Third trimester essentials

Third trimester essentials

Since I’m a few weeks into my third trimester, I thought it would be a good time to share my third trimester essentials and a 7 month pregnancy update.

The third trimester brings a whole new set of needs, doesn’t it? For me, it’s all about preparation. Things are about to get real!

There’s the practical preparation, like washing my baby’s clothes and planning who will care for Jonah.

But there’s also the physical and emotional preparation for labour, birth, and life with a newborn!

During my third trimester with Jonah, I followed a HypnoBirthing course with my hospital. This pregnancy, I’ve used the same HypnoBirthing practise since the start of my third trimester.

I have a nice daily routine of listening to affirmations, breathing practise, guided relaxation, and drinking raspberry leaf tea. Soon, I’ll be doing perineal massage and eating dates.

Third trimester essentials checklist

  • Hypnobirthing classes and materials
  • Candles and other sensory relaxation aids
  • Perineum massage oil – buy one ready blended or use sweet almond oil
  • Creams, balms or oils to treat varicose and spider veins and heavy legs
  • Magnesium spray
  • Red raspberry leaf tea or third trimester tea
  • Haemorrhoid treatment that’s suitable for pregnancy
  • Aloe vera spray
  • Dates – from 36 weeks
  • Pregnancy multivitamins
  • Sleep products – like a relaxing pillow spray, nasal strips, and bath salts
  • And items from my second trimester essentials including a nursing bra, pregnancy pillow, stretch mark treatments, and more
  • Are you ready to start thinking about your labour and postpartum & hospital bag essentials, too?
  • If you’re planning on breastfeeding, now is a good time to think about breastfeeding essentials e.g. a breast pump, shells, shields, etc

Emotionally, I’ve been up and down. The thought of Jonah growing up and being a big brother brings happy tears. I’m so excited for our new baby, but naturally I have worries too. Can I be a good mum to 2 children? Will we all get through the sleepless nights and endless breastfeeding?

Physically, I’m feeling quite well, stronger than I did with Jonah. I’m not sitting at a desk all day, nor driving 90 minutes to and from work.

Life with a toddler can be tiring, but I’m lucky to have good family support.

Are you curious to know my third trimester essentials? Let’s take a look!

My third trimester essentials

Unusually for me, there’s not much skincare listed in this post. That’s because I’m still using my second trimester essentials which include some lovely tummy oils, leg care, and an unscented moisturiser.

Hypnobirthing: The Mongan Method

Labour preparation with HypnoBirthing has to be top of my third trimester essentials. As part of my HypnoBirthing course, I received this book plus a CD containing affirmations and a guided relaxation recording. HypnoBirthing without a doubt improved the course of my pregnancy with Jonah and changed my thinking around labour and birth. Of course, I’m reading the book again during my third trimester in this pregnancy.

Hypnobirthing: The Mongan Method

HypnoBirthing teaches that birth is one of the most natural experiences of a woman’s life, not to be feared but to be celebrated. Marie Mongan was inspired by the work of Grantley Dick-Read who observed women birthing in third world countries, and believed that the reason western women feel so much pain is because they fear childbirth.

The book focuses on releasing tension and fear through relaxation. It explains how your body and your baby work together to make birthing easier. There are so many lovely practises to follow in the book, like rainbow breathing, deep visualisation techniques, and gentle touch partner massage.

Thanks to this book Jonah’s birth was medication-free. Even though there were interventions I hadn’t planned for, it was still a positive experience that I was completely present for. This book will help you handle whatever turn your birthing may take.

Hypnobirthing: The Mongan Method

Buy Now – £11.76 at Amazon


Hyp Calm Candle

This candle is amazing – it’s actually designed to be used with HypnoBirthing practise. With organic lavender, frankincense, and mandarin, it supports deep relaxation.

Hyp Calm Candle

The candle is made with only natural ingredients. As you would expect, it’s toxin and pollutant-free. I’ll be using it at home during my HypnoBirthing practise. It smells so good I know I’ll want to burn it often, but I hope it lasts me until I go into labour – the fragrance takes me to a peaceful place.

Candles can’t be used in hospital, but Hyp also sell a pure essential oil blend in Calm, so I’m hoping to get some for my labour kit.


Weleda Perineum Massage Oil

Perineal massage can be started from 34 weeks. The aim is to increase the elasticity of the perineum to avoid a tear or need for episiotomy during the crowning stage of labour. Weleda Perineum Massage Oil is used in conjunction with massage to relax the birthing area and make it supple and elastic. It can also help reduce perineal pain in the 3 months after birth.

Weleda Perineum Massage Oil

I did perineal massage in my first pregnancy. However, Jonah was in distress during labour so I needed an episiotomy anyway. Despite the unforeseen intervention, I’m sure perineal massage helped me to heal faster in this delicate area after Jonah’s birth.

Because I’ve already had an episiotomy, and scar tissue is weaker, another episiotomy or a tear is likely. Perineal massage won’t have the same potential benefits for me this time around. However I’ll be doing it again to reduce pain in the area and speed my healing after birth.

Weleda Perineum Massage Oil contains sweet almond and wheat-germ oils which have a softening effect. Clary sage contains sclareol, known to relax the tissues of the perineum.

Weleda Perineum Massage Oil

Buy Now – £8.63 at Amazon


Laboratoire du Haut Segala Tamanu Oil

Tamanu oil has some amazing benefits. I’ll be using it during the last few weeks of my pregnancy to improve the circulation in my legs. I hope it will ease my tired legs, spider veins, and varicose veins.

Disclosure: Laboratoire du Haut Segala Tamanu Oil gifted by Eco Beauty Shop.

