Your baby
Your child is developing more and more of a personality and a character. Small as he or she is, there is already a clear facial expression, and now and then a grimace or a frown. And if you pay close attention you may be able to make out a pattern in the movements.
Your child has a rhythm of sleeping and waking all of its own. And in the way your child moves you can already see something of its character. If he or she kicks furiously now, you will find your child does the same after the birth. Do you feel your whole abdomen moving from side to side and up and down? Then your child is probably turning from a head-down position to a breech position, or the other way round.
You
Do you have a nagging or stabbing pain in your lower back or at the pubic bone? That could point to pelvic instability. One woman in four suffers from it during pregnancy. Under the influence of pregnancy hormones the connections between the bones of the pelvis become more supple. That is needed to give enough room and elasticity during the birth so the baby can be born. But sometimes the pelvis becomes too unstable, and that can cause trouble.
Pain in your back or at the pubic bone need not mean pelvic instability, though. It may simply be ligament pain or back pain caused by poor posture. So do call in on your family doctor or discuss the symptoms with your midwife, so that you find out exactly what is going on. You can of course also make an appointment with a pelvic physiotherapist.
Pelvic floor complaints
Mind your posture during pregnancy. The weight of your bump puts extra strain on the lower vertebrae. On top of that, pregnancy hormones have slackened your ligaments, so your vertebrae have an even harder time of it. To prevent lower back pain, do not stand with a hollow back. Stand so that there is a straight line from the back of your head to your heels. Tighten your buttocks and keep your abdominal muscles drawn in; that way your pelvis automatically tilts backwards.
If your lower back feels tired in the evening, a warm shower, a massage or a heat lamp can bring relief. You can also do the 'cat' exercise: kneel and put your hands on the floor. To tilt your pelvis, alternately hollow and arch your back. So first draw your stomach in and arch your back fully, then let your back hollow and push your bottom out, letting your abdomen move towards the floor.
Pregnancy yoga
As in ordinary yoga, where experiencing the exercises is what counts, pregnancy yoga centres on experiencing the pregnancy. But it also gives practical information and, above all, exercises. You learn techniques to ease the physical discomforts and to trust your body — to do what needs doing when it is asked of you.
Third trimester
