Third Trimester Symptoms can feel intense because baby is bigger, your body is preparing for birth, and discomforts like pelvic pressure, swelling, Braxton Hicks, shortness of breath, and sleep problems may become more noticeable.
Third Trimester Symptoms: Baby Movement, Labor Signs, and When to Call
This third trimester symptoms guide explains baby movement, Braxton Hicks, pelvic pressure, swelling, shortness of breath, frequent urination, back pain, labor signs, warning signs, and when to call your doctor.
What Are Third Trimester Symptoms?
Third trimester symptoms are the body changes and discomforts that can happen in the last stage of pregnancy, usually from week 28 until birth.
Cleveland Clinic says the third trimester begins at 28 weeks and ends at 40 weeks or when you give birth. Notable third trimester symptoms include shortness of breath, false contractions, and peeing more often. Cleveland Clinic
ACOG says that during the third trimester, you may feel fetal movement strongly, feel short of breath, need to urinate more often, have swelling in the feet and ankles, and leak colostrum from the nipples. ACOG
This page is for general education. It does not replace medical care. Always call your own doctor, midwife, hospital, birth center, or healthcare provider with symptoms that worry you.
Third Trimester Symptoms by Week
Third trimester symptoms can change from week 28 to week 40. Baby gets bigger, movement may feel stronger, your belly may feel tighter, and labor signs may become more important near the end.
Some symptoms may come and go. Others may get stronger as baby grows and drops lower into the pelvis.
- 28 Weeks Pregnant: the third trimester begins.
- 29 Weeks Pregnant: movement may feel stronger.
- 30 Weeks Pregnant: sleep and comfort may become harder.
- 31 Weeks Pregnant: baby begins gaining weight quickly.
- 32 Weeks Pregnant: belly tightness and pressure may increase.
- 33 Weeks Pregnant: kicks may feel more like rolls and stretches.
- 34 Weeks Pregnant: birth prep may feel more real.
- 35 Weeks Pregnant: swelling, pressure, and fatigue may increase.
- 36 Weeks Pregnant: baby position may be checked.
- 37 Weeks Pregnant: labor signs may become more important.
- 38 Weeks Pregnant: Braxton Hicks and pressure may feel stronger.
- 39 Weeks Pregnant: baby may be close to birth.
- 40 Weeks Pregnant: your due date is here or close.
Common Third Trimester Symptoms
Third trimester symptoms can include stronger baby movement, back pain, pelvic pressure, hip pain, swelling, heartburn, constipation, shortness of breath, frequent urination, Braxton Hicks, sleep problems, leg cramps, and leaking colostrum.
Mayo Clinic says third trimester symptoms may include backaches, shortness of breath, heartburn, spider veins, varicose veins, hemorrhoids, frequent urination, Braxton Hicks contractions, and stretch marks. Mayo Clinic
- Strong kicks, rolls, stretches, or pressure from baby.
- Backache, hip pain, sore ribs, or pelvic pressure.
- Braxton Hicks contractions or belly tightening.
- Shortness of breath or feeling winded more easily.
- Frequent urination or bladder pressure.
- Heartburn, reflux, bloating, constipation, or gas.
- Swelling in the feet, ankles, hands, or fingers.
- Leg cramps, restless legs, or trouble sleeping.
- Hemorrhoids, varicose veins, or skin stretching.
- More vaginal discharge or mucus-like discharge.
- Leaking colostrum from the breasts.
- More emotional ups and downs as delivery gets closer.
Third Trimester Symptoms: Baby Movement
Baby movement is one of the most important third trimester symptoms to pay attention to. Movement may feel like kicks, rolls, stretches, pushes, taps, hiccups, or pressure.
Mayo Clinic says baby’s movements will likely become easier to feel as pregnancy progresses. Mayo Clinic
Movement may feel different near the end because baby has less room, but baby should still move in a pattern that is normal for your baby.
