third trimester Content | Baby Billy

Hospital bag checklist for parents

You must feel anxious and excited at the same time when it's closer to the due date. Packing all necessities in your hospital bag👜 in advance will save you lots of time and energy when that moment comes.Hospital bag checklist for moms👜Essential items and documentsLet's pack all your necessary stuff first! Your driver license or any other identification card is fine.💳 You should check with the hospital or birth center🏥 regarding any hospital paperwork that you should bring. You need to bring your doctor's contact and birth plan if you have one.Medical records can be helpful to show your current status of health. Chargers and cell phones📱 are two things you can't live without. You might bring a cord blood kit if you're planning to donate your baby's cord blood.🩸 👜Personal itemsPack your favorite toothbrush and toothpaste, lip balm, deodorant, makeup, hair ties, shampoo and lotion🧴 if you prefer using yours.🧼🧺 The hospital will provide sanitary pads to absorb your blood after delivery, but if you prefer using your favorite brand, feel free to bring them with you.If you wear contacts, remember to bring lens solution and a lens case. Glasses are also an essential if you need them.👓 👜ClothingThe hospital provides gowns but you can bring your daily nightgowns or pajamas. Backless slippers🥿 and a lightweight robe may come in handy if you want to take a walk after delivery.🚶 Bring a comfortable and loose outfit or two to change.👚 You also need several pairs of postpartum underwears that are suitable for wearing with maxi pads. Your breasts are likely to be tender and swollen especially when they leak some colostrum so you might need nursing bras to help absorb leaks and provide comfort.😃 👜Miscellaneous itemsBring your favorite snacks because you will feel hungry after labor and probably are bored of hospital food.🥨 Eye masks can help you sleep safe and sound at night after a long day. Also you might need a camera📷 to record these historical moments of you and your baby! Hospital bag checklist for baby👜Baby nail file and nail clippersAfter birth, your baby👶 often has sharp nails that can hurt and scratch the baby's face. You may want to trim tiny nails and make them softer a little bit.👜Coming home outfitLet's dress your baby up with comfortable clothes, socks and booties.👗 Welcome home, little angel!👜Baby blanketYou need a blanket to tuck around your baby around the car seat on the way home to make sure the little one is warm and cozy. The hospital will likely provide you blankets but you can bring one by yourself.🤗  

Hypnobirthing

Having a baby is the greatest gift ever, but the upcoming pain and the actual process of giving breath causes anxiety and fear.🙁 Hypnobirthing is a childbirth method that uses self-hypnosis techniques that replaces painful labor with happy ones.😃 HypnobirthingWhat is hypnobirthing?Hypnobirthing is a method of childbirth that gives you a gentle view of labor and pain through practiced deep breathing, visualization, hypnosis scripts and new vocabulary for birthing sensations.😃 In other words, you train your brain to elicit a relaxation as a response instead of feeling pain. Are you in control during hypnobirthing?Yes! You are in complete control of your body.😀 At the core, you are learning to control your mind on demand. Using intense focus on positive affirmations and suggestions, you guide your thoughts, block out any distractions, and control your breathing and feelings. You can come back to your normal state whenever you wish at any time.😃 Two programs of hypnobirthingHypnobirthingHypnobirthing classes rely upon body relaxation, controlled breathing exercises, positive affirmations and visualization to put you in a deeply relaxed state. Instead of using normal words such as contractions, pain, you will be exposed to a tape of positive expressions such as pressure, waves🌊, surges. Then, you will see flowers blooming🥀, for example, to abstractly discern what you're going through yet achieve relaxation.HypnobabiesHypnobabies want to put you in the deepest state of hypnosis. These classes aim to create harmony between your body👩 and your baby👶 and let you be in charge of your birth experiences. Once you go through the process, you will learn a new perception of the normal sensation of birthing as pleasure.  Advantages and disadvantages of hypnobirthing  Advantages of hypnobirthingIt's a natural form of pain management to help you relax when you don't want medical intervention. It is easily accessible in any birthing environment for any moms.👩 It is a gentle experience which has no side effects for you and your baby.😃 Disadvantages of hypnobirthingThe classes require a strong belief and a substantial commitment of time, usually more than 6 hours per week.💪 You can either do it by yourself or receive assistance from a hypnotherapist. Depending on where you want to have your classes, the price ranges from $200 to $500💰 and some classes may not be covered by insurance.The program doesn't promise a pain-free birth. Asking for an epidural or other pain relief interventions during labor defeats the whole purpose of hypnobirthing and may leave you disappointed.😔 Unlike tangible pills💊, it's hard to evaluate hypnobirthing's effectiveness through visible improvements. The process does require you to have faith. If you don't believe it will work for you, it probably won't.🙁 

