You are 21 Weeks Exactly 133 days to go…
Try to find ways to fit in small amounts of energizing exercise every day—you’ll feel much better for it.
Your baby today
This image shows just how large the developing eyes are
underneath the lids. At birth, your baby’s eyes will be large and blue.
There are no eyebrows or eyelashes yet, but this will be the first adult
type of hair to grow.
Maintaining your exercise routine
while you’re still working can be challenging. The last thing you may
feel like doing is exercising after a day at work, especially as your
pregnancy progresses. There are ways of exercising without a visit to
the gym; it will just take some thought and planning. For example, every
now and then, take the stairs, carefully, instead of the elevator, or
get off the bus or train at a different stop, so that you walk some of
the way. If there’s a pool close to work, try to fit in an invigorating
lunchtime swim. You’ll feel much better in the afternoon.
Walk wherever you
can, but be prepared: wear comfortable sneakers and take your work shoes
in a bag with you. Remember to take some water with you when
exercising, and keep hydrated throughout the day.
At night before you go to bed, try to fit in some abdominal exercises to strengthen those muscles.
… Doctor
| Q: |
I seem to have a lot of vaginal discharge. Is this normal?
|
| A: |
Yes, in the second trimester you may find that you have more
discharge than normal. This is usually clear, stringy, or full of mucus
and shouldn’t smell offensive. If the discharge changes, becoming thick,
white, and causes itching, you may have developed a yeast infection,
which is common in pregnancy and easily treated .
You should
see your doctor immediately if the vaginal discharge becomes yellow or
greener, or offensive in smell; see your doctor too if you have burning
when you urinate, or your external genitals become sore. This may be a
sign that you have an infection that must be treated. Don’t ignore any
abnormal discharge since, although it won’t directly affect your
developing baby, an infection can increase the risk of you going in to
premature labor.
You may find that you leak urine, especially when you cough, laugh, or run. This is called stress incontinence.
|
Office workout
If your job involves sitting down all day, it’s even more important to find ways to keep on the move.
Get up from your desk
at least once every hour. Walk to speak to your colleagues instead of
phoning or emailing them. Volunteer to get coffee for people—this will
also make you very popular!
Try this exercise while seated: straighten your leg out in front of you (see image),
keeping your thigh parallel to the floor. Then repeatedly bend and
straighten your leg to help your circulation. Follow with flexing and
pointing your foot from the ankle. Do each of these exercises at least
10 times with each leg.
Your 22nd Week
You may not know the sex of
your baby but you and your partner can still have fun choosing names.
This is a discussion that can run on and on. Some couples don’t make up
their minds until the baby is born. With such matters to preoccupy you,
it’s probably hard to stay focused at work. Try to pace yourself without
letting standards slip. Eating little and often, and drinking lots of
water, will help you stay alert.
NOTE
Deciding on a name for your baby can be tricky, so start making that list
You are 21 Weeks and 1 Day 132 days to go…
If you often walk into a room and forget why you’re there, don’t be concerned—you’ve simply developed “pregnancy brain”!
Your baby today
Fine capillaries carrying blood underneath the skin lend a
pinkish tone to your baby. Fat deposits are still sparse so the skin is
still quite thin. Within the capillaries red blood cells are carrying
oxygen to every part of your baby’s body.
Is your mind not feeling quite as sharp these days?
Many women find themselves very frustrated by the onset of “pregnancy
brain,” which makes them so forgetful that they might not remember what
they’re talking about halfway through a sentence. Your ability to
concentrate and pay attention to tasks may also be affected. Doctors are
not sure why this happens, but it’s likely to be a result of hormonal
changes. It may also happen because during pregnancy you’re focused
internally: you’re going through such a major life event, and there are
so many changes happening to your body and lifestyle, that you simply
pay less attention to other things.
As frustrating
as it is, this tendency to forgetfulness is only temporary (although it
may last into the first year of motherhood—see as a matter of fact).
In the meantime, try making lists at the beginning of each day and
check off tasks as you go. Delegate at home and work when you can and,
for once in your life, don’t try to multitask. Focusing on one thing at a
time will help you remember and achieve more.
If you’re finding you’re more forgetful these days, write things down and prioritize so that you aren’t overwhelmed with tasks.
… Doctor
| Q: |
I’ve always been an enthusiastic walker, but should I cut down
on the number of miles now that I’m over halfway through my pregnancy?
|
| A: |
No, you shouldn’t need to, but you might want to take extra
precautions. Walking is ideal since it is low-impact exercise that can
be maintained throughout pregnancy. In fact, it’s a great exercise in
the later months because it doesn’t jar your knees and ankles.
If you plan to
continue lengthy walks and like to walk briskly, try combining this with
a slower, more leisurely pace. It’s important to control your body
temperature so that you don’t overheat and feel uncomfortable. To do
this, drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration and wear layers that
you can take on and off as required.
As your belly grows,
you may find hill climbing causes physical instability, as may trekking
over uneven terrain, so stick to level paths. If you find yourself
getting breathless, take frequent breaks. Of course always make sure you
wear good, sturdy footwear, and avoid carrying heavy loads.
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“Pregnancy brain” might last until your child’s first birthday.
This finding is based
on research done around the world. After in-depth analysis of the
results, the experts concluded that sleep deprivation in the first year
of parenting may be a factor.