CDC says there is no specific number of movements that is considered normal. A change in your baby’s movement is what is important. CDC
Important: Call your provider, hospital, or maternity unit right away if baby movement is clearly reduced, weaker, stopped, or different from your baby’s normal pattern. Do not wait until the next day.
Third Trimester Symptoms: Braxton Hicks
Braxton Hicks contractions are common third trimester symptoms. They may feel like your belly gets tight, firm, or hard and then relaxes.
Cleveland Clinic lists false contractions as a notable third trimester symptom. Cleveland Clinic
Braxton Hicks are often irregular. They may ease with water, rest, or changing positions. Labor contractions usually become stronger, longer, closer together, and harder to ignore.
Call your provider if contractions are regular, painful, getting closer together, paired with bleeding, leaking fluid, back pain, strong pelvic pressure, or if you are before 37 weeks and worried about preterm labor.
Third Trimester Symptoms: Pelvic Pressure
Pelvic pressure can be one of the more uncomfortable third trimester symptoms. You may feel heaviness, pressure low in the pelvis, pressure in the vagina, or a feeling that baby is pushing down.
Pelvic pressure can happen because baby is bigger, your uterus is heavier, ligaments are stretched, and baby may settle lower as delivery gets closer.
Call your provider if pelvic pressure is strong, sudden, rhythmic, paired with contractions, leaking fluid, bleeding, back pain, or if it feels like preterm labor symptoms.
Third Trimester Symptoms: Back Pain and Hip Pain
Back pain and hip pain are common third trimester symptoms. A bigger belly, posture changes, weight gain, loosening joints, and baby’s position can all add pressure.
Mayo Clinic lists backaches as a possible third trimester symptom. Mayo Clinic
Supportive shoes, pillows, resting one foot on a stool when standing, gentle stretching, and changing positions may help. Ask your provider what is safe for your pregnancy.
Call quickly for severe back pain, back pain with contractions, fever, burning with urination, bleeding, leaking fluid, numbness, weakness, or pain that feels unusual.
Third Trimester Symptoms: Shortness of Breath
Shortness of breath can happen during the third trimester because your uterus is larger and baby may press upward near your ribs and diaphragm.
ACOG says you may be short of breath during the third trimester, and Cleveland Clinic also lists shortness of breath as a notable third trimester symptom. ACOG Cleveland Clinic
Mild breathlessness with activity can happen, but severe shortness of breath should never be ignored.
Call urgent care, your provider, or emergency services for chest pain, severe shortness of breath, fainting, blue lips, fast heartbeat that does not settle, coughing blood, or trouble breathing while resting.
Third Trimester Symptoms: Frequent Urination
Frequent urination is one of the common third trimester symptoms. Baby can put more pressure on your bladder, especially after baby drops lower.
ACOG says you may need to urinate more often as the fetus drops and puts extra pressure on your bladder. ACOG
Call your provider if you have burning, pain, fever, back pain, chills, blood in your urine, or feeling very unwell, because urinary infections should be checked during pregnancy.
Third Trimester Symptoms: Swelling
Swelling can happen during the third trimester, especially in the feet and ankles. Heat, standing, long days, and fluid changes can make swelling worse.
ACOG says feet and ankles may swell during pregnancy. ACOG
Some swelling can be common, but sudden swelling can be a warning sign.
Call your provider right away for sudden swelling of the face, hands, or around the eyes, swelling with severe headache, vision changes, chest pain, shortness of breath, or one leg that is much more swollen, red, warm, or painful.
Third Trimester Symptoms: Heartburn and Constipation
Heartburn, reflux, bloating, gas, and constipation can continue or get worse as third trimester symptoms. Baby is bigger, digestion may be slower, and pressure on the stomach and intestines can increase.
Mayo Clinic lists heartburn as a possible third trimester symptom. Mayo Clinic
Small meals, fluids, fiber, gentle movement, avoiding trigger foods, and not lying down right after eating may help some moms. Ask your provider before using antacids, stool softeners, laxatives, or supplements.
Call your provider for severe abdominal pain, vomiting that will not stop, signs of dehydration, blood in stool, severe constipation, or pain that does not feel like normal digestion.