Restless legs syndrome during pregnancy

Restless legs syndrome can annoy you, making you uncomfortable when you're trying to sleep. No worries, we will help you figure out how to make things better.😃 Restless legs syndrome🤰What is restless legs syndrome?If you notice an uncomfortable and disconcerting tingling, crawling in your feet🦶 and legs🦵 with an uncontrollable urge to move your legs to relieve these feelings, you probably have restless legs syndrome (RLS). Symptoms tend to get worse when you try to rest, especially right before you sleep😴 or when you have been sitting for a long period of time. 🤰When does RLS hit?Fortunately these symptoms are temporary when you're pregnant.🤰 The symptoms typically peak during the third trimester and gradually disappear by the time your baby is born. RLS doesn't cause harm to your pregnancy but it definitely keeps you awake and drains you at night.🌃🌙 You probably won't be able to get enough sleep, leaving you seriously fatigued and less able to function well during the day.⛅ Causes of restless legs syndromeExperts are not sure of what actually causes RLS, but genetics may play an important role.😶 Some culprit suggestions can be environmental and dietary factors, such as iron deficiency🩸, hormonal changes.Things that worsen RLS🤰CaffeineCaffeine☕, even if you just take a sip of caffeine, is enough to make RLS symptoms worse. You should consider eliminating caffeine out of your diet if RLS symptoms are bothering you. 🤰SmokingSmoking also triggers RLS.🚬 The more you stay inactive and lie still, the more likely RLS will occur. Make sure you go to bed only when you're actually ready to go to sleep. 🤰MedicationsMost drugs used to treat RLS are not recommended to pregnant moms.💊 Some medications such as the antihistamines in cold and allergy remedies also worsen RLS, making you more uncomfortable so you should consult with your doctor about your current symptoms before taking them.👩‍⚕️Things that relieve RLS🤰Stay activeYou might not want to force yourself to suffer an RLS episode while you're just lying still in bed.🛏️ Get up and walk slowly down the hallway for a few times. Gentle movements can help ease the discomfort and make you fall asleep more easily.🤰Distract yourselfYou can try some relaxation techniques to distract yourself and temporarily forget about the pain.🥰 Immerse yourself in other activities that you like, or do something relaxing like massages to make you fall asleep on the first try.😃 🤰Change your dietAlthough there are some doubts about iron deficiency being a cause of RLS, it won't hurt if you go tested.👩‍⚕️ You can fill up on iron-rich, healthy foods to not only boost your health during pregnancy but also deteriorate pain.🍲 🤰Heat/ cold therapySometimes a warm bath🛀 or a heating pad can bring relief. Some moms report to try to apply an ice pack or soak their feet with the coldest water possible to numb the pain. Anything that works for you, go for it!🧊   

Perineal tearing during childbirth

A perineal tear is an injury to the tissue around your vagina and rectum that can happen when your baby's head comes through the vagina. There is no way to prevent perineal tearing, but trust your doctor. You can do it!🤗Perineal tear🥼What is a perineal tear?A perineal tear is a laceration in the perineum from the vagina towards the anus. During a typical vaginal delivery, the skin of your vagina thin out and is stretched to allow your baby's head and body to pass through.👶 When the vagina can't stretch wide enough, the baby is too large, the delivery just happens too quickly, the tear inevitably appears.🙁🥼How common is perineal tear?It is very common to see tears in moms having their first child and less common for moms in subsequent deliveries.👩 They often heal on their own.It's possible to tear even if your doctor performs an episiotomy to widen the vaginal opening. Consult with your doctor to know your case better and learn when and why they would perform it.👩‍⚕️Different types of perineal tears🥼First-degree perineal tearThe tear only affects the skin of the perineum and happens around the opening of the vagina or just inside the vagina a little bit. It's the least severe tear.😃 This small injury can heal itself in a few weeks without causing much pain. Your doctor may stitch the tear to speed healing and stop any bleeding🩸. 🥼Second-degree perineal tearThis is the most commonly seen during childbirth.🙆‍♀️ This bigger tear touches the muscles of the vagina and pelvic floor and can cut deeper into the vagina. It causes pain and discomfort and requires stitches to heal.🙁  🥼Third-degree perineal tearThis type of tear extends from your vagina to your anus, causing damage to the anal sphincter muscles. It is relatively rare among first-time moms and occurs less than 2% among moms who have had a vaginal birth before.😌🥼Fourth-degree perineal tearThis is the least common type of perineal tears.😯 The injury begins from the vagina, through the perineal area and anal sphincter muscles and into the rectum. Treatment of perineal tearsA tiny first-degree tear will not require much medical inventions.😃 However, other kinds of tears require some sutures. You may need an epidural to control your pain while the laceration is repaired. If the epidural is not working, you may be injected with anesthetic to numb the area first and the laceration repair continues.💉 The stitches will be dissolved themselves within six weeks. Ice packs🧊 applied on the area can help you ease the pain and discomfort. If you can't bear the pain, you can consult with your doctor for pain relief.👩‍⚕️    

