Baby #2 – 3rd Trimester

THIRD TRIMESTER SYMPTOMS

Insomnia:

I feel like I was completely thrown off by this because I never experienced anything close to this severe when I was pregnant with Bodhi. I thrive on getting at least 8 hours of sleep each night, and frankly, it is not pretty being around me when I’m sleep deprived, especially while pregnant + raising a toddler LOL. 

The insomnia started around 32 weeks, and initially it was on and off. A couple nights I’d toss and turn feeling like I got no sleep, following by a night of good rest, etc. It slowly got worse around week 35 and I felt miserable — I just wanted to sleep! I had been trying numerous things: sleepy time tea, valerian root, lavender essential oil, eating cherries before bed, etc. Sometimes I felt like something would help, but then I would do the same exact thing the next night and I would sleep like crap. 

FINALLY, at 37 weeks I was sleeping again!!! I’m not sure if it was a combination of things, but I cut out all naps during the day, and I started taking ZMA – a supplement that I’ll talk more about below!

**I added this in post-pregnancy as the insomnia unfortunately came back during the last 2 weeks of my pregnancy (Week 40 + 41… yes I went past 41 weeks if you didn’t already know lol). My midwife gave me some catnip tincture to try, and I do feel this helped a little bit. I only started taking it when I was close to 41 weeks as that’s when I saw her last. Luckily, the insomnia went away immediately after pregnancy! If you’re experiencing this, just know there’s  (usually) a light at the end of this dark tunnel! Hang in there! 

RIGHT LEG WEAKNESS:

This probably sounds a little odd, but after talking with my chiropractor, he said it has to do with my sciatica nerve. Luckily, I wasn’t getting any shooting pain like it typically causes, but it would cause major “weakness” in my right leg. It was typically random, but always when I was walking around. It felt like my leg went dead and very weak for about 10-20 seconds. My chiropractor stated it’s because of the weight, gravity shift, and all of the fluids that we hold while being pregnant. He suggested propping the leg up for a second when it happens and if it gets severe, to ice the lower right side of the back. 

BLEEDING GUMS:

I also had this while pregnant with Bodhi, but I’d say it’s less severe this time around and it definitely came on much later in this pregnancy. I only notice it when I’m flossing and it’s really only between a few teeth. I was told when pregnant with Bodhi that this is a common pregnancy symptom (pregnancy gingivitis).