Third Trimester Symptoms and When to Call Your Doctor

Third Trimester Symptoms and When to Call Your Doctor

The third trimester is the final stretch of pregnancy. You may feel excited, uncomfortable, emotional, impatient, and ready to meet your baby. During these last weeks, your body is working hard to support your growing baby and prepare for labor.

Many third trimester symptoms can be normal, including back pain, heartburn, Braxton Hicks contractions, swelling, pelvic pressure, frequent urination, and sleep trouble. But some symptoms should never be ignored.

This guide explains common third trimester symptoms and when to call your doctor, midwife, hospital, or birth center.

Important: This article is for general education only and is not medical advice. If you are worried about a symptom, call your healthcare provider. If symptoms feel urgent and you cannot reach your provider, seek emergency care.

What Is the Third Trimester?

The third trimester usually begins around week 28 and continues until delivery. Mayo Clinic describes the third trimester as the final 12 weeks of a full-term pregnancy and notes that this stage can challenge both the body and mind as your due date approaches. Source

During this stage, your baby continues growing, gaining weight, and preparing for life outside the womb. At the same time, your body may feel heavier, tighter, more tired, and more sensitive to daily movement.

1. Back Pain

Back pain is one of the most common third trimester symptoms. As your belly grows, your posture shifts, your center of gravity changes, and your muscles work harder to support your body.

Back pain may feel like:

  • Lower back aching
  • Hip discomfort
  • Pelvic soreness
  • More discomfort after standing or walking
  • Relief when resting or changing positions

Gentle stretching, supportive shoes, pregnancy pillows, and rest may help some moms, but always ask your provider before starting new exercises or using pain relief products.

2. Pelvic Pressure

Pelvic pressure can become more noticeable in the third trimester, especially as baby moves lower. Some moms describe it as heaviness, pressure, or the feeling that baby is pressing down.

Pelvic pressure can be normal late in pregnancy, but call your provider if it becomes intense, comes with regular contractions, fluid leaking, bleeding, fever, or severe pain.

3. Braxton Hicks Contractions

Braxton Hicks contractions are often called practice contractions. They may feel like your belly is tightening and relaxing. Mayo Clinic explains that Braxton Hicks contractions can happen during the last months of pregnancy and do not mean labor has started. Source

Braxton Hicks contractions are often:

  • Irregular
  • Mild or uncomfortable
  • Short-lasting
  • Improved by hydration, rest, or changing positions
  • Not getting stronger or closer together over time

Call your provider if contractions become regular, painful, closer together, or happen before 37 weeks with pelvic pressure, back pain, bleeding, or fluid leaking.

4. Heartburn and Indigestion

Heartburn can get worse in the third trimester because pregnancy hormones and a growing uterus can affect digestion.

Some moms find relief by:

  • Eating smaller meals
  • Avoiding trigger foods
  • Sitting upright after eating
  • Avoiding large meals close to bedtime
  • Asking their provider about safe pregnancy options

Call your provider if pain feels severe, unusual, or comes with chest pain, shortness of breath, fainting, or other concerning symptoms.

5. Shortness of Breath

Mild shortness of breath can happen in late pregnancy as your uterus grows and your body needs more oxygen. However, sudden or severe shortness of breath is not something to ignore.

Call your provider or seek urgent care if you have:

  • Trouble breathing
  • Chest pain
  • Fast heartbeat
  • Blue lips
  • Fainting
  • Shortness of breath that gets worse quickly

The CDC includes trouble breathing, chest pain, and a fast-beating heart among urgent maternal warning signs. Source

6. Swelling

Mild swelling in the feet and ankles can be common in late pregnancy, especially after standing, warm weather, or long days.

However, sudden or extreme swelling can be a warning sign. Call your provider if swelling appears suddenly, affects your face or hands, or comes with headache, vision changes, chest pain, or trouble breathing. The CDC lists extreme swelling of the hands or face as an urgent maternal warning sign. Source

7. Frequent Urination

As baby grows and presses on your bladder, you may need to pee more often. This is a common third trimester symptom.

Call your provider if you have:

  • Burning with urination
  • Fever
  • Back pain
  • Blood in urine
  • Strong pelvic pain

These symptoms may need medical evaluation.

8. Trouble Sleeping

Sleep can become harder in the third trimester. You may wake often to pee, change positions, manage heartburn, or adjust to baby movement.

Helpful ideas may include:

  • Using pillows for belly and hip support
  • Keeping a calming bedtime routine
  • Avoiding large meals close to bedtime
  • Keeping water nearby
  • Resting during the day if nighttime sleep is difficult

9. Baby Movement Changes

Baby movement can feel different as pregnancy progresses because baby has less room to make large movements. However, your baby should still move.

Call your provider right away if you notice a major decrease in movement, movement stops, or your baby is not moving as expected. Do not wait until the next day if you are worried.

Tracking baby movement memories can also become part of your pregnancy story. The Momentiqa Pregnancy Journal Book gives you a gentle place to record kicks, questions, symptoms, and final trimester memories. Explore it here.

