Pregnancy feel-good calendar: third trimester

Week 28

Have a laugh
Instead of feeling depressed about your expanding figure , laugh about it, and love the fact that you are growing a baby. Make sure that you and your increasingly voluptuous figure star in lots of photos over the next few weeks. When your child is older, she will enjoy seeing how her Mom's tummy grew and grew for her.

One BabyCenter Canada mom said: "I am really proud of my belly and we take photos all the time. Because my parents live on the other side of the world, I send photos to them monthly to keep them updated as to how I am doing."

Get your eyebrows plucked
Having your eyebrows plucked can really help to emphasize your eyes and define your face shape, especially when done professionally at a salon. If plucking sounds too painful, you could book an appointment for an eyelash tint instead - a good treatment should last about a month.

Week 29

Have a manicure
Spend some time with your feet up in front of the TV this week, treating your fingernails to some shaping, polishing and painting. You could even ask a steady-handed friend to help you out. Use a soft, rich hand cream, an emery board or file and a vibrant colour to draw attention to your hands.

If you have the budget to afford a trip to the nail salon, do it! Have your fingernails perfectly polished and painted by someone who really knows what they're doing - then make sure you plan something for later that day to show them off.

Enjoy a Pajama Day
If you're stopping work soon, or have done so already, set aside one day this week when you can wear your pajamas all day. Bring your duvet down to the sofa, surround yourself with treats, and curl up with a good book or film.

Week 30

Massage
Having someone massage you daily can be really soothing and help to stimulate your energy flow. Book an appointment for a prenatal message or convince your partner to treat you to one at home!

Write a letter
Buy some pretty, handmade stationery and pen a letter to someone you've not seen in a long time. Whether it's an old friend from school, or a long-distance relative, it will make someone's day to hear your news. It might also help you to sort through any worries you've been thinking about.

If you're feeling romantic, write a letter to your partner and leave it somewhere for him to find later.

Week 31

Make a wish list
People will want to buy presents for you and your new baby once she is born, so it's worth making a gift list now of things that you might need or want over the next few months.

If you're too embarrassed to be specific about the things you need, pass the list over to your parents or a close friend and let them coordinate it for you. It's better to be clear and honest about what would really help - people worry so much about buying the right present that a list will make it easier for them too.

Relax with a movie session
Borrow a stack of DVDs and indulge in a marathon film-watching session with the companion of your choice. Don't forget the munchies...

Week 32

Have your friends over for take-out
Invite a few special guests over for a last pre-baby get-together and order take-out. No messy kitchen, cooking or dirty plates - just a chilled-out evening with good company. Plan the lighting, seating, candles and music before anyone arrives and your job as host will be very easy.

Make a list of post-baby things to do for yourself
At this stage, it can be very difficult to imagine life beyond the birth and your new baby. When you're tired, bored and feeling fat, it's often hard to remember the days when your body was your own. But worry not, your inner sex goddess will return! In the meantime, if you're feeling yuck, write a list of things you will do for yourself once your baby is born and don't lose sight of the fact that you're beautiful.

Your list could include:

• I will set aside time each week to go swimming /the gym /out walking.
• I will be able to wear my normal clothes one day soon - and I will also treat myself to some new ones.
• I might be a mother, but I'm also a woman in my own right, with a career / relationship / friends / interests.
• I will not forget to treat myself, in whatever way I see fit, when I'm in need of a boost.

Week 33

Go to a concert
By now, your unborn baby will be able to hear music. Why not go to a classical concert near to where you live and spend an evening in a way that you will both enjoy? If you're worried about money, it's worth remembering that some orchestras and choirs are happy for people to sit in on their rehearsals for free, or you could borrow an uplifting classical CD from your local library.

Browse online
If you're feeling the urge to shop, but don't have the energy to drag yourself around town, do some shopping online. You could buy treats for yourself, essentials for the baby, or even a present for your partner to thank him for his support.

Week 34

Buy a camera
If you don't have a good camera already, now is the time to get one. If you're not up to going out to the store, send out the dad-to-be, or go online together. Buying one now means you'll have plenty of time to learn how to use it and ensure the best possible pictures of your little one's first few days.

