# Third Trimester: Week 28 to Birth, Tests, Kicks and Getting Ready

> The last stretch: weekly visits, GBS and vaccines, movement patterns, hospital bag and term dates.

Stage: pregnancy - Topic: Your pregnancy - Page: https://www.askcladle.com/guides/pregnancy/third-trimester-what-to-expect

Grounded in: ACOG patient guidance on prenatal care, group B strep, fetal movement, vaccines in pregnancy, and the definitions of early, full and late term; CDC guidance on Tdap and maternal RSV vaccine. Summarized in Cradle's own words; none of these sources endorse Cradle. General information, not medical advice.

Reviewed: 2026-11

## TLDR

- Visits every 2 weeks from 28 weeks, weekly from 36. Tdap at 27-36 weeks and RSV protection in season.
- Movements don't normally slow near the end. Learn your baby's pattern and call the same day if it drops.
- By 36 weeks: bag packed, car seat installed and checked, baby's doctor chosen.

## The baby's last stretch

- Gains most of its weight now, from about 2 lb (900 g) at 28 weeks to an average of 7-8 lb
  (3.2-3.6 kg) at birth. Lungs and brain mature through the very last weeks.
- Most babies turn head down by 36 weeks. If not, ask about turning options (external version) or a
  planned birth.
- Term words matter: early term is 37-38 weeks, full term 39-40, late term 41, and post-term 42 and
  beyond. Full term is the goal when all is well.

## Your body

- Backache, pelvic pressure, heartburn, swollen feet, peeing often and shortness of breath as the
  uterus pushes up.
- Braxton Hicks contractions get more frequent. They stay irregular and ease with rest and water.
- Sleep gets harder. See the sleep in pregnancy guide.
- Clumsiness and a shifting center of balance; take care on stairs and ice.
- Colostrum may leak from the breasts. That's normal, and so is not leaking.

## Visits and tests

- Every 2 weeks from 28 to 36 weeks, then weekly.
- Blood count and sometimes repeat infection tests around 28 weeks; anti-D shot at 28 weeks if
  Rh-negative.
- Tdap at 27-36 weeks and, in RSV season, the maternal RSV vaccine at 32-36 weeks (or plan an RSV
  antibody shot for the baby instead).
- Group B strep swab at 36-37 weeks.
- Past the due date, extra checks usually start around 41 weeks with a plan for induction.

## Know your baby's movements

- Learn your baby's usual pattern of kicks, rolls and jabs. Movements don't slow down normally
  near the end, though they may feel more like squirms than kicks.
- Some providers suggest a quiet daily check of how long 10 movements take.

## Getting ready

- Pack a bag by about 36 weeks: ID and insurance card, phone charger, comfortable clothes, toiletries,
  snacks, glasses, and an outfit and blanket for the baby.
- Install the car seat and get it checked (see the car seat guide).
- Choose the baby's doctor, and line up help for older kids and pets.
- Make a short, flexible birth plan (see the birth plans and where to give birth guide and the pain
  relief options in labor guide).
- Plan the first weeks home: meals, night help, visitors, and who can step in if you're unwell.
- Learn the signs of labor (see the signs of labor guide).

## Feelings

- Excitement, nesting, impatience and fear of birth are all common. A doula, a class or a talk with
  your provider about your specific worries can help.
- Partners and co-parents often feel the reality land now. It's a good time to talk about how you'll
  share nights and leave.

## When to check in

- Mention swelling, itching, or worries about the birth at your next visit.
- Contact your provider the same day if the baby is moving less than usual, your water breaks, you
  have regular contractions before 37 weeks, or you have a headache that won't go away or vision
  changes.
- See the pregnancy warning signs guide for the full list.
- If you have heavy bleeding, chest pain, trouble breathing or a seizure, call 911.