Uterine rupture

Uterine rupture is a rare and often catastrophic complication that often occurs during labor but can also happen in late pregnancy. It causes your uterus to tear and the baby slips into the abdomen.👶Uterine rupture🤰What is a uterine rupture?An uterine rupture is a tear in the wall of the uterus and usually occurs at the site of a previous c-section incision in moms🤰 who have experienced cesarean deliveries.A complete rupture in which the tear goes through all layers of the uterine wall causes severe bleeding🩸 and can be extremely dangerous for both you and your baby.😟 🤰How common is uterine rupture?  Uterine rupture is relatively rare if you have never had c-section or other uterine surgery. It is more common if you try to have vaginal delivery after having had c-section in your first pregnancy.🙁Signs of uterine ruptureSince ruptures often occur in labor, you may not be able to tell all the signs immediately.🤔 The first sign of the rupture is the baby's distress and abnormal heart rate.❤️Some possible symptoms include vaginal bleeding, abdominal pain, slowed or stopped labor, chest pain due to irritation to the diaphragm from internal bleeding.🙁  Causes of uterine ruptureUterine ruptures often happen at the site of a scar from a previous c-section because the wall of your uterus is weaker along the line of previous surgery.🙁 Other factors such as congenital or genetic abnormalities🧬, other uterine surgical procedures can also cause uterine rupture.You may suffer from permanent physical damage including inability to sustain future pregnancies.🤰 If your baby is in the womb, you may have miscarriage or your baby might suffer health conditions such as brain damage.🧠  

Sciatica during pregnancy

Reaching the end of the pregnancy journey leaves you with more pain and discomfort. If you have pain radiating from your lower back to your buttocks and down your leg, you probably have sciatica.⚠️Sciatica during pregnancy🤰What is sciatica?Sciatica is a sharp, tingling and shooting pain that runs from your lower spine to your buttocks and down the back of your legs🦵. It results from the inflammation or compression of the sciatic nerve. 🤰Symptoms of sciaticaSome symptoms of sciatica include pain in the lower back, buttocks or legs🦵. You will find it difficult to walk or stand.🚶 Your legs feel weak and tender. Causes of sciatica during pregnancy🤰Weight gain and growing uterusAs your uterus is growing, your added weight puts pressure on the sciatic nerve. Hence, you will notice pain in your legs🧍🏼 and lower back.🤰Hormonal changesWhen you're pregnant🤰, high levels of relaxin hormones build up and relax ligaments. Hence, joins become unstable and mobile, contributing to tense muscles and sciatic pain.🙁 🤰Shift of the center of gravityYour growing belly👶 and breasts fall forwards and shift your center of gravity. Your lordotic curve is stretched, causing muscles in your buttocks and pelvic area to tighten up and press down the sciatic nerve.☹️ 🤰Baby's positionIt's nearly show time👍! Your baby👶 is ready and in position. As your baby's head moves downwards into the birth position, it may rest on the sciatic nerve and cause pain.  Ways to relieve sciatica🤰Warm compress on the spotYou can take a warm bath🛀 to relax your body and ease the pain. You can also use a warm compress or a heating pad for 10 minutes at a time to mitigate the irritation.🤰ExerciseMove your body around. Stretch your muscles with stretching exercises or prenatal yoga🧘. Swimming is also a great exercise that takes off some of the pressure of the nerve.🤽  🤰Sleep  Sleep😴 on the opposite side of the pain if the pain only happens on one side. For extra comfort at night, you can use a firm mattress or a pregnancy pillow to support your back.🛌🏻 🤰Consult with doctorIf the pain is serious and you can't endure it, you should talk to your doctor👩‍⚕️ for pain medication. A safe dose of acetaminophen can be prescribed to make you feel better but keep you and your baby safe.😃  

