The Third Trimester of Pregnancy: Pain and Insomnia

The third trimester is a time of great anticipation. In a few short weeks, your little one will finally be here.

Some of the symptoms during the third trimester can include insomnia and pain. It’s important to know what’s normal and what’s not, particularly when it comes to the discomfort you may feel over the course of the third trimester.

Pain can occur in seemingly every part of your body during this time. From your back to your hips to your stomach, there are many places that may be sore and uncomfortable.

Though insomnia and pain certainly aren’t pleasant, there’s an end in sight. Soon, you’ll be welcoming your new baby to the world.

Stomach pain in the third trimester can include gas, constipation, and Braxton-Hicks contractions (false labor). While these can cause some abdominal discomfort, they shouldn’t cause excessive amounts of pain.

Abdominal pain that’s more severe and concerning can be caused by:

• urinary tract infection (UTI)
• preeclampsia, a condition that causes high blood pressure during pregnancy
• placental abruption, a condition that occurs when your placenta separates from your uterus too early

Call your doctor if you experience:

• vaginal bleeding
• a fever
• chills
• dizziness
• nausea
• vomiting

As your body goes through further changes in preparation for childbirth, hormone levels increase so your connective tissue loosens. This enhances flexibility in your pelvis so your baby can pass through the birth canal more easily.

However, women frequently experience hip pain as the connective tissue loosens and stretches. Lower back pain can also occur along with hip pain, as posture changes may cause you to lean more toward one side or another.

Sleeping on your side with a pillow between your legs may help to relieve this pain because it opens the hips slightly.

Call your doctor if the pain becomes severe or if you feel pressure radiating toward your thighs. These could be signs of preterm labor.

You should also contact your doctor if your pain is accompanied by stomach cramping, contractions that occur roughly 10 minutes apart, or vaginal discharge that’s clear, pink, or brown.

Your sciatic nerve is a long nerve that runs from your lower back all the way down to your feet. When pain occurs along this nerve, the condition is known as sciatica.

Many women experience sciatica during pregnancy because the enlarged uterus presses down on the sciatic nerve. This increased pressure causes pain, tingling, or numbness in the lower back, buttocks, and thighs. It may affect one side or both sides of the body.

While the pain of sciatica is uncomfortable, it shouldn’t hurt your growing baby.

You may be able to ease the pain by stretching, taking a warm bath, or using pillows to position yourself as comfortably as possible.

Vaginal pain during your third trimester can make you feel anxious and stressed. You may wonder if your baby is coming or if the pain is a sign that something’s wrong.

The answer depends on the severity of the pain. Some women experience sharp, piercing pain in the vagina. This could potentially indicate that the cervix is dilating in preparation for delivery.

You should call your doctor immediately if you’re experiencing any of the following:

• severe vaginal pain
• intense pain in the vagina
• intense pain in the lower abdomen
• vaginal bleeding

Even if these symptoms turn out not to be cause for concern, it’s best to get a confirmation from your doctor.

Insomnia is a sleep disorder that makes it difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep on a regular basis. Chances are, both of these symptoms may affect you at some point during your third trimester.

There are several factors that can contribute to insomnia in the third trimester:

Baby’s growing size

During the final trimester, your baby is getting much larger. This can make it harder to breathe while sleeping and more difficult to find a comfortable position.

The lower back pain you may experience during pregnancy can also affect your ability to get a good night’s sleep.

Snoring

Your sleep may also be impacted by snoring. Nasal congestion occurs in up to 42% women during pregnancy and can cause snoring.

The baby’s increased size also puts additional pressure on the diaphragm, or breathing muscles. While some moms-to-be can sleep through the snoring, others may wake themselves up with their snoring.

Leg cramping and restless legs

You may start to develop leg cramping and restless leg syndrome (RLS) in the third trimester.

Cramping can occur as a result of too much phosphorus and too little calcium in the body.

RLS, or the overwhelming need to constantly move your leg, can be a symptom of an iron or folic acid deficiency. For this reason, it’s important to let your doctor know if you’re experiencing the symptoms of RLS. These can include:

• an uncomfortable sensation in the legs
• a strong urge to move one or both legs
• nighttime leg twitching
• sleep interruption

Your doctor may want to perform certain blood tests to determine the cause of RLS.

Insomnia can be a challenging condition. However, there are some steps you can take to get better sleep in your third trimester. Try the ones below:

• Sleep on your left side to promote blood flow to your baby. Place a pillow underneath your belly to support it. If you experience heartburn or acid reflux while lying flat, add extra pillows under your upper body.
• Avoid sleeping on your back when possible, as this restricts blood flow.
• Avoid foods known to contribute to leg cramps, especially carbonated and caffeinated beverages.
• Drink plenty of water to help reduce cramping.
• Share your symptoms with your doctor. If you do experience nasal swelling that causes snoring, your doctor may want to run certain tests to ensure it isn’t a symptom of preeclampsia, or high blood pressure.
• Stretch your legs before going to bed. Try straightening your legs and flexing your feet to help reduce leg cramping that keeps you up at night.
• If you can’t fall asleep, don’t force it. Try reading a book, meditating, or doing another relaxing activity.

Medications

It’s best to avoid taking medications in pregnancy and for insomnia generally, but if other remedies don’t appear to be helping, you can try using a short-term sleep aid.

Make sure to consult with your doctor to choose the best medication. There are some safe sleep aids to use during pregnancy, though some of these can be addictive even when taken short term.

While you can expect some sleep disruptions during your last trimester, talk to your doctor if they’re happening on a daily basis or if you can’t seem to sleep for more than a few hours each night. Sleep is important for both you and your growing baby.