By the end of the third trimester, chances are you're pretty much used to riding the weight gain elevator. (Going upwardly? And upwards? And up?) So used to it, in fact, you probably don't even blink as your practitioner'southward scale tallies up your most contempo gain.

This may make it a little surprising, and perhaps a little unsettling, to find that you really lose weight in the terminal few weeks of pregnancy — particularly if you're not prepared for it.

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

If you'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 calibration in the last few weeks of pregnancy may not be going anywhere — they may fifty-fifty be going downwardly, tracking a weight loss during this home stretch.

This normal weight-gain dull down or standstill is actually one 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 tertiary trimester weight loss?

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

Baby'due south certainly non to blame. In fact, he is likely packing on pounds even if yous're not (and even if you lot're dropping them).

Hither's what may account for this late pregnancy "down scale":

  • Toward the end of pregnancy, the level of amniotic fluid starts to decrease — even before your water officially "breaks." Less amniotic fluid means less water weight, literally.
  • The increased urge that you're feeling (all the time) to urinate now that your baby's head is pressing down on your bladder means that you're flushing out fluids faster than ever before. Less water in your body ways less weight in your body.
  • On the toilet a lot lately — and not just to pee? Loose bowels as labor approaches can gratis you lot of some ounces — or fifty-fifty pounds.
  • Sweating a lot? Now that the cease (of pregnancy) is near, your body is busily ridding itself of fluid information technology won't be needing one time its baby-making factory shuts down. The more you lot sweat, the more weight you lose. (And expect the sweat to option upwardly even more than afterward delivery. The first postpartum week, specially, will be a very damp i — every bit your body steps up the sweat product to flush out the pounds of fluids that have accumulated over the concluding nine months.)
  • Y'all might have some loss of ambition and struggle to eat large volumes of food.
  • You may actually exist called-for more calories than ever if your nesting instinct has kicked into loftier gear. (Did you lot really make clean four closets in three days?)

What should you practise if you're losing weight at the end of pregnancy?

While your gaining days may be over (at least as far every bit this pregnancy is concerned), don't forget that you're still providing 24-hr catering to your always-growing baby. So keep that steady supply of nutrients coming (especially those vital encephalon-building ones, like DHA and protein) right upward until delivery day.

As tempting as it might exist to start cutting dorsum on food intake (either because you'd like to jump-start your postpartum weight loss or because you're merely obviously out of tummy room), don't. Go along sticking to the pregnancy nutrition (just some other few weeks to go!), and make sure you're drinking enough water. And just recollect: Right around the corner is your baby.