You are 19 weeks exactly

You'll be getting advice from everywhere, but there's one person you might want to listen to: your mother.

147 days until your due date

Whether or not you're already close to your mother, pregnancy is likely to affect your relationship. Many women feel naturally closer to their mothers during this big life event, turning to them for help and reassurance and wanting them there in the days and weeks after the birth.

It's normal for your mother to become very protective, so expect a few more phone calls than usual. She's bound to offer plenty of advice; whether or not you take it all, listen, because some of it may be useful.

Explainer

Stories from your mother

Your pregnancy is bound to bring back memories of your mother's own pregnancies, so expect to hear lots of stories about when you were a baby.

Focus on

Your body: Taking the strain

Several changes in pregnancy affect how you move and exercise:

The extra weight of your baby, placenta, blood, uterus, and breast tissue puts stress on your body, especially your skeleton.
Changes in posture as your center of gravity shifts make hip, back, and knee problems more likely.
Relaxin, a pregnancy hormone that affects the ligaments, increases flexibility and can throw your spine and pelvis out of alignment.

Safe, effective exercise is the best way to maintain and improve your posture and reduce the stress on your body. Regular exercise, especially weight-bearing exercise such as walking and using weights, generally improves your bone density.

This is general information based on NHS guidance, not medical advice, and every pregnancy is different. Talk to your midwife or GP about anything that worries you. If your baby's movements slow down or change, or you have bleeding, severe pain or leaking fluid, call your maternity unit straight away. In an emergency, call 999.

Stories from your mother

Your body: Taking the strain

Appointments and key dates around now