false labor) may begin to occur at irregular intervals in preparation for childbirth.
• Stretch marks may appear on the abdomen, breast, thighs, and buttocks.
• Colostrum (a fluid in the breasts that nourishes the baby until the breast milk becomes available) may begin to leak from the nipples.
• Dry, itchy skin may persist, particularly on the abdomen, as the skin continues to grow and stretch.
• A woman’s libido (sexual drive) may decrease.
• Skin pigmentation may become more apparent, especially dark patches of skin on the face.
• Constipation, heartburn, and indigestion may continue.
• Increased white-colored vaginal discharge (leukorrhea) which may contain more mucus.
• Backaches may persist and increase in intensity.
• Hemorrhoids may persist and increase in severity.
• Varicose veins in the legs may persist and increase in severity.
As demonstrated above, each woman carries her baby differently, depending upon her body structure and amount of weight gain.