Lightning crotch in the third trimester

Lightning crotch is not an actual lightning from the sky hitting your belly. This sharp electric shock is jolting but it's not a serious sign of labor.Lightning crotch in the third trimester😩What is lightning crotch?It is a sharp pain like a jolt or sting in the vagina, rectum or pelvis.😖 The pain can be slight or excruciating. It often lasts no more than a few seconds. 😩What causes lightning crotch?Your baby is moving into position and getting ready to come out.👶 With your baby's head lower in your pelvis, your cervix and other nerves around the lower part of the uterus are under pressure, causing you pain.🙁The difference between lightning crotch and other kinds of pains😩Different from round ligament painRound ligament pain often occurs in the second trimester while lighting crotch often strikes you when you enter the third trimester.🤰 Round ligament pain radiates from your hip bones and varies in terms of pain scales; however, lightning crotch creates a sharp pain that only lasts for seconds.⏲️😩Different from sciaticaThe sciatica starts from the lower back through the pelvis and down each leg, also causing shooting nerve pain.🧠 Sciatica can happen anytime during pregnancy but lightning crotch only happens when you're near the end of the journey.🤰  Moreover, you can feel sciatica along the path of the sciatic nerve. You won't be able to feel pain in the groin or vagina like lightning crotch.🙂😩Different from labor painLightning crotch is not a sign of labor.🙅‍♀️ You may mistake it for labor pain, but labor contractions are often repeating and regular, and the beats are getting closer over time. Lightning crotch will sting for a few seconds and disappear.🙂Ways to prevent lightning crotchYou can wear a support belly band to reduce the pressure on the lower part of the uterus. Gentle exercises to keep you active such as walking🚶 and swimming🏊‍♀️ are recommended. Trying a warm bath also helps you relax.🛀 When you have a lightning crotch, you can shift your position to make yourself more comfortable and less in pain. 

Early signs of labor

Still feel like you won't know when to announce 'It's time'? Even the slightest contraction at this time makes you worried and panic? Stay calm, it can be a false alarm…What is labor?The process of delivering your baby👶 has three different stages. In the first stage, contractions start thinning the skin of your vagina and dilate your cervix. This stage has two phases2️⃣. In the latent phase, your cervix is slowly opening from 0 to 6cm. In the active phase, stronger contractions stretch your cervix further from 6cm to full dilation at 10cm. The second stage begins when your baby's head moves downwards into the vaginal canal and is ready to come out.👋 Push! You'll be pushing during this stage.🏋️ The third stage is the shortest and easiest. After your baby is born and the umbilical cord is cut, your uterus starts contracting again to separate the placenta from the wall of your uterus. You probably won't notice this as you're paying full attention to your new angel here.🤗Early signs of labor👶 Baby has droppedLightening signals your baby👶 is descending into your pelvis a few weeks before labor begins. If this is your first baby, lightening can be a good indicator that your baby is getting into position to make his exit so you should be prepared. In subsequent births, the process doesn't often happen until you're truly in labor.💪You may catch your breath more easily👃 since the pressure is much lifted off your diaphragm. But you will need to pee more often because your baby is now pressing on your bladder.🚽👶 Loss of the mucus plugMucus plug is a small amount of thickened mucus buildup within your cervical canal to seal off your uterus from the world during pregnancy.🤰 If you see the mucus coming out in a lump all at once or little by little as a vaginal discharge, it's likely a sign that your cervix is dilating but it's not the labor time yet.🙅‍♀️ 👶 Bloody showMore vaginal discharge is being released thanks to your body's increased estrogen. When your cervix starts to soften and dilate, you will probably notice pink or bright red blood called bloody show.🩸 Labor is imminent! 👶 Cervix started to efface and dilateEffacement means the cervix stretches and gets thinner. Dilation means the cervix is opening and making ways for the baby. As your due date is near, your doctor👩‍⚕️ may do a vaginal exam during a prenatal visit to determine whether your cervix has stretched and opened.🩺👶 Braxton Hicks contractions  Unlike true labor contractions, they are irregular and not painful.🙂 They often last for fewer than 30 seconds or up to 2 minutes each. You will feel a tightening of your uterus, the front of the lower abdomen or groin that comes and goes. If it comes more frequently or intensely, it may signal true labor is on its way but not always.🤔 

