What to hold in the third trimester

With your bulging belly and lower than usual energy levels, you might not be doing much these days. The good news is, now that you’re in your third trimester, you don’t have much time. Here are a few things to avoid in your third trimester – many of which you’ll be able to do again soon!

Travel. This may seem obvious, but as your due date approaches, you probably don’t want to stray too far from home. Also, some modes of transportation — such as air travel — are banned after around 36 weeks of pregnancy (and maybe earlier), depending on airline policies.

Lie on your back Chances are you haven’t slept or done abdominal exercises in a few months. But you should also avoid lying flat on your back during pregnancy, as the combined weight of your uterus and baby can compress the vein that carries blood from your lower body to your heart, causing nausea and shortness of breath.

Hot tubs and saunas. You’ve never needed a long soak again — and yet you must avoid hot tubs and saunas (especially anything that raises your indoor temperature above 101 degrees Fahrenheit) until you deliver. When taking a bath, keep the water at around 97 to 98 degrees Fahrenheit and monitor the levels with a thermometer. And of course, be careful not to lose your balance in the tub.

Sport in warm temperatures. You don’t have to stop exercising during your third trimester, but you should avoid exercising in hot weather. After all, now is not the time to try hot (Bikram) yoga. Stay indoors to reduce the chance of overheating or dehydration.

Alcohol. No amount of alcohol has been proven safe at any point during pregnancy — so make a mocktail out of it.

Raw or undercooked foods. Raw and undercooked foods (mainly poultry, eggs, meat or fish) can harbour infection-causing bacteria, so you should keep them out of your diet for the rest of your pregnancy.

Unpasteurized dairy products and juices. You may not come across unpasteurized milk or juice very often, but you can come across certain cheeses made with unpasteurized milk. For example, soft cheeses like brie, goat, and feta are common culprits. Check the label to ensure the product was made with pasteurized ingredients.