You’re almost there, only a few months to go!
You’ve made it through the nausea of the first trimester and, hopefully, you've had some relief recently…but now you’re heading into the final stretch and with it comes a new group of symptoms.
Your baby is getting bigger every day. Although you might feel like your belly couldn’t possibly get any bigger. Your little one will grow from about 2.5 pounds to 6-9 pounds in just 12 short weeks! This fast growth can cause you some kinda unpleasant symptoms:
Lower Back Pain
To prepare your body for birth your connective tissue will loosen, which can cause both hip and lower back pain as your posture changes and more pressure goes onto your lower back.
A nice warm bath and/or warm compresses on your back can help soothe your pain. Also, be extra picky about the chairs you to sit on as they may help or hinder your back pain.
Restless Legs
This is a common but annoying symptom in your third trimester. Restless legs don’t want to be still and you constantly want to move them around. It's a nuisance for you and for your partner trying to sleep next to you.
Low iron or folate levels can trigger this symptom. Floradix (US) / Floravit (CA) is a safe and gentle iron supplement during pregnancy. Also, check with your doctor or midwife to make sure all of your nutrient levels are A-okay.
Hemorrhoids and Varicose Veins
These seemingly unrelated symptoms have the same underlying problem - too much pressure on your veins.
As your baby grows it puts pressure on the veins in your back, causing the veins in your legs to budge and ache. Hemorrhoids are due to the same pressure on the veins in the pelvis and are aggravated by constipation.
Circuvein (US/CA) is a product that helps with both conditions and it is safe to use during pregnancy. It uses two bioflavonoids that support vein health and reduces inflammation.
Birth Prep - C-Section and Vaginal Delivery
A surprisingly important part of your baby’s birth is the transfer of bacteria from you to your baby. The bacteria in your vaginal canal inoculates your baby’s gut and starts the process of growing the vast ecosystem of your baby’s microbiome.
Flora has developed a unique probiotic supplement, Pregnancy Care Probiotic (US/CA), for exactly this time in your life.
This probiotic supplement helps to ensure your vaginal bacteria is balanced prior to your delivery. But it does so much more than that; it really shines if you and your baby require a C-Section.
While some women, due to health reasons, know ahead of time that a C-Section is required, the vast majority are a surprise and are not a part of the birth plan. This important and sometimes life-saving procedure can come with an unpleasant side-effect, and this probiotic can reduce both your risk and your baby’s risk of two frustrating symptoms.
A C-Section generally requires a round of antibiotics, and Flora’s Pregnancy Care Probiotic reduces your risk of having antibiotic-associated diarrhea…a particularly troublesome symptom following this surgery.
It also helps your baby too! Taking this probiotic at least 6 days prior and for 10 days after this procedure can protect your baby from sinister bacteria like E.Coli and Salmonella. Keep your baby’s newly forming microbiome healthy with this special probiotic!
Enjoy these last few months of your pregnancy and the magic of feeling your baby grow so quickly. It won’t be long before you’ll be welcoming your new baby into the world!
Lisa Kilgour is a Registered Holistic Nutritionist (RHN), founder of LisaKilgour.com, and a faculty member at the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition.