Third Trimester Symptoms: Leg Cramps and Sleep Problems
Leg cramps, restless legs, hip pain, baby movement, heartburn, bathroom trips, anxiety, and trouble getting comfortable can make sleep harder in the third trimester.
Side sleeping, pillows between your knees, gentle stretching, fluids earlier in the day, and asking your provider about heartburn or leg cramps may help.
Call your provider if leg pain is one-sided, severe, red, warm, swollen, or paired with chest pain or trouble breathing.
Third Trimester Symptoms: Vaginal Discharge and Mucus Plug
More vaginal discharge can happen during the third trimester. You may also notice mucus-like discharge near the end of pregnancy.
Some discharge can be normal, but watery fluid, bleeding, bad odor, itching, burning, green or yellow discharge, or fluid that keeps leaking should be checked.
If you think your water broke, call your provider or hospital. Fluid may come as a gush, trickle, or steady leaking.
Third Trimester Symptoms: Labor Signs
Some third trimester symptoms may be signs that labor is starting. Labor signs can include regular contractions, waters breaking, bloody show, backache, cramping, pelvic pressure, and contractions that get stronger and closer together.
If your waters break, call your provider for instructions. Call right away if the fluid is green, brown, bloody, smells bad, or if baby movement is reduced.
Read the full Labor and Delivery Guide to learn more about contractions, water breaking, labor stages, pain relief, and when to go to the hospital.
Third Trimester Symptoms: Preterm Labor Signs
Before 37 weeks, some symptoms can be signs of preterm labor and should be checked quickly.
Cleveland Clinic says signs of preterm labor include fluid leaking from the vagina, vaginal bleeding, contractions, back pain, and pelvic pain. Cleveland Clinic
Call your provider right away before 37 weeks for regular contractions, leaking fluid, vaginal bleeding, strong pelvic pressure, low back pain that does not go away, period-like cramps, or a feeling that something is wrong.
Third Trimester Symptoms That Can Be Normal
Many third trimester symptoms can be normal and uncomfortable at the same time. Mild swelling, backache, hip pain, heartburn, constipation, frequent urination, Braxton Hicks, sleep problems, and stronger baby movement can all happen in this stage.
Symptoms can also change based on baby’s position, how much you have been standing, hydration, sleep, work, heat, stress, and how close you are to delivery.
Even if a symptom can be normal, you should still call your provider if it feels severe, sudden, scary, or different from your usual pregnancy pattern.
Third Trimester Symptoms Warning Signs
Most third trimester symptoms are uncomfortable but not dangerous. Still, some symptoms need urgent medical attention.
CDC lists urgent maternal warning signs such as headache that will not go away or gets worse, dizziness or fainting, vision changes, fever, extreme swelling of the hands or face, trouble breathing, chest pain, severe nausea and vomiting, severe belly pain, and baby movement stopping or slowing during pregnancy. CDC
Call your doctor, hospital, birth center, or emergency services right away for heavy bleeding, leaking fluid, green or brown fluid, baby moving less, regular painful contractions before 37 weeks, severe headache, vision changes, sudden swelling, chest pain, severe shortness of breath, fever, fainting, severe belly pain, severe vomiting, severe itching, one-sided leg swelling or pain, or anything that feels seriously wrong. This page is for general education and does not replace medical care.
Third Trimester Symptoms Summary
Third trimester symptoms may include strong baby movement, back pain, hip pain, pelvic pressure, Braxton Hicks, swelling, shortness of breath, frequent urination, heartburn, constipation, leg cramps, sleep problems, vaginal discharge, and early labor signs.
Some third trimester symptoms are normal discomforts, but others should be checked quickly. Baby movement that is reduced, weaker, stopped, or different from normal should never be ignored.
The most important thing to remember about third trimester symptoms is this: call your provider for bleeding, leaking fluid, reduced movement, severe pain, severe headache, vision changes, sudden swelling, chest pain, trouble breathing, fever, regular contractions before 37 weeks, or anything that feels wrong.