What kind of baby development happens in the third trimester of pregnancy?
By the third trimester, the fetus has almost completely developed. However, some parts of their body do not develop fully as to make it easier for the mother to give birth. These include fetal skull bones, which do not firmly attach to each other at this stage.
A particularly important part of this stage is lung development. This is because fetal lungs tend to finish developing during weeks 32 to 36 of pregnancy. Babies that are born before this specific time frame may develop respiratory distress syndrome.
During the third trimester, the part of the fetus that will exit the uterus first descends to the mother’s pelvis. Doctors refer to this phenomenon as “engagement.”
What are the possible complications during the third trimester?
Since delivery is right around the corner, expecting parents need to watch out for certain health complications. This is why doctors may suggest lifestyle changes and medical treatments as precautions during the third trimester of pregnancy. The possible complications of pregnancy include:
- Preeclampsia, which may lead to premature delivery
- Gestational diabetes, which can cause macrosomia (large for gestational age) in the child
- Preterm labor, which may increase the baby’s risk of developing health conditions
Comments
Share your thoughts
Be the first to let Hello Doctor know your thoughts!
Join Us or Log In to join the discussion