You may feel pain in the rib cage area as your ribs rise up and your lower ribs begin to spread out to accommodate your expanding uterus. It is a common complaint associated with the later part of the middle trimester. Your growing uterus is putting pressure on all your organs including the small bowel, bladder and rectum. You will probably feel your baby's movements every day now; the movements are stronger and harder than before. Don't ignore if the pressure is really painful. In most cases it is a not a serious concern but seek your doctor's advice.

This is the ideal time to plan your maternity leave if you are working. Maternity plans involve 2 outcomes: one where everything goes according to plan or the other where complications arise and it becomes imperative to go on leave sooner than scheduled. Another thing to bear in mind is how close to the delivery date you would want to remain on the job. Conventional wisdom dictates that you spend maximum time you can afford working (work till the contractions begin). That way you can maximize the time you spend with baby after delivery. However it makes sense to consider working part-time or on flexi-hours or to take time off as you move closer to your due date. This will enable you to remain relaxed to gear up mentally before the big day. Besides the time you have now for yourself will not be possible with the arrival of the baby. Whatever you decide ensure you get a schedule that will allow you to be well rested before the contractions kick in.