Drink lots of water
f you're feeling swollen or suffering from swollen hands and feet, it's important to keep yourself hydrated by drinking plenty of water. Strange as it sounds, drinking water helps to prevent your body from retaining water.

Week 35

Buy a nursing bra
Now is a good time to buy a nursing bra for when your baby is born. And it doesn't have to as unsexy as there are many varieties available now.

Drift off
If you're finding it hard to drift off at night, try investing in some good quality pillows to support you. Tucking one between your knees and some under your tummy before you go to sleep might just be the answer.

Have a look at BabyCenter Canada's parents' tips for getting more sleep.

Make life simpler
In the last few weeks of your pregnancy, double up on your beauty products and essentials when you go shopping. Stockpile your favourite brands of makeup, skincare, hosiery and bath oils, so you won't have to bother about buying them in the first few weeks - or even months - with your new baby.

Week 36

Be lazy!
Now that you're taking life easy in preparation for labour, enjoy some lying-in time. Get extra magazines and newspapers delivered to your door, bribe someone to bring you breakfast in bed, and spend the mornings lounging around in your pajamas. Once the baby arrives, it's bye-bye bed and hello early mornings. Enjoy the 'you' time while it's still possible.

Pack your hospital bag
It's good to be well prepared and have everything ready for the big day. Be sure to pack some really comfortable clothes to wear home with your new baby - not to mention things for the little one herself. See our hospital bag checklist for a printable guide to what you might need.

Week 37

Good hair days
Book yourself in for a hair appointment. You'll be starring in plenty of photos alongside your family's new addition over the next few weeks, and there won't be time to have it done once the baby is born.

Speaking of which, your baby could be born very soon. Have your picture taken to remind yourself of how you felt and what you looked like at your most pregnant. In a few years time, your child will love to see it.

Treat your feet
At this stage, you're lucky if you can even see your feet! But it's always nice to have them scrubbed, buffed and feeling perky, especially when they're swollen and aching. If you can afford to have a professional pedicure, this is a great time to do it. If not, ask a loving friend to do the honours.

Week 38

Submit to the nesting instinct
If you're having trouble relaxing, you could get lots of useful things done now to save you time and energy once your baby has arrived. How about...

• Organizing your wardrobe so that the things you're able to wear are close to hand?
• Pre-addressing the birth announcements?
• Cooking some homemade dinners that can be frozen for future use? BabyCenter Canada has seven freezable recipes for new moms you can try.

Phone a friend
Make someone's week by surprising them with a phone call or unexpected visit. It's a lovely feeling to get back in touch with an old friend and catch up with their gossip. Of course, you'll have some pretty exciting news to share with them...

Week 39

Wax on, wax off
If you're feeling brave this week, make an appointment for a full salon waxing treatment . Chances are you can't reach all the places you want to de-fuzz at the moment, and you probably won't feel like doing it once the baby is born - so let someone else do the deed! A waxing treatment now should see you through the first couple of weeks with your new baby - and you might not feel so self-conscious at the hospital.

Call in the helpers!
By this stage, you're probably feeling tired, bored and...well, enormous. It's very easy to get annoyed with all those 'fussers' who keep phoning up to see if you've had the baby yet. If people offer to help, let them. Don't feel guilty about taking up their offers of favours - friends and family will love to feel that they're doing something useful for you. It's wonderful having someone clean the house, for example, getting it ready for your new baby - and all the visitors that she will attract!

Week 40 - and beyond?

Keep busy
Most moms-to-be are so organized by now that they find they are bored with waiting for their baby to arrive. How about:

• Putting together a compilation of soothing music to play during quieter moments once your baby is born?
• Sorting out all the baby things you've bought or received, so they are well-organized and easy to find?
• Baking a cake for all those visitors you're soon going to have? They'll think you're a domestic goddess!

Make a home video
This is a great time for you and 'Dad' to make a home video, recording some silly moments together and talking about your feelings before the big day. It will be something to treasure in years to come.

Help to bring labour on naturally
Although doctors still do not fully understand how labour starts, it is thought that walking, love-making, acupuncture and reflexology are healthy, 'natural' methods to encourage it to begin. And you might even have some fun in the process! See our article on ways to help bring on labour naturally for more information.