Third Trimester FAQ: What's Normal, What's Not, and How to Prepare

Third Trimester FAQ: What's Normal, What's Not, and How to Prepare

Author: Liesel Teen August 20, 2025 Duration: 27:51

This week on The Mommy Labor Nurse Podcast, we're diving into a Q&A episode all about the third trimester! These questions came straight from you on Instagram, and I'm so excited to dig into them with more detail than I can fit in a story slide.

The third trimester can be a wild ride – full of physical changes, emotional shifts, and so many "is this normal?" moments. Whether you're prepping for labor, feeling the nesting urge kick in, or just dealing with discomforts, this episode is here to support you through it all 💪

We're covering:

  • What to expect as labor approaches

  • Tips for easing common third-tri symptoms

  • How to prep your body and mind for delivery

  • Final to-dos before baby arrives

  • And lots more real talk + reassurance

Whether this is your first rodeo or your fourth, there's something here for every mama navigating those final weeks.


🎁 FREE 3rd Trimester Prep Pack

This checklist was made by a labor nurse (hi, it's me!) to help you feel calm, confident, and ready as birth day gets closer.

📥 Download the 3rd Trimester Prep Pack


🎓 Want to Feel Totally Ready for Birth?

Our MLN Birth Classes break it all down – from contractions to pushing to postpartum – in a way that's clear, supportive, and confidence-building.

💻 Explore the MLN All-Access Birth Classes


📲 Join the MLN Instagram Fam

Follow @mommy.labornurse for daily pregnancy tips, birth prep guidance, and real support from a labor nurse who's been there 💛


Liesel Teen, a labor and delivery nurse, hosts Mommy Labor Nurse as a space for honest conversations about pregnancy and birth. Each episode is built on the idea that knowledge can transform fear into confidence for expecting parents. You’ll find a mix of practical, evidence-based discussions on common pregnancy topics, along with interviews featuring a range of birth professionals who share their insights. Perhaps most powerfully, the podcast includes personal birth stories that capture the vast spectrum of real-life experiences, from straightforward deliveries to more complex situations. It’s a resource designed to inform and empower, offering perspectives that help listeners prepare for their own journeys. Remember, the content here is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for personalized medical advice from your own care provider. Join Liesel for these weekly conversations that aim to support you through one of life’s most significant transitions.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Mommy Labor Nurse
Podcast Episodes
Baby Registry 101: Nursery Essentials [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:23
Hi MLN Podcast fam! I am so glad you are here for part 2 of our new series - Baby Registry 101! If you haven't listened to part 1 (episode 198) be sure to check that out to learn where to start with your registry. But to…
Nurse Gift Baskets Unpacked! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:33
This week on The Mommy Labor Nurse Podcast I'm here to answer a question that I get asked ALL the time in my DMs...what gifts or gift basket items should I get for my labor and delivery team?? While nurse gift baskets ar…
Laura's Uncomplicated Epidural Birth Story [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:37
On this episode of The Mommy Labor Nurse Podcast, Laura Rush joins me to share the story of the birth of her son, Tate! Laura thoroughly enjoyed listening to birth stories throughout her pregnancy, but she often found mo…
Ask Me Anything: Breech Babies, VBACs, and Prenatal Anxiety [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:09
You spoke (literally!), and we listened! In this episode, I'm diving into two more questions from our podcast listener line. Today we'll be talking in depth about breech positioning and what that means for birth, the rec…
Happy 200! Behind the Scenes of The Mommy Labor Nurse Podcast [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:16
Happy 200 MLN Podcast fam!! To celebrate, I'm giving away five $50 Amazon gift cards! All you have to do is leave a written review of the podcast, take a screenshot of your review, and send it to podcast@mommylabornurse.…
The Evidence on Natural Labor Induction with Dr. Rebecca Dekker [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:10
The week on The Mommy Labor Nurse Podcast we have a very special guest – the incredible Dr. Rebecca Dekker from Evidence Based Birth®! Rebecca is a renowned expert in the field of evidence-based maternity care, with a Ph…
Baby Registry 101: Where to Start [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:57
Today on The Mommy Labor Nurse Podcast, I am kicking off our new series - Baby Registry 101! My hope is that with my help, you'll be able to check this item off your pregnancy to-do list while having a lot of fun along t…
Pharmaceutical Pain Options for Labor (other than an epidural!) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:07
A question I get asked during almost every shift at the hospital is for a list of pharmaceutical pain medications other than epidurals. And while epidurals are kind of the gold standard when it comes to contraction pain…
Christa's Empowering Birth Story [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:00
This week on The Mommy Labor Nurse Podcast, I have a very special birth story from my good friend Christa Innis, host of the Mom Talks with Christa Podcast She is one of my oldest Mommy Labor Nurse friends and she just h…
Itching During Pregnancy: What's Normal and What's Not! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:18
This week on The Mommy Labor Nurse Podcast we're going to address itching during pregnancy and cover what's normal and what's not! The thing about itching in pregnancy is that it might be nothing, but it might actually b…