Third trimester (28-40 weeks) tips

By Erin, Mum of 1

Erin shares her tips for getting a comfy night’s sleep whilst pregnant.

You’ll find that once your wee one arrives it can be difficult to fit in time to cook and prepare food for yourself. If you have a freezer at home, you could try batch cooking and freeze some cooked meals now, so you have them for the first few weeks after the baby is home. Preparation in advance can be a lifesaver for hungry new mums and dads.

Take the time to really talk through your plans for the birth with your birthing partner well before your due date. Whether it's driving you to hospital, or holding your hand during contractions, it's better to talk about it in advance. That way, they’ll know what you want and can do all the talking when you’re in labour. It can take a load off your mind to know that your partner can help you communicate your needs and wants.

By Kelly, Mum of 1

Kelly talks to us about using a pregnancy pillow to sleep.

Pop all the important numbers in your phone now, including your local hospital, GP and midwife, so you can get hold of people when the time comes.

The best way to protect yourself and your baby from serious disease and illness is to get the recommended vaccines at the right time. NHS Scotland recommends that pregnant women should have the COVID-19, flu and whooping cough vaccines. You can get the COVID-19 and flu vaccines at any stage of your pregnancy, while whooping cough is recommended from week 16. So if you’ve not already had your jags, ask you midwife for more information on how to get your vaccines.

You can find out more about the immunisations offered during pregnancy and why they’re so important on the NHS Inform website.

It’s not unusual for a baby to arrive early. Or late. They tend to have their own ideas about things. It’s a good idea to try and have your bag packed a few weeks before your due date, just in case.

If you’re still working and need to sit a lot, getting comfy can be tricky – especially as your baby bump gets bigger. Remember to get up every couple of hours and move around. The closer you get to the birth, try not to do too much around the house if you can help it, and get as much rest as you can.

In this film, mum Kat’s top tip is to talk to your partner before baby comes along about what they can do to support you.

Before your baby arrives it’s a good idea to have a think about your feeding options and what feels right for you, whether that’s breastfeeding, bottle feeding or a mix of both. Our page on feeding options has more advice.

If you’re thinking of breastfeeding, it’s worth taking a look at what breastfeeding support is available in your area before your baby comes along, as mum Kat advises in this film.