By the end of the third trimester, chances are you're pretty much used to riding the weight proceeds elevator. (Going up? And up? And up?) So used to information technology, in fact, yous probably don't fifty-fifty blink as your practitioner's scale tallies up your most recent gain.

This may get in a fiddling surprising, and maybe a niggling unsettling, to find that you really lose weight in the last few weeks of pregnancy — peculiarly if you lot're not prepared for it.

Is it normal to lose weight at the stop of pregnancy?

If y'all're late in the third trimester, you may have also reached the end of your pregnancy weight gain. Instead of "going up" as per usual, the numbers on the scale in the last few weeks of pregnancy may not be going anywhere — they may even be going downwards, tracking a weight loss during this domicile stretch.

This normal weight-gain slow down or standstill is actually i way that your body gets ready for labor — a sign that all systems are gearing up for the big event (and for the much bigger weight loss of childbirth).

What causes third trimester weight loss?

You may be at a loss to explain your weight loss (or lack of proceeds) by looking in the mirror. Subsequently all, your belly is probably the size of a prize-winning watermelon. And then what triggers this late-pregnancy trend?

Infant's certainly not to blame. In fact, he is probable packing on pounds even if you're not (and even if y'all're dropping them).

Here'southward what may account for this late pregnancy "down scale":

  • Toward the cease of pregnancy, the level of amniotic fluid starts to decrease — even before your water officially "breaks." Less amniotic fluid ways less water weight, literally.
  • The increased urge that yous're feeling (all the time) to urinate at present that your babe's head is pressing down on your bladder ways that you're flushing out fluids faster than ever before. Less water in your body means less weight in your body.
  • On the toilet a lot lately — and not just to pee? Loose bowels as labor approaches tin free you of some ounces — or even pounds.
  • Sweating a lot? At present that the cease (of pregnancy) is virtually, your trunk is busily ridding itself of fluid information technology won't be needing once its babe-making manufacturing plant shuts downward. The more than you sweat, the more weight yous lose. (And look the sweat to pick up even more after delivery. The first postpartum week, peculiarly, will be a very damp one — as your body steps up the sweat production to affluent out the pounds of fluids that take accumulated over the concluding nine months.)
  • You might have some loss of appetite and struggle to eat big volumes of food.
  • You may actually exist called-for more calories than ever if your nesting instinct has kicked into loftier gear. (Did y'all really clean four closets in 3 days?)

What should yous do if you lot're losing weight at the end of pregnancy?

While your gaining days may exist over (at least as far as this pregnancy is concerned), don't forget that yous're even so providing 24-60 minutes catering to your always-growing baby. So go along that steady supply of nutrients coming (especially those vital brain-building ones, similar DHA and protein) right up until delivery day.

Continue Reading Below

As tempting equally it might exist to start cutting back on food intake (either because you lot'd like to jump-starting time your postpartum weight loss or because you're simply apparently out of tummy room), don't. Continue sticking to the pregnancy diet (merely another few weeks to become!), and make sure y'all're drinking plenty water. And just remember: Right effectually the corner is your baby.