I was reminded by Claire that I'm in the third trimester now... I hadn't even realized! But I double checked and sure 'nuff... 27 weeks marks the beginning of the final stretch!

Copied and pasted (with my editorial comments) ;) from Dr. Spock.com (a.k.a. the first google search that came up when I typed "when does the third trimester start?"

"The third trimester is usually considered to start at 27 weeks gestation. You are getting down to the wire and preparing for the new addition to your family. You may be feeling many different emotions during this time. You may be very excited to meet your new son or daughter. You may be worried about whether your baby will be healthy. You also may be apprehensive about labor and delivery. (ACTUALLY NOT SO MUCH. LABOR AND DELIVERY MEANS AN END TO THE ACID REFLUX!!) In addition to these changing emotions, physical changes continue in the third trimester:

You will continue to feel fetal activity. You may now feel distinct parts of the baby moving. You may notice a rolling across your abdomen as the baby shifts his position. (HEAD, SHOULDERS, KNEES AND TOES! WEEE!!)

You may need to urinate often, just as you did during your first trimester. As the baby grows larger, there's less room in your abdominal cavity for your bladder. You may also lose urine when you sneeze or cough. This is called stress urinary incontinence or SUI and is common in the last trimester. (WHAT DOES IT SAY THAT I'VE BEEN PEEING MYSELF FOR MONTHS NOW?)

You may notice it is harder to catch your breath. As the baby grows larger, expanding towards your rib cage, there's less room for your lungs to move when you breathe. (I HAVE NO IDEA WHERE MY LUNGS ARE BEING KEPT RIGHT NOW, FRANKLY)

You may notice that you are more fatigued at the end of the day, just as you were during the first trimester. (DEFINITELY WANTING TO NAP MORE THESE DAYS... NOT THAT I EVER GET TO!)

Your belly button may go from an innie to an outtie. (IT'S KIND OF HALFWAY RIGHT NOW. BUT WHEN I COUGH OR SNEEZE, IT POPS OUT LIKE A PARTY BLOWER.)

You may have Braxton-Hicks contractions. (CHECK)

Your breasts may begin to leak colostrum, the first milk, which is yellowish in color. (CHECKITY CHECK! FUN!)

You may notice that the whitish vaginal discharge increases and becomes thicker. (NO COMMENT, THAT'D BE TMI, THANKS!)

You may continue to be constipated. (AGAIN, NO COMMENT)

You might continue to experience heartburn. (REALLY? I HADN'T NOTICED...)

You may continue to become dizzy or faint. (NEVER HAD THIS ONE! WOOHOO!)

You may continue to have nasal congestion. (I WAS DOING FINE UNTIL I CAUGHT THIS STUPID COLD, THANKS)

You might have a backache from carrying the extra weight of your baby. (NAH... THAT'S ACTUALLY ONE PROBLEM I DON'T GET... KNOCK ON ANYTHING THAT LOOKS LIKE WOOD)

You may have leg and feet cramps. (I HAVEN'T GOTTEN THOSE SEIZING MIDDLE-OF-THE-NIGHT LEG CRAMPS YET... BUT THOSE ARE FUN! CAN'T WAIT!)


If you have varicose veins or hemorrhoids, they may become worse. (NEITHER, THANK GOODNESS!)

You may have swelling in your face, hands, ankles, and feet. (NOT THIS ONE, EITHER!)

You may suffer from insomnia. (WELL, IF THE REFLUX WOULD GO AWAY, I'D SLEEP GREAT!)

As the pregnancy comes to an end, you may have a burst of energy and find yourself buying and preparing things for the baby at a fever pitch-commonly known as nesting. (THE NURSERY IS FINISHED, TIME TO ALPHABETIZE MY PANTRY AND CLEAN THINGS WITH Q-TIPS!!!)

Towards the end of the pregnancy, your cervix may begin to thin out, which is known as effacement. It also may start to open, which is called dilation. (NO CLUE?)

You may feel more vaginal pressure. (OH MY GOODESS, WHEN I COUGH? IT FEELS LIKE THE BABY IS GOING TO FLY OUT...)

While the third trimester can be one of the more uncomfortable periods of pregnancy, it is also one of the most exciting. If you are getting frustrated with your aches and pains, as well as the changes in your shape, keep in mind that you are accomplishing an amazing feat--you are growing a whole person inside of your body. Try to keep a good attitude and recognize that the discomfort is temporary. (IT'S MY MANTRA) You are almost there. Your little one will come out to meet you soon!"