Your baby’s development
Your baby is now around 9cm long. They’re starting to practise breathing movements, even though they get all the oxygen they need from the placenta and onwards through the umbilical cord. At this stage, your baby’s heart is pumping several litres of blood through their tiny body every day.
Antenatal yoga is an ideal way to exercise while you’re pregnant. Not just for relaxation but also to learn breathing techniques to help you on the big day. It also helps you become more flexible and stronger, too, so that your body is better equipped to cope with labour! If you want to give it a try, make sure you choose a class that’s specially designed for pregnancy because some poses aren’t suitable for mums-to-be.
You & your body
During your second trimester, you’ll probably find you have lots more energy which will be a welcome change if you’ve been feeling lethargic over the past 13 weeks. You might feel like you want to exercise and put the energy to good use, but do be careful when embarking on new exercise routines. Now is not really the time to take up abseiling!
Take a look at our information about exercising ;during pregnancy to find out which exercises are safe and always consult your doctor before you start anything new.
The good news is that if you do get into a good exercising routine and combine it with healthy eating during pregnancy, you’re more likely to continue after the birth – which will help you regain your pre-pregnancy figure quicker. Yay!