Pregnancy is full of discomforts — there’s no doubt about that. Backaches, hip pain, swelling, the general feeling of being a few sizes bigger than your clothes are willing to admit. This is my third time through it, and while every pregnancy has felt a little different, the aches and pains have been a constant. Here’s how I’m actually handling them this time around.
The short version: remind myself it won’t last forever, keep the end goal in mind (a baby in my arms), and do what I actually can to manage the discomfort — mainly a body pillow at night, clothes that fit with room to spare, and sitting whenever possible now that I’m in my third trimester. None of this makes the aches disappear, but it makes them a lot more manageable.
1. Bottom Line: It Won’t Last Forever
This is the one I come back to the most. When my hips ache at 2 a.m. or I can’t find a comfortable way to sit by hour three of a long day, I remind myself that this is temporary. Forty weeks feels endless in the moment, but it has an end date. I can recall that after the birth of my second baby, the aches and pains disappeared almost instantly as if they hadn’t been a part of my every moment for the last several months.
This isn’t just something I tell myself to feel better — it’s actual guidance. March of Dimes specifically advises reminding yourself that the discomforts of pregnancy are only temporary as a way of coping with the stress they can add. And the discomfort itself is incredibly common — back pain alone affects about 40% of pregnant women at some point, according to Cleveland Clinic. You’re not doing anything wrong. Your body is just doing a lot of work.
2. Keep the End in Mind: A Baby in Your Arms
This one is less practical and more mental — but it might be the tip that gets me through the most. When I’m at the point where nothing feels comfortable, I try to picture the actual end of all of this: a baby in my arms. Not the pregnancy ending, but what’s waiting on the other side of it.
It sounds simple, almost too simple, but reframing the discomfort as “the price of getting to meet this baby” instead of just “pain I have to push through” changes how I experience it. The ache is still there. But it stops feeling pointless, and it starts feeling like part of the story.
3. Do What You Can to Manage the Discomforts
I can’t make pregnancy discomfort disappear, but I’ve stopped just tolerating it when there are real things that help. Two have made the biggest difference for me this time:
A body pillow for sleeping. Once my belly got big enough to make side-sleeping uncomfortable on its own, a full body pillow became non-negotiable. March of Dimes specifically recommends sleeping on your left side with a pillow between your legs, or using a full body pillow, as one of the most effective ways to ease back pain at night. It took some adjusting to get used to, but it’s made a real difference in how I sleep — and how my back feels in the morning.
Clothes that actually fit, with room to spare. I held onto a few “almost still fits” pieces a little too long with this pregnancy, and it made a noticeable difference once I let them go. ACOG specifically recommends wearing supportive clothing</a> as part of managing pregnancy back pain, and honestly, comfort-wise, it’s not close. Anything that gives my body room to expand — soft waistbands, looser cuts, real maternity pieces instead of “I’ll just size up” regular clothes — has made a bigger difference than I expected.
What’s Next
This pregnancy has had its own version of every discomfort the first two had, and I’m sure baby #3 will bring a few new ones too. If you’re in the thick of your own summer pregnancy, you might also like Surviving My Third Summer Pregnancy or Summer Activities With Two Kids, While Very Pregnant — more of what’s actually getting our family through this season.
And on the other side of all these aches and pains is, of course, a new baby and a whole new feeding journey. When that day comes, we’ll be right back to navigating the breast-to-bottle transition — which is exactly why Bottimals exists. The bottle-lovey collection will be waiting for us, just like it’s waiting for any of you expecting your own little one soon.
Disclaimer: The information in this blog post — including tips related to pregnancy discomforts, sleep positions, and clothing — is based on personal experience and general, publicly available health information. It is intended for general informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Every pregnancy is different, and aches or pains that feel “normal” for one person may need medical attention for another. Please consult your OB-GYN, midwife, or another qualified healthcare provider regarding any questions or concerns about your pregnancy, including pain, sleep, or physical discomfort, and seek prompt medical care for any severe or worsening symptoms. Bottimals™ products are designed to provide comfort and familiarity during feeding transitions and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any medical condition. Individual results may vary.