Third Trimester Emotions You can Expect
The third trimester is an emotionally easier time. By now you have learned that pregnancy can be both unspeakably wonderful and incredibly challenging, and you have become used to handling these mixed emotions.
Thus, many of the emotional and physical “growing pains” of pregnancy are now behind you, and the third trimester emotions that lie ahead are mainly those directly involved with delivering a baby.
Here are some typical third trimester emotions women may experience in the seventh month:
Euphoria
One of the third trimester emotions you may experience is a natural high quite unlike anything you’ve ever felt; a combination of feeling special and proud, and wanting the whole world to acknowledge how important you are. Savor every moment of these worry-free times. Sooner or later a thump in the ribs, a stitch in the side, an irritating itch somewhere or an attack of heartburn will pull you out of pregnancy heaven down to earth-mother reality.
Forgetful
Preoccupation with your pregnancy and the approaching birth causes many women to be a bit spacey and prone to daydreaming. You may forget important events such as birthdays and appointments.
You may stop in the middle of a sentence, unable to remember the point you were trying to make, and what’s even more amazing, you don’t care because the point you were trying to make doesn’t seem that important anyway.
You may have to consult your calendar hourly, or post notes to yourself in places where you can’t miss them, such as the steering wheel of your car, the refrigerator or the bathroom mirror.
The Need for a Time Out
You’ve been through a lot and still have a lot of work ahead of you. You are not a “bad” mother for wanting time out. Think of them as rehearsals for the low points of parenthood, the days when you will feel like resigning, even though that’s not really an option (and one you wouldn’t take if it were offered).
Eager to Get Things Done
Third trimester emotions that many women feel is a renewed desire in the seventh month to tie up loose ends at work, organize the photo albums, clean out closets or catch up on social obligations. Often the nesting instinct, the desire to wallpaper the nursery and scrub the house for the baby, kicks in this month, though others do not show this obsession with getting things in order until the eighth or ninth month. While it’s true you have more energy now than in the last two months, don’t overdo it.
Remember, your first priority is making sure you have the energy you need to take care of yourself and grow your baby. To do this, you will need to become good at delegating. You might as well begin delegating responsibilities to your mate now; in the first few weeks after the baby arrives, his help will be crucial to your survival.
Birth Decisions Overwhelming Your Third Trimester Emotions
You may be halfway through your series of childbirth classes before you think seriously about your birth philosophy and begin to consider the many birthing options available to you. It’s easy to be confused by all these choices and to feel burdened by the pressure to make them.