Third Trimester: Final Preparations

The third trimester (weeks 27-40) is the period when your baby makes final preparations for birth. During this process, the baby significantly increases in weight — from approximately 900 grams at week 27 to an average of 3.2-3.5 kg at week 40.

Weeks 27-30: Brain development continues at an incredible pace — folds form and neural connections strengthen. The baby begins to dream (REM sleep). Eyes fully open and respond to light. Those cute hiccups also start during this period — the diaphragm is exercising!

Weeks 31-36: The baby begins to move into the head-down position. While bones harden, skull bones remain flexible (to pass through the birth canal). Lungs mature. During this period the baby swallows hundreds of milliliters of amniotic fluid daily (up to about 500 ml near term) — the digestive system is preparing. Nails and hair continue to grow.

Weeks 37-40: From week 37 onward, the baby is considered "term"; weeks 39-40 are classified as "full term." Fat storage accelerates — this helps maintain body temperature after birth. As the baby descends toward the birth canal, movements change — you may feel rolling and stretching movements instead of kicks.