The Lamaze method of childbirth

The Lamaze method is a childbirth preparation method that aims at building confidence and coping with pain during labor. It emphasizes special breathing patterns and other natural relaxation techniques.🧐  The Lamaze method🤰What is Lamaze?Lamaze method was developed by the French obstetrician Ferdinand Lamaze and is popularly known for conscious breathing techniques👃 to cope with labor. The goal of Lamaze classes is to 'increase women's confidence in their ability to give birth'.💪 Not only do the techniques emphasize natural and healthy birth, they also stress awareness, introduce medical interventions as additional tools, and let you know that you are able to give true informed consent.😃   🤰Lamaze healthy birth practicesAccording to Lamaze International, the Lamaze method follows six research-based principles. Labor is a natural process that begins on its own, having all signals such as your body, hormones, or the placenta ready for birth.👶 You are encouraged to stay active during labor by walking🚶, changing positions, moving around since movement helps contractions happen naturally and allows your baby to move into the downward position.🙆‍♀️  You should receive support during labor from friends, your partner; the idea is that a loving environment helps you stay strong and make childbirth easier.💗 Unnecessary medical interventions should be avoided since they may harm the natural process of childbirth.When delivering your baby, you naturally feel the urge, find the right rhythm to push, and coordinate yourself in whatever position that feels the most comfortable. Finally, moms and babies should stay together after birth to create bonding.👶👩 Benefits of the Lamaze methodChildbirth can be overwhelming and difficult if you are anxious about accidents and can't discern the pushing method.😟 The Lamaze method helps you feel more confident about labor and delivery.🤗 A natural childbirth experience without drug intervention gives the Lamaze method widespread popularity among moms who seek an active involvement in decision-making and discernment of your body.😃 You'll be able to understand the process better and learn to navigate a healthy birth in your desired way. Information on Lamaze classesThe typical Lamaze class consists of at least 12 hours of instruction and lasts five to six weeks toward the end of pregnancy.😃 Although most teachers are nurses, they also have backgrounds in counseling, teaching, clinical psychology and physical therapy.  

Rash during pregnancy

Most rashes during pregnancy are unrelated to your pregnancy but there are a few pregnancy conditions that do cause rashes.🧐  Atopic eruption of pregnancy (AEP)🤰SymptomsAEP includes three conditions, atopic dermatitis (eczema), pruritic folliculitis, and prurigo. An outbreak of AEP on your arms, legs🦵 or torso can be extremely itchy. Eczema often appears red🔴 or purple with small bumps and flaky skin. These itchy bumps are grouped, appear thickened and may have a crust. Pruritic folliculitis looks like tiny pimple bumps while prurigo may look like bug bites and dome-shaped papules at the beginning.🙁 🤰TreatmentAEP is treated with topical medication and oral antihistamines. Sometimes oral steroids can be prescribed.💊 Consult with your doctor carefully to have the most accurate diagnosis.Pruritic urticarial papules and plaques (PUPPP)🤰SymptomsYou may feel itchy like crazy at the beginning. PUPPP appears first on your belly or around stretch marks you have, then further spreads to your thighs🦵, buttocks, back, arms💪 and legs. PUPPP doesn't really affect the area above your chest. 🤰TreatmentYou are often given a topical ointment or oral antihistamine. Sometimes oral steroids can also be prescribed if the doctor finds it necessary.💊👩‍⚕️Pemphigoid gestationis🤰SymptomsPemphigoid gestationis is an autoimmune disease, which means your immune system attacks your own organs, creating intensely itchy rash that turns into large, blistering lesions.🙁 The outbreak begins around the belly buttons and travels to other parts of your trunk, arms💪 and legs🦵, including your palms and soles. 🤰Treatment  This condition is often treated with oral steroids. You ask your doctor for an accurate diagnosis.💊👩‍⚕️