Trimester: Third Trimester

Learn more about having a health pregnancy from 28 weeks until giving birth.

Signs and Symptoms of Preterm Labor

Even if you do everything right, you can still have preterm labor. Preterm labor is labor that happens too early, before 37 weeks of pregnancy.

Babies born before 37 weeks of pregnancy are called premature. Premature babies can have serious health problems at birth and later in life. Learning the signs of preterm labor may help keep your baby from being born too early.

When you see your provider, she may check your cervix to see if you’re in labor. The cervix is the opening to the uterus (womb) that sits at the top of the vagina (birth canal). If you’re in labor, your provider may give you treatment to help stop labor or to improve your baby’s health before birth.

If you have preterm labor, getting help is the best thing you can do.

What are the signs and symptoms of preterm labor?

  • Change in your vaginal discharge (watery, mucus or bloody) or more vaginal discharge than usual
  • Pressure in your pelvis or lower belly, like your baby is pushing down
  • Constant low, dull backache
  • Belly cramps with or without diarrhea
  • Regular or frequent contractions that make your belly tighten like a fist. The contractions may or may not be painful.
  • Your water breaks

If you have even one sign or symptom of preterm labor, call your health care provider right away.

Watch a video about preterm labor at: https://www.marchofdimes.org/complications/preterm-labor-and-premature-baby.aspx#

Guide to Helpful Programs & Services

  • Medicaid

    Medicaid offers health care coverage for children, pregnant women, people with disabilities, people 65 and older, and some adults caring for children. It helps with bills for doctors, hospitals, nursing homes, and drugs ordered by a doctor (prescriptions). Children who get Medicaid will also be in the Texas Health Steps program.

  • Texas Health Steps

    Texas Health Steps is a health-care program for children, teens, and young adults ages 20 and younger who have Medicaid. It offers medical and dental checkups and many other health-care services.

Medicaid Monthly Income Eligibility

Call 2-1-1 or go to www.211texas.org for information about:

  • Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP)

    CHIP is for children ages 18 and younger. It is an Insurance program for families who earn too much money to get Medicaid, but cannot pay for private insurance.

  • CHIP Perinatal Coverage

    The CHIP perinatal coverage offers prenatal care to pregnant women who cannot get Medicaid and do not have other health coverage. Benefits may include up to 20 prenatal visits; drugs ordered by a doctor; costs of giving birth; 2 doctor visits for the mom after the baby is born; and regular checkups, vaccines and drugs ordered by a doctor for the baby.

  • Newborn Screening

    All babies born in Texas must be screened for 29 medical disorders. Two tests are done using drops of blood from the baby’s heel. Tests are done 1 to 2 days after birth and again at 7 to 14 days after birth. Early detection and treatment can prevent serious health problems.

  • Child Support Enforcement Services

    The Office of the Attorney General helps families establish a child’s legal father, set child support, collect child support payments, find absent parents, and offers services to help parents work together to meet their children’s physical and emotional needs.

  • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as Food Stamps

    SNAP helps families buy food. SNAP benefits are given through the Lone Star Card. This is a plastic card that is used like a debit card.

  • Early Childhood Intervention (ECI)

    ECI helps children birth to 3 years of age with disabilities and delays in growth or learning. ECI services help children reach their full potential.

  • Family Planning Services

    Most family planning clinics offer pregnancy testing and counseling, birth control methods and counseling, tests for breast and cervical cancers and HIV testing and counseling. Ask your provider if confidential visits are available.

  • Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

    TANF helps families with children ages 18 and younger pay for things like food, clothing, and housing. TANF benefits are given through the Lone Star Card. This is a plastic card that is used like a debit card.

  • Head Start and Early Head Start

    These programs promote healthy development in preschool children from birth to age 5. Priorities include education, family literacy, health, and childcare.

Other Programs & Services

  • Texas Workforce Commission
  • Education
  • Postpartum Depression
  • Mental Health
  • Housing
  • Child Abuse Reporting
  • HIV and STD
  • Rent Payment Assistance
  • Utility Assistance
  • Women’s Health

Dental Resources List

  • CommUnity Care Dental Clinics: MAP Dental Clinics

  • CommuniCare Health Centers (Dental)

    Hours: M-F 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM

    2810 Dacy Lane Kyle, TX 7864031

    • Accepted Payers: Self-pay (sliding fees) service done at a reduced fee
    • Provides: routine dental care, extractions, cleanings, root canals, crowns, bridges dentures and partials

  • St. David's Foundation

    Qualifications:
    Must be part of the following school districts:
    Austin, Manor, Del Valle, Pflugerville, Round Rock & Hays

    • Mobile Dental Vans
    • Can ask for school nurse to assist with appointment
    • Only sees children 5 years old and up
    • No fee

  • Lone Star Circle of Care

    Hours: 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM

    Georgetown (adults and all children) Round Rock (children and adolescent) Bastrop (adults and children)105

    Call the number above to make an appointment

    Cost based on income, fee for service $75-$250

    Provides: routine care, fillings, extractions, stainless steel crowns (no gold or porcelain) and partial dentures.