Laboratoire du Haut Segala Tamanu Oil

Because this oil stimulates blood circulation, it may strengthen the blood vessels and even help fractured blood vessels to regenerate. It might also diminish the appearance of varicose veins. It’s worth a try, so I’m massaging it into my legs regularly.

There are so many other uses for this oil. I’ve created a DIY pregnancy foot scrub with it, and I’ll be sure to use it in other ways, too.

Interested in this lovely French brand? Read my review of Laboratoire du Haut-Segala.

Laboratoire du Haut-Segala Organic Tamanu Oil

Buy Now – €13.20 at haut-segala.com


JoviTea Raspberry Leaf Tea

Many pregnant women take traditional remedy raspberry leaf tea after 32 weeks. Rich in vitamins, minerals, and tannins, some believe raspberry leaf tea strengthens the uterus wall and speeds up labour.

JoviTea Raspberry Leaf Tea

I recommend you do plenty of research before starting to drink raspberry leaf tea. There have been a few studies into its efficacy and safety, some with inconclusive results.

Personally, I drank 1 cup a day in my pregnancy with Jonah, leading to 3 cups a day towards the end of my pregnancy. Did I have a shorter labour? It’s hard to say – Jonah arrived about 12 hours from my waters breaking.

The takeaway for me is that raspberry leaf tea has a long history of use amongst women to improve reproductive health, and I trust that collective mama wisdom! I enjoy raspberry leaf tea and its benefits are exciting. I’ll build up to 3 cups a day until my baby is born.

The great thing about JoviTea is that it’s loose, pure, and certified organic.

JoviTea Raspberry Leaf Tea

Buy Now – £8.99 at Amazon


Earth Mama Third Trimester Tea

I was drinking this before I hit 32 weeks as it’s safe to drink anytime in pregnancy. It’s absolutely delicious, very similar to the Happy Bumps Tea I featured in my second trimester essentials. The flavour is refreshingly mild and minty.

Earth Mama Third Trimester Tea

The naturally caffeine-free tea is 100% organic. It contains vitamins and minerals from herbs traditionally used for labour preparation – red raspberry leaf, nettle, chamomile, rosehip, and oat straw. There are 16 bags in the box. I’ve almost finished my box already and now I’ll drink loose raspberry leaf tea instead as it packs more of a punch.

Earth Mama Third Trimester Tea

Buy Now – £4 at Amazon


Seven Minerals Aloe Vera Spray

This organic aloe vera spray is so soothing on my stretched itchy belly, it’s a real blessing. Seven Minerals Aloe Vera Spray is unique in that it contains no thickeners, so it sinks in faster and gets to work sooner. There is nothing better when a bout of itching begins!

Seven Minerals Aloe Vera Spray

I bought a big bottle so that I can use it after my baby is born to soothe any bruising. I use my aloe vera spray in conjunction with my favourite stretch mark oils, Weleda Stretch Mark Oil and Kit & Kin Stretch Mark Oil.

Aloe vera has so many uses, I’ll be sure to use this bottle within the year.

Seven Minerals Aloe Vera Spray

Buy Now – £15.95 at Amazon


Holland & Barrett Dates

Date consumption from 36 weeks of pregnancy has been linked to positive birth outcomes, such as spontaneous labour without the need for induction, and a shorter first stage of labour.

Holland & Barratt Dates

It turns out the date fruit has oxytocin-like effects on the uterus which increases its sensitivity, helps with contractions, and reduces the chance of postpartum bleeding. They’re also delicious and nutritious – I’ll be adding them to my porridge soon!

Holland & Barrett Dates

Buy Now – 49p at Holland & Barrett


Final thoughts on my third trimester essentials

I hope you’ve enjoyed reading my third trimester essentials. It’s so important to take good care of yourself in the third trimester. Preparation is key and I hope sharing my favourite things has helped.

What are or were your third trimester essentials? Let me know! I’d love to hear from you.

Update: My baby arrived in November – read Cara Grace’s birth story!

Until next time!

Helen
Third trimester essentials for your natural health and beauty during pregnancy. The third trimester is all about preparation and taking really good care, so learn my recommendations for labour preparation, relaxing candles, delicious teas, massage oils, and more.

12 Replies to “Third trimester essentials”

  1. That Hyp Calm candle sounds amazing. I’ll have to look the brand up!

    1. Yes, they have some lovely natural candles!

  2. I am so excited for you. Only two more months to go!

    1. Thank you so much! We’re so excited! 🙂 xx

  3. littleslifeandlaughter says: Reply

    This is a great list! I used the raspberry leaf tea with my second and he did come early and the labor was much easier. I love the idea of using massage oils!

    1. Thank you! Oh that’s good to know! I used it with my first and I’m sure it helped.

  4. Gosh can’t believe you are already so close to birth, Sounds like you are very prepared, I felt hypnobirthing was hugely helpful for me, wish I had done the perineal massage but never got around to it Xx

    1. I know! It’s gone so fast. I’m trying to be prepared 🙂 I remember you said you’d practised HypnoBirthing, it’s amazing isn’t it? I feel so much more confident because of it. Xo

  5. I’ve heard so many good reviews about Earth Mama and now I’m curious to know about Tamanu oil and hypnobirthing. Can’t believe I still have lots of homework to work on/read 😀

    1. Earth Mama are so lovely! The tamanu oil is a bit of an experiment. I’m hoping it’ll help with the dreaded swollen feet too which luckily haven’t become a problem for me yet. 🙂 So many nice videos on YouTube to get up to speed with HypnoBirthing! Xo

  6. I’ll have to keep these in mind for when I have baby #2!

    1. Oh how lovely! Yes, I hope these really help you like they have me! 🙂

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