3rd Trimester

Weeks 28 until you give birth (usually week 40) is known the third trimester.

And even though you've made it through more than half of your pregnancy, there is still a lot of work left to be done in the final three months. During this time your baby will start blinking, dreaming, tasting what you eat, listening to the world outside her, and delivering some serious ninja kicks.

Here are 10 things you can expect in your third trimester.

1. An urge to pee all-the-time.

Your growing baby is putting pressure on your bladder which in turn is making you want to rush (okay, waddle) to the nearest restroom every 5 minutes.

2. Leaky boobs

Throughout your pregnancy, your breasts have been enlarging, but it is in the third trimester that they also start leaking. This is your body's way of getting ready to feed the baby.

3. The nesting instinct

Birds are best known for nesting, but humans do it too. The arrival of a baby is life-changing, to put it mildly, and the instinct to prepare for the baby kicks in during the third trimester. Nesting is like spring cleaning on steroids—it's all about organisation, cleanliness and preparation.

4. Varicose veins

Due to poor blood circulation in your lower extremities, your might get swollen blue or reddish veins that bulge beneath the surface of the skin during the third trimester. Varicose veins are common during this time and tend to develop in the calves, legs, and thighs, as well as in the rectum, where they are known as haemorrhoids (eeks!).

5. Braxton Hicks contractions

Nature has a funny way of preparing you for tough times. Braxton Hicks contractions are painless, irregular and infrequent contractions that prepare you for labour.

You can tell Braxton Hicks contractions from actual contractions because the former doesn't increase in intensity and usually goes away when you change positions.

6. Irritation, impatience and fatigue

Not only are you lugging around an extra 20 to 30 pounds (or more), your expanding uterus has rearranged other organs in your body, adding even more strain. Mild exercise and eating right are good ways to combat fatigue.

Towards the end of your third trimester, you will start to feel fed up and will just want the baby to get out already. It is important to have a support group/ someone you can talk to for managing mood swings.

7. Vaginal discharge

All through your pregnancy you would have noticed white vaginal discharge and this will increase big time in your third trimester.

8. Snissing

Peeing a little when you sneeze? Yeah, that's snissing and it's going to happen...A LOT.

Don't worry, you have the rest of your life to get back at your kid.

9. All kinds of aches and pains

Carrying an extra 4-5kgs can lead to some serious discomfort and pain especially in your back, hips and lower joints. Pain in and around the bottom of your bulging belly are also caused by ligaments being stretched to accommodate your growing bump and is officially (and appropriately) called Round Ligament Pain.

Indulge yourself in prenatal massages by certified therapists.

10. People's remarks

Since you are now visibly pregnant, be prepared for people to talk about your pregnancy (and your bump) like it's public property. Predictions of the baby's sex, comments on how big your bump is, what you should/should not be eating are all much too common.

A smile and nod approach goes a long way, but you can tell them off too - you're pregnant, you can get away with it!