  • HIV/AIDS: Jack Sansing Dental Clinic

    M-Th: 8 - 5PM, F: 8-12PM

    711 W St Suite EA Austin, TX 7870536

    Sliding scale/services done at a reduced fee
    Only for people living with HIV or AIDS

  • Manos De Cristo

    Hours: M-F: 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM, Takes walk-in for emergencies M-F: 7:30-12

    4911 Harmon Avenue Austin, TX 7875137

    Children 8 and over, adults, and seniors

    • Accepted Payers: Self-pay (sliding fees) service done at a reduced fee
    • Provides: routine dental care, extractions, cleanings, root canals, crowns, bridges, dentures and partials

  • Austin Community College (ACC) Dental Hygiene Program

    Hours: M-F: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

    3401 Webberville Road, Room 8162 Austin, TX 7870251

    • Exam, x-rays and cleanings only, each appointment can take up to 3 hours
    • $49-$99 for cleanings

  • Denture Centers

  • UT Dental School — San Antonio

    Hours: M-F by appointment only

    • Dental Screening $39
    • Emergency appointment $40
    • Low cost dental treatment

Umbilical Cord Blood Banking & Donation

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT CORD BLOOD BANKING AND DONATION

Download the brochure below for more details about:

What is cord blood?

Umbilical cord blood is the blood that stays in the umbilical cord and placenta after the birth of your baby. It can be used to help treat diseases in children and adults.

How is cord blood used?

Stem cells from cord blood can be used to treat over 70 diseases in children and adults. Cord blood has been used to treat certain cancers, inherited diseases and diseases of the immune system.

How is cord blood collected?

After your baby is born, medical staff collects the cord blood and places it in a special container that is sent to the cord blood bank. The cord blood and mother’s blood are then processed and tested. If the mother’s blood shows the presence of any illness, the mother will be notified. If the cord blood bank determines the blood can be used, it is stored for future use.

Who benefits from cord blood?

Cord blood transplants can help blood relatives, extended family members, and non-related children and adults.

Are there risks with cord blood collection?

There are no risks to the mother or infant when cord blood is collected. Collecting the blood does not affect delivery or cause pain to the mother or infant.

Are cord blood and embryonic stem cells different?

Yes. Embryonic stem cells come from developing human or animal embryos. Cord blood stem cells do not involve the use of embryos.

Is there a demand for cord blood?

Yes. Thousands of people who could benefit from a cord blood transplant die every year waiting for treatment. There is an especially great need for more cord blood donations from ethnic and racial minorities.

What are the options for handling cord blood?

Options for those who want to donate cord blood:

  • Donate to a public bank, where your donation is made available to others, much like blood banks.
  • Save cord blood through a family banking program. It will be available for family members for a fee.
  • Save it for a sibling with medical need.
  • Donate it for research studies.

Is there a cost to donate or save cord blood?

There is no cost to donate cord blood to a public cord blood bank. There may be costs associated with family- or sibling-directed donor programs.

How do we decide whether to donate?

The decision to donate or save cord blood is a choice that only expectant parents can make. It is important for expectant parents to talk to their health care provider so that they have all the information they need to make the decision that is right for their family.

View Brochure

Danger Signs

These are pregnancy danger signs to
watch out for:

  • Bleeding from the vagina
  • Severe pain or cramping in the lower stomach
  • Chest pain
  • Headache that is severe or will not go away
  • Changes in vision (blurring or seeing spots)
  • More than normal swelling of the feet or ankles
  • Puffiness in the hands or face
  • Fever
  • Burning when you pee
  • Pressure in the pelvis and low dull backache

Call the your provider immediately.

In case of an emergency, call 911 or go directly to St. David’s Emergency Room.

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Zika Awareness

CDC’s Response to Zika

What we know about Zika

  • Zika can be passed from a pregnant woman to her fetus.
  • Zika infection during pregnancy can cause certain birth defects.
  • Zika is spread mostly by the bite of an infected mosquito. Zika-carrying mosquitos are aggressive daytime biters. They can also bite at night.
  • There has been no local transmission of Zika in the continental US.
  • There is no vaccine to prevent and no medicine to treat Zika.
  • Zika can be spread by a man to his sex partners.

CDC Zika Awareness Brochure

More about Zika

What we don’t know about Zika

  • We don’t know if there is a safe time during your pregnancy to travel to an area with Zika.
  • If you do travel and are infected, we don’t know how likely it is that the virus will infect your fetus and if your baby will have birth defects.

 

Symptoms of Zika

  • Many people with Zika won’t know that they have it. The illness is usually mild with symptoms lasting for several days to a week.
  • The most common symptoms of Zika are:
    • Fever
    • Rash
    • Joint Pain
    • Conjunctivitis (red eyes)

 

Special precautions for pregnant women

  • Delay travel to areas with Zika.
  • Pregnant women and their male partners should strictly follow steps to prevent mosquito bites.
  • If you have a male sex partner who lives in or travels to an area with Zika, you should use condoms the right way every time you have sex, or do not have sex during the pregnancy.
  • If you develop the symptoms of Zika, see a healthcare provider right away for testing.

 

Special precautions for women trying to become pregnant

  • Women trying to become pregnant and their male partners should strictly follow steps to prevent mosquito bites.
  • Talk to your healthcare provider about plans to become pregnant.

 

Your Best Protection: Prevent Mosquito Bites

  • Wear clothing that protects your skin. You can also treat clothing with permethrin or purchase permethrin-treated clothing. Do NOT use permethrin products directly on skin.
  • When indoors, stay in places with air conditioning or that use window and door screens to keep mosquitoes outside. Sleep under a mosquito bed net if air conditioned or screened rooms are not available or if sleeping outdoors.
  • Use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents. When used as directed, these insect repellents are safe and effective for pregnant and breastfeeding women.
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