10. Headaches

Some headaches can happen during pregnancy, but severe headaches should be taken seriously. ACOG notes that a bad headache can sometimes be a sign of preeclampsia, a serious high blood pressure disorder during pregnancy. Source

Call your provider urgently if you have:

  • A severe headache
  • A headache that will not go away
  • Vision changes
  • Dizziness or fainting
  • Swelling of the face or hands
  • Pain in the upper belly

11. Vision Changes

Blurry vision, flashing lights, seeing spots, double vision, or temporary vision loss should be checked promptly. The CDC lists changes in vision as an urgent maternal warning sign. Source

If vision changes happen with headache, swelling, dizziness, or upper belly pain, call your provider or seek urgent care right away.

12. Vaginal Bleeding

Light spotting can sometimes happen after a cervical exam or sex, but bleeding in the third trimester should always be discussed with your provider.

Call your doctor, midwife, hospital, or birth center right away if you notice:

  • Heavy bleeding
  • Bright red bleeding
  • Bleeding with pain
  • Bleeding with contractions
  • Passing clots

The CDC includes vaginal bleeding or fluid leaking during pregnancy as an urgent maternal warning sign. Source

13. Fluid Leaking

If you think your water broke, call your provider or hospital for instructions. Fluid leaking may feel like a gush or a slow trickle.

Call right away if you notice:

  • A sudden gush of fluid
  • Continuous leaking
  • Fluid that is green, brown, or foul-smelling
  • Fluid leaking before 37 weeks
  • Fluid leaking with fever or decreased baby movement

14. Signs of Labor

As your due date gets closer, you may wonder whether symptoms mean labor is beginning.

Possible signs of labor include:

  • Regular contractions that get stronger and closer together
  • Lower back pain that comes in waves
  • Water breaking
  • Bloody show
  • Pelvic pressure

Your provider can tell you when to call and when to go to the hospital based on your pregnancy, distance from care, and medical history.

15. Emotional Changes

The third trimester can bring anxiety, excitement, impatience, fear of birth, nesting energy, and emotional ups and downs.

Reach out to your provider if anxiety, sadness, panic, or hopelessness feels intense or interferes with daily life. Seek immediate help if you have thoughts of harming yourself or your baby. The CDC includes thoughts about hurting yourself or your baby among urgent maternal warning signs. Source

When to Call Your Doctor During the Third Trimester

Call your provider or seek urgent care if you experience:

  • Severe headache that will not go away
  • Vision changes
  • Sudden or extreme swelling of hands or face
  • Chest pain or fast heartbeat
  • Trouble breathing
  • Heavy bleeding
  • Fluid leaking from the vagina
  • Severe belly pain
  • Fever of 100.4°F or higher
  • Dizziness or fainting
  • Severe nausea and vomiting
  • Regular contractions before 37 weeks
  • Reduced or stopped baby movement
  • Thoughts of harming yourself or your baby

If you cannot reach your provider and symptoms feel urgent, go to the emergency room and tell them you are pregnant.

How to Track Third Trimester Symptoms

Tracking symptoms can help you feel more organized and prepared for appointments.

You may want to record:

  • Pregnancy week
  • Baby movement patterns
  • Contractions or tightening
  • Swelling changes
  • Sleep quality
  • Questions for your provider
  • Hospital bag progress
  • Birth plan notes

The Momentiqa Pregnancy Journal Gift Set helps preserve final trimester memories, birth wishes, appointment notes, and your journey from bump to birth. View it here.

Use the Momentiqa App for Gentle Organization

The Momentiqa App is designed to work alongside Momentiqa books, helping moms organize pregnancy memories, prompts, symptoms, preparation notes, and early motherhood moments. Learn more here.

After Baby Arrives

Soon, these third trimester symptoms will become part of your baby’s beginning story. After birth, you may want to preserve first photos, hospital bracelets, first feeding memories, first visitors, and early milestones.

The Momentiqa Baby Memory Book Set helps parents document baby’s first milestones and early memories. View it here.

You can also explore the Birth to Age 5 Memory Book here.

Frequently Asked Questions About Third Trimester Symptoms

What symptoms are normal in the third trimester?

Common third trimester symptoms may include back pain, pelvic pressure, heartburn, Braxton Hicks contractions, mild swelling, frequent urination, trouble sleeping, and stronger baby movements.

When should I call my doctor in the third trimester?

Call your doctor for severe headache, vision changes, sudden swelling, heavy bleeding, fluid leaking, chest pain, trouble breathing, fever, severe belly pain, reduced baby movement, or regular contractions before 37 weeks.

Are Braxton Hicks contractions normal?

Braxton Hicks contractions can be normal in late pregnancy. They are usually irregular and do not get stronger or closer together. Call your provider if contractions become regular, painful, or happen with bleeding or fluid leaking.

Should baby movement slow down before labor?

Movement may feel different as baby has less room, but baby should still move. Call your provider right away if movement decreases significantly or stops.

Final Thoughts

Third trimester symptoms can be uncomfortable, but many are expected as your body prepares for birth. Back pain, pelvic pressure, heartburn, Braxton Hicks contractions, sleep trouble, and mild swelling can happen in late pregnancy.

However, symptoms like severe headache, vision changes, heavy bleeding, fluid leaking, chest pain, trouble breathing, fever, severe belly pain, sudden swelling, or reduced baby movement should be checked right away.

Trust your instincts. If something feels wrong, call your doctor.

To preserve your final trimester memories, baby movement notes, and birth story, explore the Momentiqa Pregnancy Journal Book here.
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