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Third Trimester Overview: Preparing for Birth and the Final Stretch

Pregnancy Podcast

Release Date: 05/18/2025

Reframe Your Perspective on Labor Pain show art Reframe Your Perspective on Labor Pain

Pregnancy Podcast

Labor and birth are powerful, life-changing experiences, and pain is often one of the biggest concerns for expecting parents. In this episode, we reframe your perspective on labor pain by exploring why childbirth is challenging, how evolution has equipped us with adaptations, and what actually happens during each stage of labor. Learn the role of hormones, your baby’s contribution to the birth process, and the limitations of pain research. Also learn about the many factors that can influence your perception of pain, like support, environment, and positions, and the medical and non-medical...

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Pregnancy Podcast

Vivid, emotional, and sometimes unsettling dreams are a common experience during pregnancy. This episode explores how sleep cycles function and why we dream. Learn why dreams may feel more intense during pregnancy, why you may recall more dreams, and the role stress and emotions can play in shaping them. Discover what research reveals about dreaming during pregnancy and practical strategies to calm your mind, help you fall back asleep, and enjoy more restful nights. Full article and resources for this episode:   Thank you to the brands that power this podcast: The Sleepy Body Lotion from...

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Understanding Your Options and Choosing the Right Formula show art Understanding Your Options and Choosing the Right Formula

Pregnancy Podcast

More than 75% of babies will get infant formula in the first year. Choosing a formula can feel overwhelming, with countless brands, ingredients, and claims competing for your attention. Find out how formulas differ in carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, and what role additives like DHA, probiotics, and nucleotides play. Learn how to identify allergies and sensitivities, and determine if your baby requires a specialized formula. Plus, shopping tips on how to read labels without getting lost in marketing buzzwords, strategies to save money, and what to do during shortages. By the end of this...

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Q&A: Noise Exposure in Pregnancy and Concert Safety show art Q&A: Noise Exposure in Pregnancy and Concert Safety

Pregnancy Podcast

Pregnancy can easily cause you to second-guess the safety of everything, and it can be a bit of a balancing act to ensure you and your baby are safe while still enjoying many activities. For one listener, the question came up about whether loud music and noise exposure are safe during pregnancy. In this episode, you’ll learn how babies hear in the womb, review the research on noise exposure, and hear what health organizations recommend. We’ll also look at the factors that influence risk and practical strategies to reduce or mitigate them. Full article and resources for this episode: ...

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Complete Guide to Bottle Feeding show art Complete Guide to Bottle Feeding

Pregnancy Podcast

This episode is your complete guide to bottle feeding. Learn how bottle sizes and nipple flows work and how to choose the right bottles for your baby. Explore safe ways to warm milk and simple and effective routines for cleaning and sterilizing. Get practical tips to make feeding easier, reduce gas and spit-up, and avoid common pitfalls. Plus, if you are still breastfeeding, learn how you can introduce a bottle without disrupting your breastfeeding relationship. Full article and resources for this episode:   Thank you to the brands that power this podcast: Get a 20% discount on select...

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Q&A: Do Pregnancy Seat Belt Adjusters Improve Safety? show art Q&A: Do Pregnancy Seat Belt Adjusters Improve Safety?

Pregnancy Podcast

Pregnancy-specific seatbelt adjusters are marketed as safer alternatives to a traditional seatbelt, with compelling claims that they reduce risks to both the mother and the baby. In this episode, we examine the evidence on car crashes during pregnancy, the proven benefits of seatbelt use, and the real-world challenges of proper seatbelt positioning during pregnancy. You will learn what major safety organizations recommend, how these aftermarket products work, and whether their safety claims hold up under scrutiny. Full article and resources for this episode:   Thank you to the brands...

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Success Strategies for Pumping Breastmilk and Building a Stash show art Success Strategies for Pumping Breastmilk and Building a Stash

Pregnancy Podcast

Breast milk truly is liquid gold. Your body makes the perfect food for your baby, and pumping lets you give them that milk even when you are not there. Whether you plan to pump occasionally, pump at work after maternity leave, or build a freezer stash, this episode will walk you through how to make pumping easier, more efficient, and less stressful. We’ll cover choosing and using a pump, building and storing your milk supply, navigating pumping at work, and keeping your supply steady. Full article and resources for this episode:   Thank you to the brands that power this podcast: There...

