When the Glow Wears Off
By the time you reach the third trimester, the novelty of pregnancy may have faded—and the heaviness, both physical and emotional, may feel more real than ever. You’re tired. Maybe swollen. Maybe counting the days until labor while also wondering how you’re going to make it through.
This isn’t failure. This is your body in transition.
At Fully Healed Mama, we see the third trimester as a powerful threshold—not just a countdown to labor, but a sacred window to slow down, soften, and tune in. Through the lens of Ayurveda, these final weeks are not a time to push through, but a time to listen deeply. This is where third trimester self care becomes a non-negotiable—not just for your comfort now, but for your healing later.
Fatigue Is a Call to Rest
The exhaustion you feel now isn’t in your head. Your body is channeling enormous energy inward—toward rapid fetal growth, final hormone shifts, and preparation for both labor and postpartum recovery. Ayurveda teaches that your ojas—your vital life force—is being redirected to nourish your baby and your future self. This kind of internal work calls for stillness.
Instead of fighting the fatigue, treat it as sacred guidance. Cancel plans. Nap during the day. Say no when your body whispers “please slow down.” Conserving energy now lays the foundation for postpartum resilience later.
Discomfort Is a Signal, Not a Flaw
Back pain, hip pressure, swelling—these sensations are incredibly common in the third trimester, but they’re also your body’s way of asking for care. Your joints are looser. Your center of gravity is shifting. There’s more weight on every part of you, physically and energetically.
Rather than tolerating the discomfort in silence, use it as a reason to center yourself. Practices like gentle prenatal yoga, daily warm oil massage (abhyanga), or simply sitting with your feet elevated while sipping warm tea can restore circulation and ground your nervous system. The discomfort isn’t something to push through—it’s an invitation to pause and reconnect with your body’s needs.
Emotional Waves Are Normal (and Necessary)
If you find yourself crying unexpectedly, getting irritable, or feeling waves of fear or sadness, you are not alone. These emotional shifts are not weaknesses—they are openings. In Ayurveda, this emotional sensitivity is seen as part of the energetic preparation for birth. You are entering liminal space: a shedding, a softening, a reorientation toward the unknown.
Rather than trying to stabilize or suppress your emotions, try honoring them. Journal. Speak them aloud. Let yourself cry. These are forms of third trimester self care too. Let the feelings move through you. They are clearing space for what’s to come.
Your Digestion Might Be Speaking Up, Too
As your baby grows and space in the abdomen becomes limited, your digestive fire (agni) naturally weakens. You might experience bloating, heartburn, or a decrease in appetite—all of which are signals to simplify and slow down your meals.
During pregnancy, your digestive fire naturally intensifies to support your baby’s growth and development. Ayurveda recommends balancing this increased heat with cooling, gentle, and nourishing foods. Think coconut, sunflower, milk, fresh ginger, fennel, cardamom, rose, ghee, lime, sweet foods like dates, maple syrup, fruits, and rice. These foods help keep your system balanced, steady, and well-nourished as you prepare for birth.
That Nesting Urge Has a Deeper Meaning
You might suddenly feel the need to organize everything from your baby’s clothes to the spice cabinet. While it’s easy to chalk this up to hormones, Ayurveda might say this instinct is your body’s way of grounding and creating a sense of control before the massive unknown of labor and motherhood.
Instead of burning yourself out with tasks, use that nesting energy intentionally. Prepare your postpartum space. Gather your postpartum ingredients and spices.. Set up a cozy nursing station. Stock up on teas and oils. And if you haven’t already, get your support system in place.Third trimester self care isn’t just about comfort now—it’s about paving the path for healing later.
Final Thoughts: You’re Not Behind—You’re Preparing
The third trimester isn’t about enduring until labor. It’s about listening. Every ache, craving, emotion, and instinct is your body asking for care. When you meet those needs with love—not resistance—you begin healing before the birth even begins.
Let the third trimester be your cue to slow down, tune in, and receive. This is how you tend to the version of you that will soon be born too.
You don’t have to feel glowing to be doing this right. You just have to listen—and trust that your body already knows the way.
Want support with postpartum planning while you’re still pregnant?
Fully Healed Mama offers personalized guidance, Ayurvedic support, and Medi-Cal-covered services to help you prepare for the sacred window after birth.
Book your free consultation here!
