The second three months

What's happening?:

• The baby
• The placenta
• Maternal changes

Feelings:

• Expansion
• Movements ('quickening')
• Travel during pregnancy

Helping yourself:

• Exercise during pregnancy
• Essential pregnancy exercises
• Nutrition
• Sexual activity

Complications:

• Hypertension of pregnancy and pre-eclampsia (toxaemia)
• Sugar diabetes (diabetes mellitus)
• Intra-uterine growth restriction (IUGR)
• Cervical incompetence/insufficency
• Very early premature labour and stillbirth
• Coping with the death of a baby

Continuing health care:

• Continuing antenatal health care
• Prenatal screening and diagnostic tests
• Dental health
• Education for parenthood

Planning for birth and beyond:

• Considering where you will give birth
• Considering breastfeeding
• Considering employment
• Income support
• What to wear?
• Household matters
• Baby clothes and equipment

Ngawari's story: A first birth at home