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Q&A: The Essentials for Improving Fertility show art Q&A: The Essentials for Improving Fertility

Pregnancy Podcast

Deciding to start a family is exciting, but it can also feel overwhelming when you want to do everything possible to improve your chances of conceiving. In this episode, you will learn how long it typically takes to conceive, how to identify your fertile window, and the best ways to track and confirm ovulation. While there are no magic shortcuts, focusing on the basics can make a meaningful difference. We discuss how key aspects of your health, including exercise, diet, weight, sleep, stress, and substance use, can impact fertility and help you create the best possible environment for...

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Troubleshooting Common Breastfeeding Issues show art Troubleshooting Common Breastfeeding Issues

Pregnancy Podcast

Although your newborn is hard-wired to breastfeed, breastfeeding doesn’t always come naturally or go perfectly from the start. In reality, breastfeeding can take practice and patience as you and your baby navigate your nursing relationship. Many challenges can arise in the first few days and even months into your breastfeeding journey. The more you know about potential speed bumps, the better prepared you will be to address minor issues before they turn into bigger problems. Issues can include symptoms in your breasts like leaking, sore nipples, nipple shields, pain during breastfeeding or...

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Q&A: When Is the Right Time to Get Pregnant? show art Q&A: When Is the Right Time to Get Pregnant?

Pregnancy Podcast

This episode answers a listener’s question about how to know when the time is right to have a baby. Whether you are thinking about your first child or adding to your family, the decision can feel overwhelming. We explore the emotional side of this choice, what medical organizations recommend about pregnancy timing, birth spacing, and how lifestyle, age, fertility, finances, and family dynamics can all factor in. You will also hear why waiting for the “perfect” time may not be realistic and how to sort through the noise and trust your own timing. Thank you to the brands that power this...

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Week 28 until your baby’s birth, around 40 weeks, is the final stretch before you meet your baby. In this episode, learn everything you need to know to navigate the last months of pregnancy confidently. Your baby is undergoing critical developmental changes to prepare for life outside the womb. Meanwhile, your growing belly and added weight can bring new symptoms and physical challenges. You may feel a mix of excitement and impatience as you get closer to your due date. We will cover what to expect at your third-trimester prenatal appointments, the key to-do items to focus on, and how your partner can support you as you prepare for labor, birth, and parenthood.
 
 
Thank you to our sponsors
 
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Breastfeeding doesn’t always come easily or naturally, and the right education can make a big difference. The Practical Guide to Nursing Your Baby Course, created by Abby Egan, a registered labor and delivery nurse, Certified Lactation Educator, and experienced mother, walks you through everything you need to know to get breastfeeding off to a great start. The course includes lifetime access to over 4 hours of video lessons, a growing bonus content library, helpful PDFs and over 60 real-world pro tips to support you throughout your breastfeeding journey. For a limited time, Pregnancy Podcast listeners can save 20% by using the promo code PREGNANCYPODCAST at checkout at nursingyourbaby.com
 
VTech is the most trusted choice for baby monitors and North America's leading #1 baby monitor brand. The Vtech V-Care Over the Crib Smart Nursery Baby Monitor has every feature you could want in a monitor to keep an eye on your baby and have peace of mind that they are safely sleeping. The V-Care has built-in intelligence to alert you if your baby's face is covered or has rolled over on their stomach, full high-definition video, infrared night vision technology, and even analysis of sleep patterns and quality. The V-Care Over the Crib Smart Nursery Baby Monitor is exclusively available on Amazon.
 
 
Read the full article and resources that accompany this episode.
 
 
Join Pregnancy Podcast Premium to access the entire back catalog, listen to all episodes ad-free, get a copy of the Your Birth Plan Book, and more.
 
 
Check out the 40 Weeks podcast to learn how your baby grows each week and what is happening in your body. Plus, get a heads up on what to expect at your prenatal appointments and a tip for dads and partners.
 
 
For more evidence-based information, visit the Pregnancy Podcast website.