• Though your uterus is growing you are still comfortable with bending over, sitting and driving at this stage
• You may have increased vaginal discharge (thin, white discharge with no odor) which may sometimes develop into yeast infections; douching during pregnancy is not advisable
• To accommodate your increasing lung capacity, your rib cage is growing larger as well and by the time baby is born your rib cage will have expanded by 2-3 inches. It will return to its pre-pregnancy size after baby is born.
• Your lower spine continues to curve backward to help prevent you from falling forward because of the weight of the growing baby.
• This period on, fears about the process of giving birth will occupy your thoughts.

The novelty of being the center of attention is wearing off although you will still find acquaintances coming up and patting your belly while talking to you. You may find this irritating but it is your right to react disapprovingly. Another thing that is invading your thoughts is the fear of accident, major or minor caused commonly by falls or when on the roads. The other concern is the ins and outs of cravings which is caused by your growing appetite to eat whatever and whenever without second thoughts.

During pregnancy your metabolism or the rate at which your body expends energy speeds up. You are also perspiring more due to needing to lose all the heat your baby is making. This can make your feel rather warm even in cooler temperatures. It is very important to stay cool while you are pregnant.

• Drink plenty of water and fluids. In fact carry a water bottle with you.
• Dress lightly in breathable fabrics like cotton
• Stay out of the sun as much as possible
• Stay in an air-conditioned environment if the heat gets too much
• Go for a swim or take cool baths or showers
• Avoid exercising in warmest part of the day. Take a walk when the sun is down i.e. early morning or evening or go to the fitness center for the workout.

Increased estrogen levels during pregnancy cause changes in the vaginal environment which throws off the natural balance and makes room for some organism to multiply faster than others. Candida may be present without symptoms or may cause an infection. Signs of vaginal infection include thick, white and curd-like discharge; itching, redness around the vagina area and burning sensation when urinating. Though unpleasant for you it will not harm your baby and it is treatable during pregnancy. Help prevent with these measures:

• Eat plenty of yoghurt that contains live Lactobacillus acidophilus cultures. It helps maintain the right mix of bacteria in your system
• Wear underwear with cotton crotches and loose fitting pants that do not cut into your crotch area
• Avoid sugar laden foods as these encourage bacterial growth
• Avoid long hot baths which create the perfect environment for yeast to flourish. Opt for showers instead.
• Avoid wearing wet bathing suits and exercise gear for long periods of time; wash them after each use
• Do not self treat with OTC remedies. Consult your doctor.

Since the breasts are collections of glands that make milk, it is not unusual for a milk duct to get engorged - this happens frequently. It is possible that a breast lesion becomes more prominent and obvious during pregnancy. Since it is difficult to draw a line between what is suspicious and unsuspicious the following will help you decide on what is unsuspicious:

• Freely movable (cancerous cells tend to stick in the surrounding tissue)
• Painful, which usually means inflammation, not tumor. It is possible to get mastitis before actual breastfeeding begins.
• Size - cysts related to milk production change size with hormonal fluctuations. Bad cysts will stay the same or grow bigger.
• Very round (malignant growths are irregularly shaped)
• Small size (less than 1 cm)
• Breast lumps are fairly common during pregnancy. Mammogram, if necessary is safe especially if an abdominal shield is used, and any procedure following that is best left at your obstetrician's discretion.

• This isn't breast milk. During the second trimester a thin, yellow fluid called colostrum forms, which is the precursor to breast milk. Sometimes it will leak from the breasts and this is normal. It is usually best to leave your breasts alone; don't try to squeeze the fluid out. Wear breast pads if necessary.

• Fluids, especially water is very, very important during pregnancy - its importance cannot be emphasized enough.
• We tend to forget or ignore our thirst but the fact remains that fluids help your body process nutrients, develop new cells, keep up blood volume and regulate body temperature.
• Studies indicate that for every 15 calories your body burns you need 1 tablespoon of water; for 2000 calories you will need about 2 quarts of water.
• Since your caloric needs increase during this time so will your need for water.
• Six to eight glasses per day is good and this excludes beverages. Milk, vegetable juice, fruit juice and herbal teas are choices you can take beside water. Do not count tea, coffee or cola as fluids - in fact avoid them.
• The sodium and caffeine in beverages function as diuretics.
• Common problems like headaches, constipation, bladder infections and uterine cramping become less of a problem if you are good in your fluid intake.
• Your urine is a good barometer to check on your intake. If it is light yellow to clear, you are doing fine; dark yellow on the other hand suggests that you have to up your intake.
• Don't wait till you get thirsty to drink something; by that time you would have already lost 1% of your body's fluids. A good tip is to sip on fluids - water and juices - throughout the day and not only when you are thirsty